C3 and Craveworthy Brands to franchise Soom Soom concept

The companies plan to sell 80 franchise locations of the Mediterranean fast casual by 2027, marking another step toward traditional franchising for the virtual brand operator.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 31, 2023

Bonchon to try ghost kitchens in 2 US markets

The Korean fried chicken chain is moving into non-traditional formats to add flexibility and make development less expensive.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 30, 2023

NLRB delays effective date of joint employer rule to February

In a reprieve for franchisors, the National Labor Relations Board pushed back the date its joint employer rule would take effect to early next year.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Updated Nov. 20, 2023

TCBY, Mrs. Fields franchisor acquired by Pearl Street Equity

The purchase of the brands, for an undisclosed sum, is intended to “take [their] franchisee support to the next level.”

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Oct. 26, 2023

Fat Brands debuts first co-branded Fatburger, Round Table Pizza unit

The restaurant is the first of four dual-branded units to be operated by Fat Brands’ franchisee SNM Management Group in Dallas.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 25, 2023

Marco’s Pizza aims to unseat Papa Johns as fourth-largest US pizza chain

Marco’s has identified over 4,200 locations where it could open smaller units in the next five to 10 years, Chief Development Officer Gerardo Flores said.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 23, 2023

Pret A Manger enters joint venture with franchisee to extend US growth

Existing franchisee Dallas International will take control of 50 units across the Northeast and develop 10 more on the East Coast by 2026.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 20, 2023

Golden Corral fast casual spin-off to open in December

Homeward Kitchen, which will debut in North Carolina, will help fuel company’s ongoing expansion plan and help Golden Corral reach new demographics.

By Julie Littman • Updated Oct. 20, 2023

BurgerFi expands non-traditional channels with planned movie theater opening

The chain, which continues to struggle with slumping same-store sales, is leaning into alternative locations to boost brand awareness and expansion. 

By Julie Littman • Oct. 20, 2023

Paris Baguette appoints Duck Donuts exec as chief development officer

Eric Lavinder brings over 20 years of restaurant experience to the cafe chain, which aims to reach 1,000 units in the U.S. by 2030.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 9, 2023

How Golden Corral survived COVID-19

After the pandemic bankrupted several buffet chains, Golden Corral is focusing on growth and offering franchise incentives to offset high operating costs.

By Julie Littman • Oct. 6, 2023

McDonald’s franchisees worry chain will increase royalties for existing operations

The chain will raise royalty rates from 4% to 5% for new and refranchised units in January, but operators say the bigger cost will come from a rent increase, per a BTIG report. 

By Julie Littman • Oct. 3, 2023

Subway operators ordered to pay nearly $1M in back wages, shutter operations

The U.S. Department of Labor found the franchisees told children as young as 14 and 15 to use dangerous equipment, had minors work illegal hours and issued bad checks for payroll. 

By Julie Littman • Oct. 2, 2023

McDonald’s will raise royalty rate on new US restaurants by 25%

The fee change increases operator royalty rates from 4% to 5%, but most of the Golden Arches’ franchising revenue will still come from rent, CNBC reports. 

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 22, 2023

Bojangles to surpass 1K units with current development plans

The chicken chain has a 250-unit pipeline and is expanding into non-traditional segments, including travel centers, universities and stadiums.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 20, 2023

Chick-fil-A to return to UK in 2025 with first permanent location

The fast food chain, which is eying additional locations in Europe and Asia, will invest $100 million during the next decade in the country. 

By Julie Littman • Sept. 15, 2023

California state Senate passes major restaurant labor compromise

The labor deal replaced the council outlined in AB 257 with a weakened version, set a $20 sectoral minimum wage, and averted a fight over joint-employer liability.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 14, 2023

How Ascent Hospitality reinvigorated franchising at Perkins, Huddle House

Prior to Peter Ortiz joining Ascent Hospitality as chief development officer, growth was virtually at a standstill for the brands. Now they have signed over 70 franchise agreements.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 13, 2023

Papa Johns makes executive adjustments to support domestic, international growth

Amanda Clark, currently chief international and development officer, will become chief operating officer, international. Joe Sieve, chief restaurant officer, will assume North American development responsibilities, effective Sept. 18.

By Julie Littman • Sept. 13, 2023

Del Taco gets new president

Tom Rose takes the helm at the QSR brand as it refranchises large numbers of stores and pushes for a return to net unit growth.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 13, 2023

Restaurant industry, labor groups to kill CA’s FAST Act referendum with labor council deal

A major amendment to AB 1228 would scrap joint-employer liability and set a $20 minimum wage for QSR chains with 60 or more units.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 11, 2023

Potbelly CEO hopes digital kitchen will fuel franchise growth

The sandwich chain is refranchising restaurants in underpenetrated markets where it wants to scale quickly, and an efficiency-focused, digitized backline is proving attractive, said Bob Wright.

By Emma Liem Beckett • Sept. 8, 2023

IFA CEO: Restaurant franchise model threatened by joint employer revisions

California’s AB 1228 would require franchisors and franchisees to share joint liability for adherence to labor law, which undermines the “business for yourself, but not by yourself” goal, says Matthew Haller.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 1, 2023

Bonchon US appoints chief growth officer

Suzie Tsai brings considerable experience from On the Border and Brinker to the Korean chicken chain as it looks to double its American footprint.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Sept. 1, 2023

Pokeworks promotes CFO to CEO

Regina Cheung will continue to serve as CFO as the brand focuses on entering new markets and boosting franchisee profitability.

By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Aug. 31, 2023