Franchising

  • An image of Craig LeMieux, CEO of Rock N Roll Sushi and Terri Jessen, VP of operations
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    Permission granted by Rock N Roll Sushi
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    Rock N Roll Sushi hires experienced franchise exec as CEO

    Craig LeMieux, who has decades of franchising experience, will lead the chain as its top executive. Terri Jessen was appointed VP of operations. 

    By • Dec. 7, 2023
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    Permission granted by Huddle House
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    Huddle House hires former Long John Silver’s CEO as brand president

    Blain Shortreed, who has over 30 years of restaurant experience, will oversee company operations, franchising, marketing and culinary innovation.

    By • Dec. 4, 2023
  • Justin Murakami was promoted to COO of Sprinkles in Nov. 2023.
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    Courtesy of Sprinkles
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    Sprinkles promotes new COO

    Justin Murakami will lead operations as the company prepares to expand its network of production and pantry bakeries, as well as its cupcake “ATMs.”

    By • Dec. 1, 2023
  • Burger King gets a fresh look
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    A look back at 8 major franchisee bankruptcies in 2023

    Burger King, Popeyes, McDonald’s and more saw multi-unit operators go belly-up due to struggles with inflation, low traffic and rising costs.

    By • Dec. 1, 2023
  • A smiling female barista hands two warm takeout coffee cups to a waiting customer.
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    Maksym Belchenko via Getty Images
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    Coffee, tea QSRs report traffic bump from return to office

    Category operators opened 3,500 new units as of March 2023 compared to March 2022 following a spike in consumer demand, according to Circana data.

    By • Nov. 27, 2023
  • A woman is ordering food off of a self-service kiosk.
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    frantic00 via Getty Images
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    Why QSRs are doubling down on kiosks

    Burger King, Taco Bell and Shake Shack are among the chains adding this technology to boost check and reduce labor pressure.

    By • Nov. 27, 2023
  • Coffee bar in supermarket
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    Courtesy of Sprouts Farmers Market
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    Sprouts expands partnership with Phoenix coffee chain

    Following a successful pilot, the grocer has opened a Press Coffee bar in a store in Scottsdale, Arizona, and plans to bring the concept to three more locations in the city during the coming weeks.

    By Peyton Bigora • Nov. 21, 2023
  • A photo of Bar Louie's new unit layout.
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    Courtesy of Bar Louie
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    Bar Louie offers 50% franchise fee discount for first-time operators

    The casual chain also developed a contemporary, flexible design as part of its strategy to accelerate franchise growth. 

    By • Nov. 17, 2023
  • An image of various dishes from Modern Market's menu.
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    Permission granted by Modern Market Eatery
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    Modern Market Eatery opens first drive-thru restaurant

    The Colorado Springs, Colorado, location uses a double-sided production line to ensure quick service for drive-thru guests.  

    By • Nov. 16, 2023
  • Business people, meeting and corporate discussion against a blurred background at the office. Group of employees in team planning, presentation or training staff for collaboration.
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    Jacob Wackerhausen/Getty via Getty Images
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    What keeps 4 restaurant CEOs up at night

    Employee welfare and threats to franchising’s “American dream” are two of the existential fears the heads of Cava, Chicken Salad Chick, Golden Corral and Caribou Coffee discussed at the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference.

    By • Nov. 15, 2023
  • A view of a Wendy's restaurant on May 12, 2021 in Pinole, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Wendy’s franchisee files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy

    Starboard Group, which operates 72 units, said inflation, falling customer count and expensive remodels contributed to its financial woes.

    By • Nov. 15, 2023
  • Patrick Doyle speaks onstage during a keynote session at the Restaurant Finance and Development Conference.
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    Emma Beckett/Restaurant Dive
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    Patrick Doyle: RBI’s key product is its franchise model, not brand menus

    “People use the term owner-operator interchangeably with franchisee, and I think where people have gotten in trouble is when they are just owners. You have to be both,” Doyle, RBI’s executive chairman, said at the Restaurant Finance & Development Conference.

    By • Nov. 14, 2023
  • An image of a small brick restaurant with Biggby signage
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    Permission granted by Biggby
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    How Biggby plans to grow from over 350 units to 1K by 2028

    By offering flexible store models, like kiosks and modular units, the chain is rapidly signing new locations and plans to have 66 new units open this year.

    By • Nov. 14, 2023
  • Brad Reynolds, Shipley Do-Nuts CFO, in front of an orange background
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    Permission granted by Shipley Do-Nuts
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    Shipley Do-Nuts appoints Blaze Pizza exec as CFO

    Brad Reynolds joined the chain as CFO and Chris Smith became VP of operations, as Shipley pursues franchised growth and entry to new markets. 

    By • Nov. 8, 2023
  • A picture of Burger King signs.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    A third Burger King franchisee declares bankruptcy

    Premier Kings, which operates 172 units, struggled with high inflation, increased borrowing rates and the untimely death of its owner in 2022.

    By • Nov. 8, 2023
  • A Denny's location in Emeryville, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Denny’s franchisee files for bankruptcy

    Denn-Ohio reported negative net income of $1.3 million in 2022 after struggling with rising labor, food and delivery costs for two years. 

    By • Nov. 3, 2023
  • An image of Scooter's Coffee CEO Joe Thornton
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    Courtesy of Scooter's Coffee
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    Scooter’s Coffee promotes president to CEO

    Joe Thornton, who has been the chain’s president since 2022, will become CEO on Jan. 1 as the nearly 750-unit chain works toward 1,000 locations. 

    By • Nov. 2, 2023
  • A white table with hands reaching out toward food items like hamburgers, sushi and French fries.
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    Permission granted by C3
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    C3 and Craveworthy Brands to franchise Soom Soom concept

    The companies plan to sell 80 franchise locations of the Mediterranean fast casual by 2027, marking another step toward traditional franchising for the virtual brand operator.

    By • Oct. 31, 2023
  • An image of Bonchon CEO Bryan Shin
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    Permission granted by Bonchon
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    Bonchon to try ghost kitchens in 2 US markets

    The Korean fried chicken chain is moving into non-traditional formats to add flexibility and make development less expensive.

    By • Oct. 30, 2023
  • Pictured is the exterior of the National Labor Relations Board building.
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    "1099 14th Street – National Labor Relations Board" by Geraldshields11 is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0
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    NLRB delays effective date of joint employer rule to February

    In a reprieve for franchisors, the National Labor Relations Board pushed back the date its joint employer rule would take effect to early next year.

    By • Updated Nov. 20, 2023
  • A TCBY store in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2013.
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    River North Photography via Getty Images
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    TCBY, Mrs. Fields franchisor acquired by Pearl Street Equity

    The purchase of the brands, for an undisclosed sum, is intended to “take [their] franchisee support to the next level.”

    By • Oct. 26, 2023
  • An image of a beige building wiht both Fatburger and Round Table Pizza signage
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fat Brands debuts first co-branded Fatburger, Round Table Pizza unit

    The restaurant is the first of four dual-branded units to be operated by Fat Brands’ franchisee SNM Management Group in Dallas.

    By • Oct. 25, 2023
  • An image of a building with the words Marco's Pizza on the side.
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    Retrieved from PRNewswire on September 20, 2022
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    Q&A

    Marco’s Pizza aims to unseat Papa Johns as fourth-largest US pizza chain

    Marco’s has identified over 4,200 locations where it could open smaller units in the next five to 10 years, Chief Development Officer Gerardo Flores said.

    By • Oct. 23, 2023
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    Spencer Platt / Staff via Getty Images
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    Pret A Manger enters joint venture with franchisee to extend US growth

    Existing franchisee Dallas International will take control of 50 units across the Northeast and develop 10 more on the East Coast by 2026.

    By • Oct. 20, 2023
  • A rendering of a Homeward Kitchen, Golden Corral's fast casual concept
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    Permission granted by Golden Corral Corporation
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    Golden Corral fast casual spin-off to open in December

    Homeward Kitchen, which will debut in North Carolina, will help fuel company’s ongoing expansion plan and help Golden Corral reach new demographics.

    By • Updated Oct. 20, 2023