Franchising

  • A pretzel shop in an airport.
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    jessicaphoto via Getty Images
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    Auntie Anne’s airport strategy takes flight

    High-traffic, high-volume locations connect the brand to new consumers, setting the stage for expansion beyond captive audience venues. 

    By • Aug. 25, 2025
  • Customer spending rising due to inflation
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Opinion

    Improving franchise profitability in uncertain times

    Uncertainty caused by tariffs and interest rates may be hurting consumer traffic, but it shouldn’t stop savvy investments, Alicia Chandler from First Franchise Capital Corporation says.

    By Alicia Chandler • Aug. 22, 2025
  • A fast casual restaurant with a celebratory crowd ready for its opening.
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    Courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Chicken Salad Chick targets Northeast, Southwest for franchised expansion

    The fast casual chain plans to grow in Arizona, Nevada, New Jersey, New York and Utah after its store system increased 13% last year.

    By • Aug. 21, 2025
  • The sign on a Bojangles restaurant
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    Courtesy of Bojangles
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    Bojangles signs 20-unit New York franchise deal

    With its return to the Big Apple and a 35-store agreement for New Jersey, Bojangles is poised to establish a major foothold in the Northeast.

    By • Aug. 14, 2025
  • An image of six cookies of different colors and flavors in front of a white background.
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands, Virtual Dining Concepts
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    Fat Brands to serve Great American Cookies at Chuck E. Cheese

    The delivery-only partnership with Virtual Dining Concepts will bring the cookie brand to 400 Chuck E. Cheese locations initially.

    By • Aug. 12, 2025
  • Zaxbys first Arizona unit, a restaurant with white walls and blue awnings
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    Courtesy of Zaxbys
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    Zaxbys’ Southwestern growth continues with Phoenix store

    The chicken chain is growing far beyond its Southeastern base, putting pressure on larger QSRs that are innovating with poultry menus. 

    By • Aug. 11, 2025
  • An image of Burger King restaurant in a new design
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King speeds up refranchising, adds late-night hours

    Investments in everything from remodels to operating hours helped the chain’s U.S. stores find some sales strength this quarter.

    By • Aug. 7, 2025
  • Person in suit holds Qdoba queso
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    Courtesy of Qdoba
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    Qdoba secures $527M fund to support growth

    The investment was led by Apollo S3, a subsidiary of the private equity firm that sold Qdoba to Butterfly in 2022.

    By • Aug. 6, 2025
  • An image of a beige storefront with an orange logo that says "Hubspoke Kitchen"
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    Permission granted by Wayback Franchising
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    Why Wayback Burgers’ parent is moving into multi-brand franchising

    Jake’s Franchising renamed itself Wayback Franchising and launched Hubspoke Brands to offer franchisees more concepts and growth opportunities.

    By • July 31, 2025
  • An image of a glass storefront with a sign that says "PopUp Bagels
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    Courtesy of PopUp Bagels
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    PopUp Bagels bakes up 300-unit franchise pipeline

    The company, which has only a handful of stores, plans to hit 100 units by the end of 2027.

    By • July 29, 2025
  • An image of three burgers on a white place in front of a basket of curly fries and a glass of brown soda.
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    Courtesy of Wahlburgers
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    Wahlburgers expands into Detroit airport

    Airports are becoming a key growth channel for the burger chain, which also has locations in casinos, naval bases, ballparks and racecourses.

    By • July 28, 2025
  • A photograph of Shipley Do-Nuts
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    Permission granted by Shipley Do-Nuts
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    Shipley Do-Nuts sold to Levine Leichtman

    The chain’s new owners grew Tropical Smoothie Cafe into a brand valued at $2 billion. Now they want to repeat that success with the doughnut maker.

    By • July 28, 2025
  • A portrait photo of a smiling woman wearing black.
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    Permission granted by Yum Brands
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    KFC US hires chief growth officer

    Tiffany Furman joins the chain from The Habit Burger & Grill, where she helped oversee the brand’s transformation after its acquisition by Yum.

    By • July 25, 2025
  • A photograph of the outside of a Bonchon restaurant.
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    Permission granted by Bonchon
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    Bonchon signals speedy US growth with new hires

    The Korean fried chicken chain plans to expand its global system from about 500 stores to 1,000 in five years, with the U.S. accounting for much of that development.

    By • July 24, 2025
  • The exterior of a Del Taco with several empty parking lots out front
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Del Taco reopens Colorado stores in phases

    Months after an operator closed all of its locations in the state, the chain is in the process of opening 17 with new kiosks and refreshed in-store experiences.

    By • July 23, 2025
  • A sign for a Friendly's restaurant against gray clouds
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    Joe Raedle via Getty Images
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    Brix Holdings acquired by Friendly’s franchisee

    CEO Sherif Mityas will continue to lead Brix, which plans to expand its marquee family dining brand in Georgia, the Carolinas and Texas.

    By • July 22, 2025
  • Dunkin' signage is shown
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    Michael M. Santiago / Staff via Getty Images
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    Worker says Dunkin’ franchisee retaliated after she researched tip law

    “That’s AI,” the worker’s supervisor allegedly said in response to her findings. “That’s not real.”

    By Emilie Shumway • July 21, 2025
  • The exterior of a Del Taco during the evening
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Southern Del Taco franchisee goes bankrupt

    Matadoor Restaurant Group, which owns 22 units in Georgia and Alabama, struggled with sales declines and rising operating costs.

    By • July 17, 2025
  • An exterior shot of a Red Robin restaurant, which is lit from inside, at night
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    The image by Cbraccialini is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0
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    Red Robin could refranchise 15% of stores

    A new strategic initiative builds on the North Star program, but features an emphasis on refranchising that the company hopes will help it refinance debt.

    By • July 15, 2025
  • Love's
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    Retrieved from Naf Naf.
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    Naf Naf Grill CEO to retire

    Grady Metoyer, the brand’s CFO, will step into the interim CEO role following Greg William's retirement.

    By • July 14, 2025
  • An exterior photo of a Taim restaurant.
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    Courtesy of Taim Mediterranean Kitchen
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    Taim launches franchising in challenge to Cava

    The 14-unit fast casual brand sees an opening for a franchised chain to grow aggressively in the Mediterranean segment.

    By • July 9, 2025
  • A photograph of a Wienerschnitzel building
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    Courtesy of Wienerschnitzel
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    Wienerschnitzel targets East Coast with Virginia franchising deal

    Combined with a Walmart expansion agreement, the entry into these territories positions the 340-store hot dog chain for significant growth.

    By • July 9, 2025
  • Cheesecake Factory signage hangs on the side of a restaurant.
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    Kayla Bartkowski / Staff via Getty Images
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    Undocumented workers say Cheesecake Factory recruited them, furnished fake work papers

    The five employees alleged in a lawsuit that the business forced them to work unpaid hours, denied them breaks and more.

    By Laurel Kalser • July 7, 2025
  • A photograph of a burger, drink and fries from Fatburger.
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fatburger signs 40-store Florida expansion deal

    This agreement will make the state a major market for the burger QSR, which has been growing through international deals and co-branding.

    By • July 2, 2025
  • An aerial view of a building with white "Chili'"s sign alongside a red pepper.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Former general manager can proceed with age bias case after Chili’s failed to retain documents, 6th Circuit rules

    A former restaurant general manager raised trial questions over whether he was fired because Chili’s wanted a more youthful culture, the appeals court held.

    By Laurel Kalser • June 27, 2025