Franchising

  • A Qdoba store around dusk.
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    Permission granted by Qdoba
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    Qdoba’s latest franchise push targets Western, Southern US

    In three agreements spanning seven states, franchisees committed to build 113 new units for the fast casual burrito brand.

    By • July 9, 2026
  • A photograph of a white storefront with neon signs that say Hot Dog on a Stick
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    Permission granted by Amazing Brands
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    Hot Dog on a Stick plots growth under new ownership

    Amazing Brands believes the restaurant chain is ready for strategic growth, particularly in flagship locations like Las Vegas and other high-profile markets.

    By • July 9, 2026
  • A photograph of a person wearing a suit.
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    Courtesy of Denny's
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    Denny’s appoints COO as it focuses on turnaround

    Aaron Howard will play a critical role in Project Grand Slam, which aims to improve restaurant experiences, speed of service, traffic and execution.

    By • July 8, 2026
  • An image of a red and white building with Freddy's signage.
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    Permission granted by Freddy's
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    Freddy’s plans to reach 600 restaurants in 2026

    The chain expects to open 60 units this year and will refocus on in-line and endcap real estate to create more flexibility for its franchisees.

    By • July 7, 2026
  • A sign that says "Since 1956 Jersey Miek's Subs"
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jersey Mike’s rapid growth in 4 charts

    Since 2006, the soon-to-be public fast casual chain has grown systemwide sales at a CAGR of 20%, but that’s far from its only bright spot.

    By • July 7, 2026
  • An image of Jersey Mike's sandwiches cut in half
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    Courtesy of Jersey Mike's
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    Jersey Mike’s files for IPO

    The private equity-backed sandwich chain filed a prospectus with the SEC Thursday, highlighting its strong unit volumes and rapid growth. 

    By • July 2, 2026
  • A photograph of a person wearing a black suit.
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    Courtesy of McDonald's
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    McDonald’s taps Raising Cane’s vet to lead development

    Bryan Brown will help advance the fast food giant’s NEXT strategy, which includes restaurant redesigns and improved hospitality.

    By • July 2, 2026
  • 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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    5 of the biggest restaurant franchisee deals in H1

    From Red Robin selling company-owned stores to Mas Restaurant Group offloading 87 Taco Bell locations, operators had big opportunities to buy up restaurants and expand their portfolios.

    By • July 2, 2026
  • A daytime image of a building with beige bricks and a Tropical Smoothie Cafe sign.
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    Permission granted by Tropical Smoothie Cafe
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    How Tropical Smoothie Cafe has grown under Blackstone’s ownership

    CEO Max Wetzel said the chain expects to open 175 units this year and has a pipeline of over 900 units to open after 2026.

    By • June 29, 2026
  • Taco Bell drive-through
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    Courtesy of Yum Brands
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    Taco Bell operator sells 43 restaurants

    Mas Restaurant Group divested all of its Ohio restaurants to Southpaw just weeks after it sold 44 of its Texas units to Ghai Restaurant Group.

    By • Updated June 29, 2026
  • Estepps c-stores
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    Retrieved from Google.
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    Kentucky c-store chain to introduce PJ’s Coffee

    Estepp Energy plans to add the New Orleans java brand’s beverages to seven stores through a combination of full cafés with drive-thrus, end-cap locations and in-store counters.

    By Brett Dworski • June 26, 2026
  • A photo of the exterior of a gas station and travel stop. Text on the fuel canopy says Love's and the building features the Love's and Whataburger logos.
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    Courtesy of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
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    Why Whataburger is betting on c-stores for growth

    While it has operated in c-stores for 26 years, the Texas-based QSR chain is now ramping up its convenience retail presence as part of a broader growth strategy.

    By Brett Dworski • June 25, 2026
  • A photo of the exterior of a store. Signs on the side of the building says "Love's," "Hardees" and "Charbroiled burgers."
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    Courtesy of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
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    How to open a restaurant in a c-store

    Built-in traffic and low build-out costs make c-stores an attractive growth opportunity, but brand fit and executional discipline are essential, experts say.

    By Michael Brady • June 24, 2026
  • The side view of a Pizza Hut restaurant can be seen, with promotional posters and banners on the windows and walls.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Pizza Hut’s future is uncertain despite $2.7B sale

    Private ownership may enable a more drastic brand intervention for the struggling pizza chain.

    By • June 22, 2026
  • A photograph of a person behind class touching a blue sign that says "Come In We're Open."
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    Getty Images
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    Franchising requires strong finances, good real estate and a vibrant brand

    Restaurants need to consider their concept type, fee structures, operational procedures and financials when deciding whether to franchise, experts say.

    By Danielle McLean • June 18, 2026
  • 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
  • pizza hut
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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
  • A person wearing a gray suit smiles at the camera
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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
  • racetrac
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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