Finances and Deals: Page 4

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    Halfpoint via Getty Images
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    Q&A

    Ask an expert: How can brands protect struggling franchisees from bankruptcy?

    A bad franchisee can do “irreparable harm” to its parent chain, but early intervention can help avoid sales shortfalls and covenant defaults, said Chris Desiderio of Nixon Peabody.

    By • April 15, 2024
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    Permission granted by Waitr Holdings
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    ASAP goes bust

    ASAP, once known as Waitr, ceased its operations over the last few weeks and let go of its executives, prior to filing for Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Tuesday.

    By • Updated April 2, 2024
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    Violeta Stoimenova via Getty Images
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    Trendline

    Restaurant Financing

    With ongoing macroeconomic pressures facing restaurants, operators are entering into alternative financing, mergers and acquisitions and even bankruptcy to sustain their businesses. 

    By Restaurant Dive staff
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    Courtesy of Chipotle
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    Fast casuals outperform QSRs as pricing erodes fast food’s low-income advantage

    Chains like Chipotle and Wingstop exceeded analyst expectations for sales and EBITDA last quarter, while QSR giants lagged, per a TD Cowen report.

    By • April 1, 2024
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    Courtesy of Five Iron Golf
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    Danny Meyer’s PE firm invests $20M in Five Iron Golf

    Enlightened Hospitality Investments’ minority investment will help the golf-simulator chain accelerate growth and increase its offerings. 

    By • March 12, 2024
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    Retrieved from Chipotle on October 03, 2023
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    Chipotle doubles tech venture fund spending to $100M

    The chain’s second round of $50 million for its Cultivate Next fund comes less than two years after the project was announced, and as Chipotle tests equipment developed by partner companies.

    By • Feb. 28, 2024
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    iStock/Jacob Wackerhausen

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    Sponsored by Instant Financial

    The cost of cash for restaurants

    Reduce your cash tips costs by moving to an electronic employee tips solution, with no fees.

    Feb. 26, 2024
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    Courtesy of Dunkin'
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    Roark rumored to be seeking Inspire Brands IPO

    With a potential valuation of $20 billion, an IPO for the parent company of Dunkin’ and Arby’s would be one of the biggest in the restaurant industry in over 20 years. 

    By • Feb. 15, 2024
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    Kate Tornone/Restaurant Dive
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    Boston Market owner Jay Pandya files for bankruptcy a second time

    Pandya originally filed for bankruptcy in December, but that case was dismissed after he failed to respond to court orders for more information. 

    By • Feb. 14, 2024
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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
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    Kate Tornone/Restaurant Dive
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    US Foods wins $11.9M suit against Boston Market by default

    A federal judge found Boston Market engaged in bad faith and intentionally avoided engaging with process servers in a lawsuit over unpaid bills.

    By • Feb. 1, 2024
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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
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    Permission granted by Caribou Coffee
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    JDE Peet’s reaches $260M licensing deal with Caribou Coffee

    The transaction will allow JDE Peet’s to expand its premium portfolio in North America, while Caribou could focus on its growing coffeehouse business. 

    By Christopher Doering • Jan. 22, 2024
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Thai Union Group looks to sell stake in Red Lobster

    The seafood group, which been a minority stakeholder in Red Lobster since 2016, said it decided to divest after ongoing financial troubles at the chain.

    By • Jan. 17, 2024
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    RBI to acquire Carrols Restaurant Group for $1B

    The transaction, which closed in Q2, will accelerate the pace of the franchisee’s Burger King remodels from 45 to 120 annually.

    By • Jan. 16, 2024
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    TGI Fridays to close 36 underperforming restaurants

    The casual chain also sold eight units in the Northeast to former CEO Ray Blanchette following a year of C-suite upheaval.

    By • Jan. 4, 2024
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    Courtesy of Pinstripes
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    Pinstripes bowls into public markets

    After completing its combination with Banyan Acquisition Corp. last week, the eatertainment chain began trading on the New York Stock Exchange Tuesday.

    By • Jan. 2, 2024
  • Burger King gets a fresh look
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    A look back at 8 major franchisee bankruptcies in 2023

    Burger King, Popeyes, McDonald’s and more saw multi-unit operators go belly-up due to struggles with inflation, low traffic and rising costs.

    By • Dec. 1, 2023
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    Courtesy of Toast Media Kit
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    Toast’s growth slows

    The restaurant fintech noticed “a modest slowdown” in same-store sales in the latter half of Q3 that continued into October, the company’s CFO said Tuesday.

    By Caitlin Mullen • Nov. 8, 2023
  • A Denny's location in Emeryville, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Denny’s franchisee files for bankruptcy

    Denn-Ohio reported negative net income of $1.3 million in 2022 after struggling with rising labor, food and delivery costs for two years. 

    By • Nov. 3, 2023
  • A TCBY store in Fort Collins, Colorado, in 2013.
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    River North Photography via Getty Images
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    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 • Oct. 26, 2023
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    Spencer Platt / Staff via Getty Images
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    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 • Oct. 20, 2023
  • The storefront of an Insomnia Cookies bakery is pictured in East Lansing, Michigan on October 22, 2014.
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    "E Lansing Insomnia Cookies" by Infrogmation of New Orleans is licensed under CC BY 2.0
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    Krispy Kreme mulls sale of Insomnia Cookies

    As the doughnut chain pursues capital-light growth and partnerships in the QSR space, its may part with Insomnia to refocus on core products. 

    By • Oct. 3, 2023
  • Burger King gets a fresh look
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    Courtesy of Burger King
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    Burger King buys 32 franchisee units at bankruptcy auction

    The chain bought the units, which are in Montana, Utah and Wyoming, from a sale of Meridian Restaurants Unlimited locations.

    By • Sept. 28, 2023
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    Courtesy of Pinstripes
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    Pinstripes hires CFO, CMO as it prepares public debut

    Tony Querciagrossa and Shannon Keller join the brand as CFO and CMO, respectively, as the 14-unit chain gears up for significant growth.

    By • Sept. 27, 2023
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    garett_mosher via Getty Images
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    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 • Sept. 22, 2023