Franchising

  • An image of cold-press juices from Pressed Juicery
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Pressed Juicery
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why ghost kitchens aren’t dead for some brands

    Pressed Juicery and Chick-fil-A include delivery-centric locations to fulfill demand and acquirie new customers.

    By • Aug. 26, 2026
  • A Papa John's sign.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Joe Raedle / Staff via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Papa Johns sells 28 Florida units

    The refranchising deal in Orlando is part of the chain’s initiative to reduce the number of company-owned restaurants in North America.

    By • Aug. 26, 2026
  • A Dunkin' location
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dunkin'
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dunkin’ to return to Puerto Rico in 2027

    The doughnut and coffee chain is banking on residual brand affinity to make its return to the island territory a success.

    By • Aug. 25, 2026
  • Three flatbreads
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Smoothie King
    Image attribution tooltip

    Smoothie King sales soar after flatbread launch

    Chicken Flatbreads helped increase July same-store sales by 9%, marking the brand’s best month this year to date.

    By • Aug. 14, 2026
  • A photograph of the outside of a Bonchon restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Bonchon
    Image attribution tooltip

    Bonchon’s American division sold to PE firm

    The deal with Serruya Private Equity could help speed up the brand’s U.S. development and follows a busy period for restaurant M&A.

    By • Aug. 14, 2026
  • An interior of a restaurant with signs that say Applebee's and IHOP
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Dine Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    How Dine’s dual-brands can stave off closures

    Conversions to dual branding could generate sales lifts at struggling stores, helping IHOP and Applebee's avoid closures.

    By • Aug. 13, 2026
  • An image of Buffalo Wild Wings with its to-go branded section
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    Inspire Brands debuts first Buffalo Wild Wings Go, Jimmy John’s co-branded restaurant

    The Florida restaurant could generate higher average-unit volumes with two brands in one location offering a full menu of products.

    By • Aug. 13, 2026
  • An image of a red, turquoise and white restaurant with Moe's signage
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Moe's Southwest Grill
    Image attribution tooltip

    Why a major Moe’s operator filed for bankruptcy

    Quality Fresca spent years stabilizing its business post-COVID, but inflation and consumer shifts in 2025 undid the 38-store franchisee’s work. 

    By • Aug. 11, 2026
  • Wendy's
    Image attribution tooltip
    Thai Phi Le/Restaurant Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Some Wendy’s franchisees cut breakfast, and it’s hurting traffic

    The brand is trying to improve the daypart, which now represents roughly 5% of sales compared to 8% in Q2 2020, as part of a broader menu review.

    By • Updated Aug. 10, 2026
  • a drive-thru coffee shop with 7 Brew branding at dusk.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of 7 Brew
    Image attribution tooltip

    7 Brew debuts app, overhauls loyalty system

    The new app could aid the coffee brand’s growth by driving sales and raising the quality and volume of consumer data it collects.

    By • Aug. 6, 2026
  • An image of a small restaurant with a red facade that has a white logo saying Checkers. There is a woman waiting at a pickup window and a blue car at a drive-thru window.
    Image attribution tooltip
    The image by Pokemonprime is licensed under CC BY 4.0
    Image attribution tooltip

    Checkers & Rally’s hires development chief to return to growth

    Peter Busse, an alumnus of Torchy’s Tacos and Yum Brands, will help the burger brands plot a turnaround after years of shrinking store counts.

    By • Aug. 4, 2026
  • Inside a beverage facility that sells boba teas.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Gong cha
    Image attribution tooltip

    Gong cha inks 50-store franchise deal in Texas

    The agreement will significantly expand the bubble tea chain’s U.S. footprint, and comes after it bought 170 stores from its master franchisee in March.

    By • July 28, 2026
  • A quick service restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Church's Texas Chicken
    Image attribution tooltip

    Church’s Texas Chicken CEO says new funding will boost remodels, expansion

    An equity investment from Golub Capital will help the chicken chain convert its brand turnaround into renewed U.S. store growth.

    By • July 28, 2026
  • A gray and beige fast food building with red and white brand markings for the chain Jollibee
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Jollibee
    Image attribution tooltip

    How 4 QSR chains sped up franchised growth in H1

    From chicken chains to frozen custard joints, growing restaurant concepts are working to accelerate their store development in 2026.

    By • July 24, 2026
  • A photograph of a person sitting at a brown table holding a coffee cup.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Ziggi's Coffee
    Image attribution tooltip

    Ziggi’s Coffee taps Noodles vet as growth chief

    Stacey Pool will oversee the chain’s next phase of growth, including a pipeline of at least 200 units, which would nearly triple the chain’s current store count.

    By • July 24, 2026
  • A photograph of a Wienerschnitzel building
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Wienerschnitzel
    Image attribution tooltip

    Wienerschnitzel opens first military base location

    The restaurant at Naval Base San Diego is a major step forward for the chain’s push to tap into pre-existing consumer pools with nontraditional units.

    By • July 22, 2026
  • An exterior photo of a Taim restaurant.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Taim Mediterranean Kitchen
    Image attribution tooltip

    Craveworthy Brands to open first multi-concept restaurant

    With seven brands in one location, Crave Kitchen will offer multiple food options to students and faculty at Georgia Tech when it debuts in August.

    By • July 17, 2026
  • A photogrpah of a brick walkway with building and storefronts around it. There are a handful of people in the middle walking around.
    Image attribution tooltip
    krblokhin via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Suburban mixed-use developments offer more foot traffic, challenges

    Complexes with office and residential above retail can bring in guests and energy to restaurants, but the design and space may dictate their success.

    By Danielle McLean • July 16, 2026
  • Chipotle's first unit located in Mexico.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chipotle
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chipotle expands into Mexico

    International growth will be an important objective for the chain going forward, and lessons from its Nuevo León location will inform further development.

    By • July 14, 2026
  • Zaxbys first Arizona unit, a restaurant with white walls and blue awnings
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Zaxbys
    Image attribution tooltip

    Zaxbys debuts in New York

    The chicken tender brand’s New York City opening signals its ongoing national expansion, and comes as it emphasizes unit growth in new markets.

    By • July 13, 2026
  • An image of a gray building with a black sign that says "&pizza"
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by &pizza
    Image attribution tooltip

    &pizza’s parent company hires CEO

    James O’Reilly, former CEO of Ascent Hospitality, joined Latitude Food Group two months after Mike Burns left to lead another chain.

    By • July 13, 2026
  • A Hardee's location on a sunny day.
    Image attribution tooltip
    RiverNorthPhotography via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    60-store Hardee’s operator files for bankruptcy

    Superior Star, which was formed in 2023, lost 32 units last year due to terminations or closures.

    By • July 10, 2026
  • A Qdoba store around dusk.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Qdoba
    Image attribution tooltip

    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
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Amazing Brands
    Image attribution tooltip

    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.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Denny's
    Image attribution tooltip

    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