Franchising

  • 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
  • A Qdoba store around dusk.
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    Permission granted by Qdoba
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    Qdoba’s development pipeline surpasses 500 units

    The chain is well on its way to reaching its 1,500-unit goal with commitments for 33 new restaurants.

    By • March 13, 2025
  • An exterior image of a Pizza Hut with bricks and red signage
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    Courtesy of Yum Brands/Pizza Hut
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    Flynn Group surpasses 1K Pizza Hut units with latest acquisition

    The franchisee bought 45 Pizza Huts in Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee and operates almost 20% of the franchisor’s U.S. business.

    By • March 12, 2025
  • A gray and beige fast food building with red and white brand markings for the chain Jollibee
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    Courtesy of Jollibee
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    Jollibee to ramp up US growth with franchising program

    With an AUV of about $4.3 million, the Filipino chicken chain’s unit economics could make it compelling for multi-unit operators.

    By • March 11, 2025
  • Wendy's Global Next Gen store design features a pick-up window for delivery orders and in-store shelving for digital pick-up orders.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s wants to open 1K stores in 3 years

    The burger brand is planning to globalize its supply chain and build up geographical strongholds outside the U.S.

    By • March 6, 2025
  • An image of a Taco Bell restaurant.
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    Ethan Miller via Getty Images
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    Taco Bell franchisee allowed sexually hostile environment to fester for over 2 months, EEOC says

    EEOC noted in 2024 guidance that an employer who opens an investigation one day after a complaint is made has acted promptly, while one who waits two months “very likely has not acted promptly.”

    By Emilie Shumway • March 6, 2025
  • An image of a man wearing a suit in front of a beige brick wall with a giant smiling star in the background.
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    Courtesy of CKE Restaurants
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    Carl’s Jr parent appoints Joe Guith as CEO

    Guith spent the past two years at Church’s Texas Chicken, where he repositioned the brand and improved unit-level profitability.

    By • Updated March 6, 2025
  • A rendering of a restaurant that is both an Applebee's and an IHOP
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    Applebee’s hopes renovations, dual-branding will prevent more closures

    Dine Brands will remodel 30 restaurants it acquired from franchisees last year to help revive the ailing casual dining chain.

    By • March 5, 2025
  • An image of a building with glass front and orange logo that says Big Chicken
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    Courtesy of Craveworthy Brands
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    Craveworthy Brands becomes managing partner in Shaquille O’Neal’s Big Chicken

    The partnership will further the chicken chain’s aggressive growth strategy, which has 40 units open and a pipeline of 350 restaurants.

    By • March 4, 2025
  • A picture of an A&W located at a gas station.
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    Permission granted by A&W
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    A&W promotes COO to CEO post

    Betsy Schmandt, who has been with the company for 18 months, will work on enhancing the brand’s position, focus on value and continue the chain’s growth trajectory.

    By • March 4, 2025