Franchising

  • Jack in the Box restaurant location
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box will shutter up to 200 stores, mulls Del Taco sale

    The brand will also scale back its company-owned development starting next year and sell off real estate to pay down debt.

    By • April 24, 2025
  • A close up image of a round red sign that says "Chipotle Mexican Grill."
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    Courtesy of Chipotle/Photograph by Media Wisdom Photography Ltd
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    Chipotle is going to Mexico

    Alsea, a restaurant operator with 4,700 restaurants in Latin America and Europe, will build the chain’s first Mexico location by early 2026.

    By • April 21, 2025
  • A photograph of a brick building with signage that says "Krystal"
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    Permission granted by Krystal
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    Krystal to open first Texas travel center location

    The QSR is focusing on non-traditional locations like travel centers, c-stores and airports as part of a strategy to add high-traffic restaurants to its portfolio.

    By • Updated April 17, 2025
  • A picture of Burger King signs.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    57-unit Burger King operator goes bankrupt

    Despite high performance metrics, Consolidated Burger Holdings has faced traffic declines and revenue losses since the COVID-19 pandemic.

    By • April 16, 2025
  • Noble Markets
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    Permission granted by Noble Markets
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    Noble Gas bringing Capriotti’s sandwiches to East Coast c-stores

    The retailer will open the sub shop inside its newest gas station in Enfield, Connecticut, later this month, with several more sites to come.

    By Brett Dworski • April 14, 2025
  • 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.
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    The image by Pokemonprime is licensed under CC BY 4.0
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    Checkers & Rally’s new prototype cuts square footage almost in half

    The burger brand redesigned its kitchen layouts and is streamlining workflows to operate in just 570 square feet.

    By • April 10, 2025
  • A photograph of a restaurant with the words Huddle House on the side.
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    Permission granted by Huddle House
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    Ascent Hospitality promotes Blain Shortreed to COO

    Shortreed, who joined the company in 2023 as Huddle House president, will focus on strategic growth, operations and franchise relations in his new role.  

    By • April 10, 2025
  • A smiling white man in a black polo against an orange background.
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    Courtesy of Smalls Sliders
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    Smalls Sliders names former Tropical Smoothie Cafe chief as CEO

    The chain is betting Charles Watson can bring some of the development magic from Tropical Smoothie Cafe, but the macroeconomy may have other ideas.

    By • April 8, 2025
  • Dessert items with ice cream and baked good elements.
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    Courtesy of Cinnabon
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    GoTo Foods debuts Cinnabon Swirl dual-branded concept

    Rather than simple co-branding, Cinnabon Swirl will have its own rewards program, indicating the possibility of an independent brand identity.

    By • April 8, 2025
  • An image of a giant logo that says Applbee's.
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Why urban areas are a challenge for casual chains

    High rents, difficult buildouts and space limitations are among many reasons why casual full-service chains often avoid spaces in cities. But opportunities are out there, experts say.

    By Danielle McLean • April 3, 2025
  • An evening image of a buildign with white letters that says Texas Chicken
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    Retrieved from Texas Chicken on March 18, 2025
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    Church’s Texas Chicken to open 900 more international units

    Through its international brand Texas Chicken, the chain will enter Germany, Hungary and Georgia for the first time, expanding its presence in Europe.

    By • April 3, 2025
  • An image of purple cups that say PJ's coffee house
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    Retrieved from PJ's Coffee of New Orleans on April 01, 2025
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    PJ’s Coffee parent company CEO to retire

    Peter Boylan, who has headed up Ballard Brands since 2016, will remain on as an advisor while David Mesa takes over as president of franchise development.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • An image of a light blue building with a sign that says "The original Hooters"
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    Courtesy of Hooters Inc.
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    Hooters of America sells itself, files Chapter 11

    The chain will sell over 100 company-owned locations to two major franchisees, which will also take over franchise support and corporate functions.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • An image of a Jack in the Box restaurant.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Jack in the Box hires Lance Tucker as permanent CEO

    Tucker, who rejoined the chain as CFO late last year, said the company needs to make priority changes quickly to reverse same-store sales problems.

    By • April 1, 2025
  • A rendering of a restaurant interior
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    Permission granted by Famous Dave's
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    Q&A

    Famous Dave’s shrinks dining room in play for big market growth

    The new units, which are thousands of square feet smaller than standard full-service barbecue joints, will open up new markets and real estate, particularly end caps, to the brand.

    By • March 27, 2025
  • A rendering of a potential Jamba Juice prototype
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    Courtesy of Jamba Juice
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    Jamba’s new store prototype goes digital

    The juice brand is looking to reduce costs, boost tickets and strengthen its brand through store design featuring self-ordering kiosks.

    By • March 26, 2025
  • An image of a group of people standing in front of a greenish building that says Cilantro Taco Grill
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    Retrieved from Fransmart/Cilantro Taco Grill on March 25, 2025
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    Emerging Mexican fast casual chain plots 110-unit expansion

    Chicago-based Cilantro Taco Grill will grow from 18 units to over 100 in the next few years after launching franchising less than two years ago.

    By • March 26, 2025
  • An image of a group of people with a person in the front holding a cake with an American flag on it wiht the words TGI Fridays
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    Permission granted by TGI Fridays
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    Q&A

    TGI Fridays CEO says the brand is ready to grow again post-bankruptcy

    Ray Blanchette returned to the restaurant chain earlier this year and will help lead future growth, menu innovation and franchising.

    By • March 25, 2025
  • A Whatburger storefront. A sign outside reads, "Whataburger".
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    Courtesy of https://stories.whataburger.com/press-kit
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    Whataburger hires former McDonald’s exec as chief development officer

    Todd Ewen, who has over 20 years of commercial real estate experience, joins the brand as it plans to expand into its 17th state after surpassing 1,000 units.

    By • March 25, 2025
  • An image of a gray building with a black sign that says "&pizza"
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    Permission granted by &pizza
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    &pizza pivots to franchising

    Pizzas formulated for off-premise dining could help &pizza escape the problems of the fast casual pizza sector as it grows beyond the East Coast.

    By • March 20, 2025
  • An image of a man in a suite smiling in front of a red backround with beigh spoons.
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    Courtesy of International Dairy Queen
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    International Dairy Queen taps former Domino’s exec as COO

    Art D’Elia will oversee operations, training and marketing in his new role at the chain, which is actively growing its system around the world.

    By • March 18, 2025
  • An exterior image of a white restaurant with a yellow decoration and signs that say Church's Chicken
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    Courtesy of Church's Chicken
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    Q&A

    Church’s Texas Chicken CEO: Chain’s future is defined by franchising, unit growth

    Roland Gonzalez, who took the top exec role in February, said Church’s will sustain its momentum by deploying more technology to boost operations and attract more operator commitments.

    By • March 18, 2025
  • A photograph of the inside of a Corner Bakery with chairs and booths in the foreground and ordering counter in the background.
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    Courtesy of Corner Bakery
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    Corner Bakery invests over $6M in cafe remodels, other brand improvements

    Two years after emerging from bankruptcy, the chain has completed seven remodels and plans to invest another $500,000 in additional renovations.

    By • March 18, 2025
  • Little General
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    Permission granted by Little General Stores
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    Little General debuts small-format Buffalo Wild Wings in West Virginia

    The c-store retailer plans to bring at least five more Buffalo Wild Wings “Go” locations to West Virginia, with the next one set to open within 30 days.

    By Brett Dworski • March 17, 2025
  • A Nathan's Famous restaurant.
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    Courtesy of Nathan's Famous
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    Nathan’s Famous debuts standalone restaurant design in South Carolina

    The restaurant showcases a modernized point-of-sales system and double drive-thru, elements that could attract franchisees and boost domestic growth.

    By • March 14, 2025