Franchising


  • A photo of a Dave's Hot Chicken location in London. Taken with a long exposure, the photo has motion trails from car lights.
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    Dave’s Hot Chicken reaches 250 stores with first UK opening

    The fast casual chicken brand has emerged as one of the fastest growing chains of recent years, with its U.K. debut marking its 250th store.

    By Dec. 5, 2024
  • A Qdoba store around dusk.
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    Permission granted by Qdoba
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    Qdoba is coming to Arizona

    The fast casual Mexican brand plans to open up to 10 stores in the state in the next two years.

    By Dec. 4, 2024
  • A store interior with white tile, red accents and pickup cabinets.
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    Courtesy of Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut tests new US store design

    The Yum Brands chain hopes self-service kiosks and other new features will drive more transactions and in-store traffic.

    By Dec. 4, 2024
  • An image of a white building with Keke's logo
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    Permission granted by Keke's Breakfast Cafe/Photo by Seth Parker with Parker Studios
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    Keke’s Breakfast Cafe on path to reach 200 locations

    Two years after Denny’s acquired the breakfast chain, it has signed commitments for over 140 units and is in the early stages of remodeling more than 50 locations.

    By Dec. 4, 2024
  • Applegreen
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    Permission granted by Applegreen
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    Applegreen to open larger travel centers in the US as part of $1B investment

    The Dublin-based company plans to also expand its foodservice and EV charging infrastructure across the U.S., Ireland and the U.K.

    By Brett Dworski • Dec. 3, 2024
  • Wendy's Global Next Gen store design features a pick-up window for delivery orders and in-store shelving for digital pick-up orders.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Flynn Group buys 32 more Wendy’s

    The large multi-unit operator now owns about 5% of Wendy’s U.S. store system, plus its Australian and New Zealand master franchises.

    By Nov. 21, 2024
  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box sales continue to lag, but unit count grows

    Comparable sales headwinds haven’t slowed Jack in the Box’s growth, with the brand opening more stores than it closed for the second year in a row.

    By Nov. 21, 2024
  • A rendering of a green building in a corner unit with Griddle & Go branding.
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    Permission granted by Perkins
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    Perkins signs 10-unit agreement for fast casual concept

    In its largest deal since the concept was introduced in September, Griddle & Go will open in New Jersey in October 2025.

    By Nov. 21, 2024
  • An image inside a restaurant crowded with people. The wall says Fresh Brothers."
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    Retrieved from Fresh Brothers on November 18, 2024
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    Craveworthy buys emerging pizza brand

    The multi-brand platform has been on an acquisition spree in 2024, buying Sigri Indian BBQ and Untamed Brands, among others.

    By Nov. 19, 2024
  • An image of Quarter Pounder, fries and a drink from McDonald's
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    Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s invests $100M to help franchisees recover from E. coli outbreak

    About $35 million will go toward marketing programs that will help drive traffic and rebuild consumer trust.

    By Nov. 18, 2024
  • A man stands in front of two self-order kiosks at Bojangles.
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    Permission granted by Grubbrr/Bojangles
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    Bojangles to install ordering kiosks across its system

    The chicken chain said its pilot of the Grubbrr technology had high adoption rates and helped increase throughput.

    By Nov. 15, 2024
  • An image of a beige restaurant with Huddle House signage
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    Permission granted by Huddle House
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    Huddle House signs its biggest franchise deal yet

    The franchising agreement will add a significant number of units to Huddle House’s system, which has seen store counts decline in recent years.

    By Nov. 15, 2024
  • An exterior shot of a Salata store. It's a restaurant with some green umbrellas in front.
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    Courtesy of Salata
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    How Salata plans to triple its store count

    With roughly 100 stores, the salad chain is looking to fill in existing markets, develop its franchisee base and set itself apart from other fast casual brands.

    By Nov. 14, 2024
  • Jack in the Box restaurant location
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box hires Lance Tucker as CFO again

    Tucker rejoins the brand as it eyes significant franchising growth but faces comparable sales headwinds.

    By Nov. 14, 2024
  • A rendering of a Subway restaurant with tables and green walls.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway’s newest design focuses on improving the dining room experience

    During concept testing, guests said the Fresh Forward 2.0 image, which includes warmer wood tones and improved lighting, increased their chances of eating inside a Subway.

    By Nov. 14, 2024
  • A rendering of Walk-On's small prototype.
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    Courtesy of Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux
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    Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux signs first franchise deal to build smaller restaurants

    Operator Port Royal Brands will develop 20 units in Georgia and Tennessee using a prototype that will be half the size of Walk-On’s traditional restaurants.   

    By Nov. 12, 2024
  • An image of a California Pizza Kitchen restaurant.
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    Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen
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    California Pizza Kitchen signs first US franchise deal under new strategy

    Pizza brands have struggled broadly, including CPK, but the chain is betting on multi-unit operators to change its fortunes.

    By Nov. 11, 2024
  • Exterior of a Potbelly restaurant
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    Permission granted by Potbelly
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    Potbelly signs 15-store Georgia deal

    The sandwich brand’s latest move will expand its presence in the Southeast as it targets a nationwide goal of 2,000 units. 

    By Nov. 11, 2024
  • A rendering of a bar and tables with televisions hanging from the center and on the brick walls.
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    Permission granted by Walk-On's
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    Walk-On’s to open first corporate stores since 2016

    The chain will open multiple corporate-owned locations next year that feature a new interior and exterior in addition to updated kitchen equipment.

    By Nov. 7, 2024
  • A rendering of a restaurant that is both an Applebee's and an IHOP
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    Dine Brands wants to open a dozen IHOP-Applebee’s units in the US next year

    While the eye-catching new units promise greater profits, they can’t solve the sales pressure that both brands currently face.

    By Nov. 6, 2024
  • Culver's restaurant exterior
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    Courtesy of Culver's
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    EEOC alleges Culver’s operators fired a transgender worker who complained about deadnaming

    Four workers, including the transgender worker who was the subject of the harassment, were fired a day after reporting the behavior to the general manager, EEOC alleged.

    By Ginger Christ • Nov. 4, 2024
  • A rendering if a red and orange building with El Pollo Loco signage.
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    Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
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    El Pollo Loco ramps up remodel efforts with low-cost design

    A new prototype, which includes furniture upgrades and energy-efficient hoods and HVAC, will help reduce buildout costs from $2.2 million to $1.8 million.

    By Nov. 4, 2024
  • An image of a a white building with Chipotle signage at night.
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    Permission granted by Chipotle
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    Fast casual chains steam ahead with expansion as other sectors pull back

    Shake Shack, Chipotle and Wingstop are on track to open over 700 units combined this year, while targeting strong sales growth.

    By , Oct. 31, 2024
  • An image of a Perkins Express with a front counter, display cases and point-of-sales system.
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    Permission granted by Perkins
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    Perkins to open fast casual stores in Texas debut

    Griddle & Go will serve as the casual chain’s entry to the Lone Star state as it expands into major U.S. markets.

    By Oct. 30, 2024
  • A restaurant sign on an Art Deco building. The restaurant is empty, the sky beside the sign is a cold, harsh blue.
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    Roman Tiraspolsky via Getty Images
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    TGI Fridays has closed 60 stores since September

    The casual dining chain, which may be considering bankruptcy after a failed merger, has closed roughly 100 stores since January. 

    By Oct. 28, 2024