Franchising

  • An image of a white building with signage that says "Jollibee Home of the Famous ChickenJoy"
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    hapabapa via Getty Images
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    Why Jollibee is planning a US IPO for its international business

    The company will maintain its Philippine operations and stock listing, but will create a separate public company to oversee its global footprint.

    By • Jan. 6, 2026
  • An image of various doughnuts from Krispy Kreme behind a bakery counter.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Why Krispy Kreme’s Japan sale deal is key to its turnaround plan

    The $65 million transaction is the latest in a series of asset sales by the doughnut brand meant to shave down over $900 million in long-term debt.

    By • Dec. 22, 2025
  • An image of arms holding up drinks with a Mixue store in the background
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    Courtesy of Mixue
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    China’s popular Mixue boba shop launches in US

    The brand, which offers low-priced boba tea drinks, opened its first U.S. location in Los Angeles and plans to open more in New York shortly.

    By • Dec. 22, 2025
  • An image of a building with a brick facade and a green sign that says Potbelly
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    Getty Images
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    Potbelly focuses on growth under RaceTrac

    Putting a Potbelly in every RaceTrac location isn’t on the agenda, but c-store adjacent locations could become part of the sandwich chain’s expansion plans.

    By • Dec. 22, 2025
  • A picture of a restaurant interior. Empty tables, white tile, green walls.
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    Courtesy of Perkins
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    Perkins names new brand president

    Matt Carpenter brings decades of restaurant experience from both sides of the franchisee-franchisor divide, and could help Perkins modernize and expand. 

    By • Dec. 16, 2025
  • 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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    Doherty adds Qdoba to portfolio, plans 27-unit development

    The agreement with Doherty is part of a spate of agreements by Qdoba that will result in 90 new restaurants across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.

    By • Dec. 15, 2025
  • Bicycle gig workers congregate on the street with their packs.
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    Spencer Platt via Getty Images
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    DoorDash, Uber Eats sue NYC over tip prompt rules

    The delivery aggregators allege that New York City’s requirement that they ask consumers to tip drivers before checkout abridges their freedom of speech. 

    By • Dec. 12, 2025
  • An image of a beige building with signage that says Dickey's Barbecue Pit.
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    J. Michael Jones via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Dickey’s discounting strategy is burning profits, franchisees say

    Marketing tactics like free sandwich cards, frequent loyalty perks and catering discounts made the brand the Bed Bath & Beyond of barbecue, operators say.

    By • Dec. 11, 2025
  • An image of Buffalo Wild Wings with its to-go branded section
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    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
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    Inspire Brands announces 5 executive shifts

    The restaurant giant is strengthening the leadership of its brands, especially Buffalo Wild Wings Go, its rapidly growing fast casual spin-off.

    By • Dec. 11, 2025
  • An image of a storefront with a sign that says Pieology Pizzeria.
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    sanfel via Getty Images
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    Pieology files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy after turnaround fails

    The fast casual pizza chain said it had a plan to revive dozens of underperforming stores, but investors backed out.

    By • Dec. 10, 2025
  • A lighted McDonald's sign at dusk reading 'Extra Value Meals are back.'
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s updates franchising standards over value

    The chain will begin assessing pricing decisions by its operators in January to ensure that the system continues to provide the ideal customer experience. 

    By • Dec. 9, 2025
  • A photo of the exterior of a building adjacent to gas pumps. A Sign over the door says Mooyah Burgers, Fries, Shakes
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    Permission granted by Mooyah
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    Texas-based burger chain opens first c-store-adjacent site

    Mooyah expects its Michigan location to be the first of many to run alongside gas stations.

    By Jessica Loder • Dec. 8, 2025
  • An image of a brick building with red Chick-fil-A signage
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Chick-fil-A shifts away from licensed non-traditional model

    The chain will move most of its roughly 400 licensed locations to an owner-operator model, allowing guests to access its app and loyalty program.

    By • Dec. 4, 2025
  • An image of a storefront with Auntie Anne's and Jamba branding
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    Permission granted by Focus Brands
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    GoTo Foods CEO steps down

    Jim Holthouser led the multi-brand platform through a series of changes that aimed to position it as a franchisor of choice within the restaurant industry.

    By , • Dec. 1, 2025
  • Toast, juice and bowls spread out against a white background.
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    Courtesy of Toastique
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    Toastique to open first Arizona location next month

    The fast casual brand is the latest restaurant chain to enter this part of the Sun Belt, indicating confidence in the region’s growth despite macro headwinds.

    By • Nov. 21, 2025
  • Oakberry bowls and smoothies.
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    Courtesy of Oakberry
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    Oakberry signs 100-store Texas franchising deal

    The development agreement would more than double the açaí chain’s presence in the U.S. and focuses on high-traffic, high-visibility locations in metro areas.

    By • Nov. 19, 2025
  • 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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    Why private equity is buying restaurant franchisees

    Improved conditions for financing, driven largely by lower interest rates, are fueling acquisitions.

    By Michael Brady • Nov. 19, 2025
  • A beige building with a green sign and white lettering that says "Panera Bread."
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Why Panera’s CEO prioritizes hospitality over tech

    Paul Carbone said the chain is improving order accuracy and store layouts, rather than deploying “technology that’s looking for a problem to solve.”

    By • Nov. 13, 2025
  • Plates of breakfast food.
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    Courtesy of IHOP
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    Inside Dine’s push for value, dual-branded development

    Applebee’s and IHOP are making sales and traffic gains after the company emphasized both brands’ low-priced menu items this year.

    By • Nov. 13, 2025
  • Culver's restaurant exterior
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    Courtesy of Culver's
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    How Culver’s home-grown franchisees power its growth

    By turning long-tenured GMs into owner-operators, the chain ensures a steady supply of franchisees who are committed to the brand and have significant operational experience.

    By • Nov. 12, 2025
  • An evening image of a Burger King in China
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    Robert Way via Getty Images
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    RBI sells majority stake in Burger King China business

    A joint venture with Chinese asset manager CPE will focus on growing the chain from 1,250 units to 4,000 by the end of 2035.

    By • Nov. 10, 2025
  • An image of a gray building with a black sign that says "&pizza"
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    Permission granted by &pizza
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    Why emerging chain &pizza just bought a Tex-Mex brand

    The creation of Latitude Food Group will allow for &pizza and Tijuana Flats to share resources while they look to grow outside their regional bases.

    By • Nov. 7, 2025
  • An image of a co-branded Applebee's, IHOP restaurant
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    Dine Brands to open 80 dual-branded US restaurants by end of 2026

    CEO John Peyton said there is white space opportunity in the U.S. to open about 900 co-branded Applebee’s/IHOP locations, which reap up to twice the sales of standard units.

    By • Nov. 5, 2025
  • An exterior image of a white restaurant with a yellow decoration and signs that say Church's Chicken
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    Courtesy of Church's Chicken
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    Church’s Texas Chicken hires Jimmy John’s vet as development chief

    Bobby Morena will help the chicken QSR reach its goal of $2 billion in systemwide sales through domestic franchising growth.

    By • Nov. 3, 2025
  • 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, Flynn Group strike 160-store development deal

    The agreement is the first step in Flynn’s push to increase its investment in scaling potential breakout brands.

    By • Nov. 3, 2025