Franchising

  • A daytime photograph of a building with a stone facade and a large red sign that says "Red Robin." The parking lot in front of the building is empty.
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    Brett_Hondow via Getty Images
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    Red Robin refranchises 86 units for $72.5M

    Since May, the brand has entered three agreements to offload over 100 restaurants to franchisees as it works to raise capital to pay down debt.

    By • June 16, 2026
  • An evening image of Marco's Pizza
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    Permission granted by Marco's Pizza
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    Marco’s Pizza invests $1M in secondary Florida HQ

    The pizza chain is planning significant openings this year, and a new operations center will bring its training and support closer to key growth markets.

    By • June 16, 2026
  • An image of a Twin Peaks restaurant with wooden exteriors.
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Twin Peaks franchisees take over management of brand

    Summit Acquisitions, a firm made up of tenured operators, will oversee operations and growth strategy as the brand emerges from bankruptcy.

    By • Updated June 16, 2026
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    Retrieved from Pizza Hut.
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    Yum Brands sells Pizza Hut for $2.7B

    The company will sell the chain to LongRange Capital and Yum China Holdings in two separate transactions following a review of strategic alternatives.

    By • Updated June 16, 2026
  • An image of a restaurant with a logo that says "on the border mexican grill & cantina."
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    The image by Dwight Burdette is licensed under CC BY 3.0
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    On the Border has just 5 restaurants left

    The Tex-Mex chain was left out of casual dining’s revival and closed about 30 of its company-owned restaurants in the last week.

    By • June 15, 2026
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    Permission granted by Zaxbys
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    Zaxbys hires Waffle House vet as chief development officer

    Russell Holland, who has served as interim CDO since February, will support the chain’s aggressive growth as it expands past 1,000 units.

    By • June 12, 2026
  • An image of a small restaurant with people gathered around. Thereis 7 Brew signage.
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    Permission granted by 7 Brew
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    7 Brew on pace to reach 1K units this year in challenge to Dutch Bros

    The drive-thru coffee chain has reached 777 units so far and has more than 250 stores in its pipeline, gaining on its rival’s footprint of nearly 1,200 stores.

    By • June 12, 2026
  • A photograph of a co-branded Wetzel's Pretzels and Cold Stone Creamery inside a mall.
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    Permission granted by Wetzel's Pretzels/Cold Stone Creamery
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    How Wetzel’s, Cold Stone use co-branding to entice diners

    With two concepts in one, franchisees have a larger menu, bigger storefronts and other opportunities they wouldn’t have had with a single brand.

    By • June 10, 2026
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    Courtesy of RaceTrac
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    RaceTrac’s upcoming c-store near Atlanta headquarters will feature a Potbelly

    This appears to be RaceTrac’s first confirmed location with a Potbelly on site since the retailer acquired the sandwich chain last year.

    By Brett Dworski • June 9, 2026
  • A sign is posted in front of a Taco Bell restaurant on May 01, 2024 in Richmond, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Major Taco Bell franchisee sells 44 restaurants

    Ghai Restaurants bought the Houston-area stores from Mas Restaurant Group for an undisclosed sum, more than doubling its Taco Bell footprint. 

    By • June 1, 2026
  • A photogrpah of a multi-colored building with a sign in red that says "Red Robin."
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    CRobertson via Getty Images
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    Red Robin sells 30 company-owned units for $23.5M

    Evergreen Dining purchased the restaurants in Washington and Western Idaho and will continue to operate them under the Red Robin brand.

    By • May 29, 2026
  • A crowd of people stand in front of a dark gray building with a logo that says Saladworks
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    Courtesy of Woworks
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    Woworks hires former Subway exec as chief growth officer

    James Walker joins the six-branded company as it continues to expand nationwide through single-concept and co-branded locations.

    By • May 29, 2026
  • An image of hot dogs on a table.
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    Permission granted by DogHaus
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    Dog Haus signs 50-unit deal, adds new execs

    The hot dog chain hopes recruiting high-performing operators from other restaurants will help it grow from over 50 stores to 1,500.

    By • May 29, 2026
  • A concept image of a Dairy Queen Grill & Chill store
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    Courtesy of Dairy Queen
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    Dairy Queen adds $150K development incentive for food-focused stores

    The cash incentive and further rewards for multi-unit development could help the brand grow its Grill & Chill concept. 

    By • May 27, 2026
  • An image of Tijuana Flats
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    Permission granted by Tijuana Flats
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    Tijuana Flats relaunches franchising

    Under Latitude Food Group’s ownership, the 100-unit fast casual chain will partner with operators to open new units and refranchise select stores.

    By • May 27, 2026
  • A photograph of a gray storefrot with a yellow sign that says Qdoba
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    jetcityimage via Getty Images
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    Qdoba completes $435M whole business securitization

    The transaction will allow the chain to refinance debt, providing liquidity to help it reach 2,000 units and support investments in remodels and digital makelines.

    By • May 27, 2026
  • A photograph of a co-branded Wetzel's Pretzels and Cold Stone Creamery inside a mall.
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    Permission granted by Wetzel's Pretzels/Cold Stone Creamery
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    Wetzel’s Pretzels, Cold Stone to open 17 co-branded units

    The dual-concept units will provide daypart expansion, additional revenue streams and efficient store models for franchisees.

    By • May 14, 2026
  • An photograph of a building sign that says Chicken Salad Chick drive-thru with red and green balloons underneath.
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    Courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Chicken Salad Chick signs 25-store deal in New York

    The development agreement is the chain’s first in the state, and its largest in terms of unit count, marking a major step in its national expansion plan.

    By • May 14, 2026
  • An exterior image of a Pizza Hut with bricks and red signage
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    Courtesy of Yum Brands/Pizza Hut
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    Pizza Hut franchisee says AI caused $100M in damages

    Chaac Pizza Northeast, which depends on DoorDash to deliver its orders, said the chain’s Dragontail AI system hurt delivery times and damaged operations.

    By • May 14, 2026
  • A Swig Dirty Soda location with a drive-thru.
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    Courtesy of Swig
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    Swig is bringing dirty sodas to Colorado

    The chain, known for its indulgent soft drink concoctions, is pushing for national growth as QSRs join the beverage trend and stoke consumer demand. 

    By • May 13, 2026
  • A Dunkin' location
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Dunkin’ is coming back to Canada after 8 years away

    Foodtastic, a major Canadian foodservice operator, will help Inspire Brands’ doughnutmaker invade Tim Hortons’ home market.

    By • May 13, 2026
  • Corner Bakery storefront
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    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
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    How refranchising is helping Corner Bakery rise from ‘scorched earth’

    After years of focus on hospitality, menu reconstruction and unit economics, the fast casual brand is looking to recruit its next generation of operators.

    By • May 12, 2026
  • An interior of a restaurant with signs that say Applebee's and IHOP
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    Permission granted by Dine Brands
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    Dine Brands focuses on new unit growth, dual-brand expansion

    The company more than doubled its new unit count during the first quarter, driven by dual-branded openings, relocations and single-concept openings at Applebee’s and IHOP.

    By • May 8, 2026
  • A photograh of a beige stone building with four windows out front. It has a yello face and while McDonald's logo.
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    Neal McNeil via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s value, menu innovation drive positive Q1 comparable sales

    Traffic could build in the U.S. with the second-quarter launch of an Under $3 Menu and beverage expansion.

    By • May 7, 2026
  • A rendering of a Subway restaurant with tables and green walls.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway closed at least 729 stores in 2025

    This marks the beleaguered chain’s steepest decline since 2021, driven by oversaturation and a low average unit volume.

    By • May 5, 2026