Franchising: Page 2

  • A Qdoba store around dusk.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Qdoba
    Image attribution tooltip

    Qdoba hires Applebee’s exec as COO

    Kevin Carroll has over 30 years of restaurant experience and most recently served as COO at Applebee's overseeing 1,600 units.

    By • Oct. 24, 2024
  • The side view of a Pizza Hut restaurant can be seen, with promotional posters and banners on the windows and walls.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Brandon Bell via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Pizza Hut franchisee to settle delivery drivers’ FLSA dispute for $4.75M

    The drivers alleged their actual payment fell below minimum wage due to unreimbursed gas costs, vehicle upkeep and more.

    By Emilie Shumway • Oct. 23, 2024
  • A photograph of a Denny's sign over some trees.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Justin Sullivan via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Denny’s to shutter 150 underperforming stores

    An extensive review of all the chain’s restaurants revealed 265 locations never fully recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic. 

    By • Oct. 23, 2024
  • An image of two men smiling. The man on the left wears a black shirt with a "Fuzzy's Taco Shop" logo while the other wears a suit with a white undershirt.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Fuzzy's Taco Shop
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fuzzy’s Taco Shop names new president, COO

    The Dine Brand chain promoted Patrick Kirk to the dual role of president and CMO and hired Marshall Claycamp from sister brand IHOP as its COO.

    By • Oct. 21, 2024
  • An image of a blue sign that says Qargo Coffee.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Retrieved from Qargo Coffee on October 17, 2024
    Image attribution tooltip

    FTC issues $1.3M judgment over coffee chain’s violations of the Franchise Rule

    The Federal Trade Commission alleged Qargo Coffee failed to disclose a founder’s history with defunct Burgerim in addition to details involving a past bankruptcy.

    By • Updated Oct. 18, 2024
  • A Dickey's Barbecue Pit
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dickey's Barbecue Pit
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dickey’s franchisees sue company over inflated financial projections

    Franchisees from Idaho and Ohio say that buildout costs were higher and sales lower than what the barbecue chain initially stated.

    By • Oct. 18, 2024
  • Two women are sitting at a table while a man holds out a basket.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chick-fil-A
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chick-fil-A to open first Singapore restaurant, enter Asia in 2025

    The chicken chain will invest $75 million over 10 years to support its expansion within Singapore, which will provide a gateway into the rest of the continent.

    By • Oct. 17, 2024
  • Michael Montagano, Dog Haus' CEO, and Jake Paul in front of a Dog Haus restaurant at night. Montagano wears slacks and a sport coat, Paul wears cargo shorts and a t-shirt.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dog Haus
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dog Haus signs 25-unit franchise deal with boxer Jake Paul

    The controversial YouTuber will join the company’s board and bring his star power to the brand as it looks to juice sales.

    By • Oct. 17, 2024
  • A Smoothie King with a drive-thru.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Smoothie King
    Image attribution tooltip

    Smoothie King boasts most quarterly openings in 6 years

    The company opened its first units in Delaware and New Hampshire last quarter and is significantly expanding its presence in Colorado.

    By • Oct. 17, 2024
  • An image of a man wearing a suit in front of an orange logo sign that says "Togo's"
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Togo's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Togo’s appoints CFO to CEO position

    Matt Dowling, who has been CFO for three years, will continue in that role while also taking on the top executive position.

    By • Oct. 16, 2024
  • Image attribution tooltip
    Chicken Salad Chick
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chicken Salad Chick signs 5 franchise agreements across the Midwest

    The flurry of franchise deals will strengthen the chain’s presence in Chicago and bring it to new markets like Cleveland and Kansas City, Missouri.

    By • Oct. 14, 2024
  • A Zaxby's logo used for the chicken chain.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Glenn, Miles. (2022). "Zaxby's" [Photograph]. Retrieved from Flickr.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Zaxbys is coming to Maryland

    The chicken brand has signed a three-unit franchising deal covering the state’s Eastern Shore.

    By • Oct. 11, 2024
  • A Fazoli's store.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Fazoli's
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fazoli’s returns to Utah with 5-store deal

    Fat Brands, which acquired Fazoli's in 2021, is focused on bringing the Italian QSR back to markets it once left.

    By • Oct. 11, 2024
  • Japanese food from Pepper Lunch on big hot slabs of iron. Yum.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Pepper Lunch
    Image attribution tooltip

    ‘Experiential’ brand Pepper Lunch signs West Coast expansion deal

    The deal is a significant expansion of Pepper Lunch’s presence in the U.S. and covers parts of Southern California and Nevada.

    By • Oct. 10, 2024
  • An image of a man wearing a blue shirt with arms crossed.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Rusty Taco
    Image attribution tooltip
    Q&A // Meet the exec

    How Rusty Taco’s president is plotting sustainable growth

    Daniel Smith, who joined the chain earlier this year, is restructuring corporate to assist operators, boost franchise communication and optimize its business.

    By • Oct. 9, 2024
  • An image of a sign with a red apple and the word Applebee's
    Image attribution tooltip
    Andrew Burton via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Applebee’s franchisee files for bankruptcy after creditor lawsuit

    Louisiana Apple’s major creditor, City National Bank of Florida, claimed the operator and the brand transferred control of its restaurants in a breach of credit agreements. 

    By • Oct. 9, 2024
  • A building with a brown facade and a yellow sign that says "Barberitos."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Woworks
    Image attribution tooltip

    Woworks opens first Barberitos redesign in Florida

    Two years after Woworks bought the fast casual brand, a newly imagined storefront opened in Temple Terrace, Florida, in September.

    By • Oct. 3, 2024
  • A Subway restaurant interior with white and green countertops and digital menu boards.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Subway
    Image attribution tooltip

    Subway has signed commitments for 10K restaurants globally

    Over the past three years, the chain signed over 20 master franchise agreements that will push the sandwich chain close to 50,000 units.

    By • Oct. 2, 2024
  • An image of a refreshed Subway.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Subway
    Image attribution tooltip

    Employee sues Subway, franchisee for wage theft

    A lawsuit filed by a California worker alleges that an operator routinely failed to pay her overtime and that she was denied sick leave for years.

    By • Oct. 1, 2024
  • An image of people sitting at tables eating barbecue. The walls say "Dickey's."
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dickey's Barbecue Pit
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dickey’s to cease expanding non-barbecue brands

    Virtual brands grew over the past four years, but never had the same success of Dickey’s Barbecue, said Roland Dickey Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group.

    By • Oct. 1, 2024
  • A Chick-fil-A restaurant in New York City.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Chick-fil-A
    Image attribution tooltip

    Chick-fil-A to open 5 UK restaurants in 2 years

    The chicken chain will spend $100 million in the next decade to make the U.K. its first major international market, starting with restaurants in London, Leeds, Liverpool and Belfast.

    By • Sept. 26, 2024
  • MOD Pizza
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by MOD Pizza
    Image attribution tooltip

    Mod Pizza will refranchise corporate stores

    The pizza chain’s new owner, Elite Restaurant Group, is undertaking a comprehensive refranchising effort at the largely company-operated brand.

    By • Sept. 13, 2024
  • A man in a white shirt and suit jacket.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Smashburger
    Image attribution tooltip

    Smashburger hires chief development officer

    Jim Sullivan will work on elevating the brand’s identity as a fast casual player through its development strategy.

    By • Sept. 12, 2024
  • A Dickey's Barbecue Pit
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Dickey's Barbecue Pit
    Image attribution tooltip

    Dickey’s Barbecue Pit franchisee files for bankruptcy

    The Michigan-based operator blamed the brand’s franchising requirements for the Chapter 11 filing, rather than broader macroeconomic conditions.

    By • Updated Sept. 11, 2024
  • An image of TGI Fridays signage with red and white stripes
    Image attribution tooltip
    Bruce Bennett via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    TGI Fridays acquisition falls through, bondholders seize assets

    Hostmore still wants to sell its restaurants after the U.K. franchisee’s acquisition plan was torpedoed by the casual dining brand's manager termination event.

    By • Sept. 9, 2024