Franchising

  • Blaze Pizza's new signature pizzas.
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    Courtesy of Blaze Pizza
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    Blaze Pizza appoints Starbucks vet as COO

    Jaime Denney, who has over 25 years of restaurant experience, will oversee company and franchise operations and work to boost speed, profitability and hospitality.

    By • June 5, 2025
  • An image of a person wearing a suit and smiling.
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    Permission granted by CKE Restaurants
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    CKE hires former Yum Brands exec as international president

    Ewan Davenport spent over nine years in leadership roles with Pizza Hut international and succeeds Mike Woida, who retired earlier this year.

    By • June 4, 2025
  • An image of a brick building with a logo that says Saladworks
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    Retrieved from Saladworks on June 03, 2025
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    Saladworks to expand in North Carolina with 10-unit deal

    The chain, which once leaned on alternative growth vehicles like ghost kitchens and automated saladbots, will open the first of these traditional units in 2026.

    By • June 3, 2025
  • A Dave's Hot Chicken fast casual restaurant in Chicago viewed from above.
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    Courtesy of Dave's Hot Chicken
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    Dave’s Hot Chicken sells majority stake to Roark

    The long-rumored deal will help the chain hit its ambitious unit growth targets as it looks to become the leading fast casual chicken brand.

    By • June 2, 2025
  • 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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    Freddy’s to open first Canadian restaurant

    The Winnipeg unit is the first outside the U.S. for the growing burger chain, which is building out a significant store pipeline.

    By • June 2, 2025
  • A photograph of the inside of a restaurant with chairs and tables
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    Retrieved from Mooyah Burgers Fries & Shakes on June 02, 2025
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    Mooyah Burgers Fries & Shakes appoints Papa Johns vet as president

    Michael Meche, who spent almost 30 years at the pizza chain, joins the burger brand as it prepares for accelerated growth.

    By • June 2, 2025
  • A fast casual restaurant with a celebratory crowd ready for its opening.
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    Courtesy of Chicken Salad Chick
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    Chicken Salad Chick hits 300 restaurants

    As fast casual restaurants outperform the rest of the industry, the chain signed a record number of franchising agreements in Q1 and its AUV is growing.

    By • May 28, 2025
  • A photograph of various burgers, chicken sandwich, chicken nuggets and fries in cardboard packaging.
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    Ant DM via Getty Images
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    Shake Shack bets on 10 casino locations with PENN Entertainment

    The fast casual chain, which already operates in three casinos, will open its first restaurants with the entertainment company in 2026.

    By • May 21, 2025
  • An image of a Twin Peaks restaurant in the daytime.
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    Permission granted by Twin Peaks
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    Twin Hospitality Group hires CPK vet as CEO

    Kim Boerema, who has over 30 years of restaurant experience, succeeds Joe Hummel, who resigned in April after Fat Brands spun off Twin Hospitality in a January IPO.

    By • Updated May 15, 2025
  • A beige storefront with a bank of windows in the front. The top of the buildings sayd "Mountain Mike's
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    Permission granted by Mountain Mike's
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    Why Mountain Mike’s doesn’t want to be like every other pizza chain

    Unlike rival brands that are shrinking footprints to focus on off-premise service, the California-based chain leans on its dining rooms, salad bar and arcade games to stay competitive.

    By • May 13, 2025
  • Exterior of a Potbelly restaurant
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    Permission granted by Potbelly
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    How Potbelly harnessed transformational growth

    After undertaking a turnaround strategy, the company has grown comparable sales, accelerated franchise development and added popular menu items.

    By • May 12, 2025
  • A rendering of a new Huddle House prototype.
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    Courtesy of Huddle House
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    Huddle House pursues drive-thrus, non-traditional growth in rebrand

    As casual dining struggles, brands are leaning into a wide array of real estate and menu changes to capture fast casual and QSR diners.

    By • May 8, 2025
  • An image of a co-branded Applebee's, IHOP restaurant
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    Courtesy of Dine Brands
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    Why Dine Brands is going all in on dual-branded restaurants

    Franchisees are increasingly buying into dual-branded units since they lead to higher sales compared to a standalone restaurant.

    By • May 8, 2025
  • Circle K
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    Retrieved from Google.
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    Circle K adding Burrito Express QSRs in Phoenix

    The retailer, which has over 150 c-stores in the city, is expected to open six Burrito Express Fast and Fresh restaurants as it strengthens its foodservice capabilities.

    By Brett Dworski • May 6, 2025
  • A rendering if a red and orange building with El Pollo Loco signage.
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    Courtesy of El Pollo Loco
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    El Pollo Loco will open 500th restaurant this year

    The chain will open at least 10 units this year, most of which will be outside of California, as the chain works toward regaining unit growth momentum.

    By • May 5, 2025
  • An image of a beige building wiht both Fatburger and Round Table Pizza signage
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    Permission granted by Fat Brands
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    Fat Brands promotes Taylor Wiederhorn to co-CEO

    Taylor Wiederhorn, the company’s chief development officer since 2017 and son of former CEO Andrew Wiederhorn, will work alongside Ken Kuick.

    By • April 30, 2025
  • Driver walking by a truck
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    Permission granted by Restaurant Technologies
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    Sponsored by Restaurant Technologies

    One of Freddy’s biggest secrets: Automation

    One Freddy’s franchisee deployed automated cooking oil management in his restaurants. Learn how it has helped reduce costs, safety risks and increased efficiency.

    April 28, 2025
  • 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