Franchising
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Courtesy of Cava
The restaurant industry’s top 3 winners and losers of 2024
Sales and traffic fell for many brands, like Starbucks and McDonald’s, but fast casuals like Chipotle and Cava had a good year.
By Julie Littman , Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 17, 2024 -
BirdImages via Getty Images
Taking flight: Why more restaurant chains are catering to travelers
While big chains appear in numerous airports and train stations, emerging competitors like Slim Chickens and Pollo Campero are also using these locations to build brand awareness.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 11, 2024 -
Permission granted by Taco Bell/Diversified Restaurant Group
An inside look at Taco Bell’s beverage concept
Live Más Café offers drinks that appeal to Gen Z consumers like chillers, agua frescas and specialty coffee drinks.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 10, 2024 -
Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
Former TGI Fridays CEO Ray Blanchette offers $30.5M for 9 company restaurants
The bid for the restaurants shows some potential buyers still have confidence in the brand’s value, despite its recent closures.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 9, 2024 -
Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
Dave’s Hot Chicken reaches 250 stores with first UK opening
The fast casual chicken brand has emerged as one of the fastest-growing chains in recent years.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 5, 2024 -
Permission granted by Qdoba
Qdoba is coming to Arizona
The fast casual Mexican brand plans to open up to 10 stores in the state in the next two years.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 4, 2024 -
Courtesy of Pizza Hut
Pizza Hut tests new US store design
The Yum Brands chain hopes self-service kiosks and other new features will drive more transactions and in-store traffic.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Dec. 4, 2024 -
Permission granted by Keke's Breakfast Cafe/Photo by Seth Parker with Parker Studios
Keke’s Breakfast Cafe on path to reach 200 locations
Two years after Denny’s acquired the breakfast chain, it has signed commitments for over 140 units and is in the early stages of remodeling more than 50 locations.
By Julie Littman • Dec. 4, 2024 -
Permission granted by Applegreen
Applegreen to open larger travel centers in the US as part of $1B investment
The Dublin-based company plans to also expand its foodservice and EV charging infrastructure across the U.S., Ireland and the U.K.
By Brett Dworski • Dec. 3, 2024 -
Courtesy of Wendy's
Flynn Group buys 32 more Wendy’s
The large multi-unit operator now owns about 5% of Wendy’s U.S. store system, plus its Australian and New Zealand master franchises.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 21, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Jack in the Box sales continue to lag, but unit count grows
Comparable sales headwinds haven’t slowed Jack in the Box’s growth, with the brand opening more stores than it closed for the second year in a row.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 21, 2024 -
Permission granted by Perkins
Perkins signs 10-unit agreement for fast casual concept
In its largest deal since the concept was introduced in September, Griddle & Go will open in New Jersey in October 2025.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 21, 2024 -
Retrieved from Fresh Brothers on November 18, 2024
Craveworthy buys emerging pizza brand
The multi-brand platform has been on an acquisition spree in 2024, buying Sigri Indian BBQ and Untamed Brands, among others.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 19, 2024 -
Michael M. Santiago via Getty Images
McDonald’s invests $100M to help franchisees recover from E. coli outbreak
About $35 million will go toward marketing programs that will help drive traffic and rebuild consumer trust.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 18, 2024 -
Permission granted by Grubbrr/Bojangles
Bojangles to install ordering kiosks across its system
The chicken chain said its pilot of the Grubbrr technology had high adoption rates and helped increase throughput.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 15, 2024 -
Permission granted by Huddle House
Huddle House signs its biggest franchise deal yet
The franchising agreement will add a significant number of units to Huddle House’s system, which has seen store counts decline in recent years.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 15, 2024 -
Courtesy of Salata
How Salata plans to triple its store count
With roughly 100 stores, the salad chain is looking to fill in existing markets, develop its franchisee base and set itself apart from other fast casual brands.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 14, 2024 -
Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
Jack in the Box hires Lance Tucker as CFO again
Tucker rejoins the brand as it eyes significant franchising growth but faces comparable sales headwinds.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 14, 2024 -
Courtesy of Subway
Subway’s newest design focuses on improving the dining room experience
During concept testing, guests said the Fresh Forward 2.0 image, which includes warmer wood tones and improved lighting, increased their chances of eating inside a Subway.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 14, 2024 -
Courtesy of Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux signs first franchise deal to build smaller restaurants
Operator Port Royal Brands will develop 20 units in Georgia and Tennessee using a prototype that will be half the size of Walk-On’s traditional restaurants.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 12, 2024 -
Courtesy of California Pizza Kitchen
California Pizza Kitchen signs first US franchise deal under new strategy
Pizza brands have struggled broadly, including CPK, but the chain is betting on multi-unit operators to change its fortunes.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 11, 2024 -
Permission granted by Potbelly
Potbelly signs 15-store Georgia deal
The sandwich brand’s latest move will expand its presence in the Southeast as it targets a nationwide goal of 2,000 units.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 11, 2024 -
Permission granted by Walk-On's
Walk-On’s to open first corporate stores since 2016
The chain will open multiple corporate-owned locations next year that feature a new interior and exterior in addition to updated kitchen equipment.
By Julie Littman • Nov. 7, 2024 -
Courtesy of Dine Brands
Dine Brands wants to open a dozen IHOP-Applebee’s units in the US next year
While the eye-catching new units promise greater profits, they can’t solve the sales pressure that both brands currently face.
By Aneurin Canham-Clyne • Nov. 6, 2024 -
Courtesy of Culver's
EEOC alleges Culver’s operators fired a transgender worker who complained about deadnaming
Four workers, including the transgender worker who was the subject of the harassment, were fired a day after reporting the behavior to the general manager, EEOC alleged.
By Ginger Christ • Nov. 4, 2024
