Franchising: Page 2

  • A closed Burgerim in Ashburn, Virginia
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    Julie Littman/Restaurant Dive
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    Judge bars Burgerim and its founder from selling franchises

    Burgerim could owe the FTC up to $56 million in civil penalties and money earmarked for consumer redress. Oren Loni, CEO and founder of the disgraced restaurant chain, settled separately in November. 

    By • Feb. 23, 2024
  • Jim Metevier, Mountain Mike's CEO, looks at the camera.
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    Courtesy of Mountain Mike's Pizza
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    Mountain Mike’s Pizza appoints longtime COO as CEO

    Jim Metevier, who has overseen the pizza brand's operations since 2018, will lead the chain as it looks to grow beyond its West Coast base.

    By • Feb. 22, 2024
  • A newly paved parking lot at a under construction fast food restaurant.
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    WendellandCarolyn via Getty Images
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    QSR franchised units to grow 2.2% in 2024, IFA says

    Despite ongoing labor pressure and high costs of doing business, the QSR industry will add over 4,300 units this year and become the second fastest-growing franchise industry, per the association.

    By • Feb. 21, 2024
  • A photograph of a Denny's sign over some trees.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Denny’s is still shrinking

    The chain's system has contracted 9% since 2017, and may shrink again in 2024 as the company forecasts comparable sales growth between 0% and 3%.

    By • Feb. 21, 2024
  • 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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    Focus Brands renames itself GoTo Foods

    The name change is designed to highlight the value its brand portfolio, including Moe’s Southwest Grill, Auntie Anne’s, Carvel and Cinnabon, offers to consumers and franchisees.

    By • Feb. 20, 2024
  • tim Hortons drive thru only
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    Courtesy of Tim Hortons
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    Restaurant Brands International targets 40K stores globally by 2028

    The Burger King and Tim Hortons owner plans to grow its global footprint by 9,000 stores by 2028, driven by international development and strengthened home-market performance.

    By • Feb. 16, 2024
  • An image of Burger King restaurant in a new design
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    How Burger King boosted franchisee profitability in 2023

    Following the franchisor’s hefty investments in marketing, remodels and redesigns, operators reported higher than expected profitability.

    By • Feb. 14, 2024
  • An image of a Taco Bell store.
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Flynn Group reportedly seeking $5B majority stake sale

    The country’s largest franchisee has about $4.5 billion in annual sales and grew much of its portfolio in recent years through various acquisitions. 

    By • Feb. 12, 2024
  • The exterior of a Del Taco during the evening
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    What’s behind Del Taco’s franchising surge

    The Mexican QSR chain signed over 138 franchise commitments in fiscal 2023 and plans to be over 90% franchised by 2026, said Van Ingram, Del Taco’s VP of franchise development.

    By • Feb. 9, 2024
  • Popeyes signage
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    Courtesy of Popeyes
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    17-unit Popeyes franchisee files for bankruptcy

    RRG said losses at three of its units made it impossible to sustain timely lease payments at its remaining stores, pushing the operator to seek Chapter 11 protections.

    By • Feb. 6, 2024
  • A remodeled McDonald's.
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    garett_mosher via Getty Images
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    McDonald’s franchisee settles rape case for $4.35M

    McDonald’s franchisee Rice Enterprises will sell its restaurants to fund a $4.35M settlement with a minor who was sexually assaulted by a manger.

    By • Feb. 6, 2024
  • An image of Toni Ronayne, Perkins president, and Steven Roach, CTO of Ascent Hospitality
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    Permission granted by Ascent Hospitality Management
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    Ascent Hospitality bolsters C-suite with CTO, Perkins president hires

    Toni Ronayne will lead Perkins after serving as managing director, Canada at Little Caesars, while Steven Roach becomes chief technology officer after working at Focus Brands.

    By • Feb. 5, 2024
  • An image of Subway's footlong cookies, pretzels and churros
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway sells 3.5M Sidekick snack items within 2 weeks of launch

    The chain’s Footlong Cookies have been so popular that it temporarily removed them from digital ordering platforms to better manage demand. 

    By • Feb. 2, 2024
  • Jason Maceda, Inspire Brands' new chief development officer, smiles in front of some branded items.
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    Courtesy of Inspire Brands
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    Inspire Brands promotes Jason Maceda to development chief

    Maceda will oversee the restaurant company’s franchise growth as part of a reorganization of its corporate structure.

    By • Jan. 31, 2024
  • Pick-up zone at Burger King
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    Michael Thomas via Getty Images
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    Deep Dive

    Cost pressures may drive restaurant franchisee bankruptcies in 2024

    Issues with margins or cash flow due to supply shocks, labor shortages and other disruptions can push operators into covenant default over their debts, experts said.

    By • Jan. 30, 2024
  • A Boston Market sign is shown.
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    Kate Tornone/Restaurant Dive
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    Boston Market’s fee-free growth push raises questions

    The beleaguered chicken chain, which has faced hundreds of closures and numerous lawsuits, wants to expand into non-traditional locations with no buy-in requirements for operators. 

    By • Jan. 26, 2024
  • Exterior of a Potbelly restaurant
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    Permission granted by Potbelly
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    Potbelly has signed 192 development agreements in 16 months

    The signings are part of Potbelly’s Franchise Growth Acceleration initiative, which launched in 2022, to become 85% franchised and reach 2,000 units. 

    By • Jan. 25, 2024
  • An Applebee's in New York City
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    Courtesy of Doherty Enterprises
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    Doherty Enterprises buys 21 Applebee’s restaurants

    The acquisition will expand the franchisee’s territory to include the Five Boroughs of New York City and Westchester County. 

    By • Jan. 19, 2024
  • An image of serveral food items from Taco Bell's Craving's Value Menu
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    Courtesy of Taco Bell
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    Restaurants are cranking up value in 2024 — but traffic may not follow

    Chains from Taco Bell to Popeyes are pushing more promotions for low-priced items, but analysts said they expect few improvements to traffic and margins.

    By • Jan. 18, 2024
  • A portrait photograph of Tatiana Lambert, Wendy's new U.S. chief development officer.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s hires Yum exec to lead US development

    Tatiana Lambert will lead the company’s domestic expansion as it looks to grow its franchisee base and build new restaurant formats.

    By • Jan. 17, 2024
  • The results of a roll call vote to pass a measure rejecting the NLRB's joint employer rule
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    Retrieved from The House of Representatives on January 12, 2024
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    House votes to overturn NLRB’s joint employer rule

    The House may disapprove of joint employer, which would increase restaurant franchisor liability for employees, but Senate maneuvering will determine the fate of the rule.

    By • Updated Jan. 12, 2024
  • QDOBA Burrito
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    Courtesy of QDOBA
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    How Qdoba is plotting growth in Chipotle’s shadow

    Chipotle’s company-owned business model has left a franchised-shape hole in the Mexican fast casual sector. Qdoba wants to fill it.

    By • Jan. 11, 2024
  • An image of Papa Johns sign on a store
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    Courtesy of Papa Johns
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    How Papa Johns plans to boost margins, store-level profitability

    The second phase of the pizza chain’s Back to Better initiative will focus on a new nationwide marketing strategy, development incentives for franchisees and supply chain improvements in North America.

    By • Jan. 10, 2024
  • An photograph of five people behind a desk.
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    Courtesy of Pret A Manger
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    The biggest franchise agreements of 2023

    From Caribou Coffee to Hawaiian Bros, several chains signed large multi-unit deals as part of their aggressive growth strategies. 

    By • Dec. 22, 2023
  • Beef O' Brady's restaurant
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    Permission granted by Beef O' Brady's
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    FSC Franchising buys Newk’s Eatery

    The owner of The Brass Tap and Beef ‘O’ Brady’s, plans to add 10 to 15 units annually to Newk’s system. 

    By • Dec. 20, 2023