Franchising

  • A Firehouse Subs location
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    TennesseePhotographer via Getty Images
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    How Firehouse Subs is leveraging franchise incentives to speed up growth

    RBI’s smallest chain wants to speed up openings and fill in key U.S. markets, with bonuses targeting strong operators and multi-unit development.

    By • April 1, 2026
  • An evening photograph of a corner of an Applebee's restaurant
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    M. Suhail via Getty Images
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    53-unit Applebee’s franchisee files for bankruptcy

    Neighborhood Restaurant Partners Florida has faced financial pressures since sales began to soften in 2015 and will now sell its restaurants to Applebee’s.

    By • March 26, 2026
  • An image of a beige building with a green sign that says "Krispy Kreme" in red and then "doughnuts" in white typeface.
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    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
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    Krispy Kreme closes $90M refranchising transaction with joint venture

    The deal with WKS Restaurant Group, which included the sale of 23 company-owned units, is part of the chain’s shift to a capital-light portfolio.

    By • March 25, 2026
  • A red sign that says Chick-fil-A on a white wall.
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Why Chick-fil-A is spending millions to build its own distribution network

    A $50 million Lubbock, Texas, facility will open in 2027, while the company builds at least four other distribution centers to serve hundreds of units.

    By • March 24, 2026
  • The exterior of a Chicken Salad Chick restaurant.
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    Courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Why Chicken Salad Chick is driving interest from millennial, Gen Z franchisees

    The brand said a surge of interest from younger entrepreneurs, who want both independence and stability, has helped it fill a 300-unit development pipeline.

    By • March 24, 2026
  • An image of a person smiling wearing a blue suit
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    Permission granted by Bonchon
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    Bonchon hires Pollo Campero vet as chief development officer

    Blas Escarcega joins the chain as it focuses on rapid growth in the U.S., where it now has over 150 units.

    By • March 20, 2026
  • A nighttime image of a beige building with a sign that says Fatburger open 24 hours.
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    anderm via Getty Images
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    How Fat Brands’ bankruptcy could impact franchisees

    From diminishing marketing support to a sale of assets, operators could see changes that impact operations as the Fatburger parent continues through the Chapter 11 process.

    By • March 20, 2026
  • An image of a brick building with Pizza Hut logo on the side.
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    jetcityimage via Getty Images
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    These 6 restaurant chains will close hundreds of units this year

    From Wendy’s to Papa Johns and Pizza Hut, chains facing several quarters of consecutive same-store sales and traffic declines are removing underperforming units from their systems.

    By • March 19, 2026
  • An image of a Wetzel's Pretzels inside a convenience store.
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    Permission granted by Wetzel's Pretzels
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    Wetzel’s Pretzels plans to double c-store presence

    After opening a company record 20 QSRs in nontraditional locations in 2025, the chain is pursuing convenience retail growth over the next two years.

    By Jessica Loder • March 18, 2026
  • Layne's Chicken Fingers
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    Permission granted by Layne's Chicken Fingers
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    Layne’s Chicken Fingers thinks it has what it takes to go national

    Cane’s. Dave’s. Now Layne’s? A small Texas chicken chain wants to be the next big thing. Multi-unit operators, a simple menu and a premium product could make it happen.

    By • March 11, 2026
  • Chicken tenders in a basket
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    Courtesy of Starbird
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    Starbird signs Texas deal to more than double footprint

    The fast casual chicken chain’s newest, largest franchising deal will bring 36 restaurants to Houston, Austin and San Antonio.  

    By • March 11, 2026
  • Renderings of the interior of Gong cha's new store design for its bubble tea shops.
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    Courtesy of Gong cha
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    Gong cha buys 170 US stores from master franchisee

    The purchase will help the bubble tea brand strengthen its U.S. system and ultimately speed up growth as it targets 1,000 units in the country.

    By • March 9, 2026
  • An image of a Applebee's and IHOP dual-branded restaurant inside an airport
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    Courtesy of Dallas Love Field
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    Dine Brands targets non-traditional spaces for dual-branded concept

    Airports and other 24/7 locations are ideal for the Applebee’s/IHOP restaurants because they offer morning and evening menu items, the company said.

    By • March 6, 2026
  • An image of a worn sign on a window that says "sorry we're closed."
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    Getty Images
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    BBI: 15% of restaurants could close in 2026

    Nine percent of full-service restaurants are at risk of shuttering, while only 4% of limited-service units could close this year, Black Box Intelligence data shows

    By • March 6, 2026
  • An image of a red and white building with Freddy's signage.
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    Permission granted by Freddy's
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    JRI Hospitality buys 43 Freddy’s restaurants

    The chain’s largest franchisee will operate more than one-fifth of its system following the purchase of Kansas-based HCI Hospitality.

    By • March 3, 2026
  • Wooden seats and tables inside a Cava. In the background there is a make line with digital menu boards.
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    Courtesy of Cava
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    Deep Dive

    Why are leading fast casuals primarily company owned?

    Franchising is the primary model for development in fast food, but different market dynamics prevail in fast casual.

    By • March 2, 2026
  • An image of an interior restaurant with a order lane and seating area and orange, blue and white decor
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    Courtesy of Schlotzsky's Deli
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    Schlotzsky’s rebrands, launches new prototype

    The chain’s latest store design features self-order kiosks, a designated pickup area and a smaller footprint to slash operating costs by up to 25%.

    By • March 2, 2026
  • The exterior of a Del Taco with several empty parking lots out front
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    Permission granted by Del Taco
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    Del Taco operator closes all Georgia locations

    Matadoor Restaurant Group closed 14 restaurants in the state months after filing for Chapter 11, but Del Taco says it is looking for options to reopen them.

    By • Feb. 24, 2026
  • A photogrpah of a beige brick building with a yellow sign with red words that says sonic.
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    M. Suhail via Getty Images
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    Sonic sells 78 restaurants to KBP

    The franchisee nearly doubles its Sonic unit count with its second acquisition of restaurants from the QSR chain.

    By • Feb. 24, 2026
  • An image of a refreshed Subway.
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    Courtesy of Subway
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    Subway to remove free footlong offer from Sub Club

    On April 1, the company will allow members to earn a $2 reward for every 400 points accumulated.

    By • Feb. 20, 2026
  • A promotional image for Wendy's 2-for-$3 breakfast bundles.
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    Courtesy of Wendy's
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    Wendy’s pulls back on breakfast hours

    The chain is allowing franchisees to focus more on lunch and late-night hours as same-store sales logs its steepest decline in roughly six years.

    By • Feb. 13, 2026
  • An image of TGI Fridays signage with red and white stripes
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    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
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    Inside TGI Fridays’ ambitious path to 1K units by 2030

    CEO Ray Blanchette said the chain has signed 150 agreements within the past six months, and franchisees are excited to grow again. 

    By • Feb. 9, 2026
  • A view of a Taco Bell restaurant on February 06, 2025 in Dublin, California.
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    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
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    Taco Bell operators settle claims that harasser’s conduct went unchecked for months

    Restaurant industry employers have a particular duty to protect young workers, a U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission regional attorney said.

    By Ryan Golden • Feb. 6, 2026
  • 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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    Pizza Hut to close 250 stores

    About 4% of the chain’s U.S. store system will close during the first half of this year as Yum Brands continues a strategic review of the ailing QSR.

    By • Feb. 4, 2026
  • A daytime photo of a light brown building. It has a black sign that says "Sonny's BBQ Local Pitmasters Since '68"
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    Retrieved from Sonny's BBQ on February 03, 2026
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    Sonny’s BBQ returns to franchised growth

    A year after hiring George McAllan as chief growth officer, the chain is ready to begin engaging with new operators as part of its expansion strategy.

    By • Feb. 3, 2026