Good News -- April 2016

The good news: Franchising is experiencing a remarkable growth phase – not only in unit count and system-wide revenue, but also in the number of new and emerging brands. The bad news: It’s harder to keep up with all the good news! That’s a nice problem to have – and why we’ve brought back our “Good News” roundup of selected news items on unit growth, investment and financial developments, international expansion news, refranchising, and milestones attained by franchisors large, medium, and emerging. Here’s your chance to follow the leaders, every third Tuesday of the month.

So if you’re not doing it already, send us your good news here.

New Units/Growth/Expansion

Hwy 55 Lands 2 Master Agreements for 300 Stores in Texas in 10 Years

GPS Hospitality Buys 7 Popeyes in Atlanta – More in Store?

Dunkin’ Donuts To Add 29 More in California with Four Franchise Groups

Smashburger To Open 20 Restaurants in Georgia, Florida, and DC

Papa Murphy’s Enters Hawaii with 15-Unit Deal

Red Mango Opens 9 New Locations in DFW

Cowboy Chicken Signs Jakes Management 22 for 5 Stores in Atlanta

Tropical Smoothie Café Signs 5-Unit Deal for Albuquerque

Cinnaholic To Open 9 Restaurants in California, Arizona, and Colorado

Wienerschnitzel Signs 3-Unit Deal with PBA Properties for San Antonio

Brixx Wood Fired Pizza Opens in 3 New Markets

Juice It Up! Expands in Southern California with Multi-Unit Deal

Fresh Healthy Vending Sells 277 Vending Machines in Latest Quarter

Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop Opens 34th Las Vegas Location

Big Plans, Big Dreams

Netker Juice, with 52 Locations, Aims for 300 in 5 Years

Firehouse Subs CEO Don Fox Details Canada Expansion Plans

Smiling Moose Rocky Mountain Deli Resets, Shoots for 100 Units by 2020

Express Employment Professionals Targets 21 New California Units

Financial/Acquisitions

Marriott and Starwood Shareholders Approve $13 Billion Mega-Merger

Real Mex Restaurants Parent Z Capital Partners Acquires 2-Unit Pink Taco

Incentives

Fazoli’s Extends Franchise Incentives for New Operators

International

Grimaldi’s Pizzeria Launches International Franchising Effort

Rebounderz Signs Master Agreement for 3 More in Panama

Paris Baguette and Carvera Argentinian Grill Set Sights on U.S.

Sloan’s Ice Cream Makes Middle East Debut in Kuwait

Hampton by Hilton Opens Flagship Hotel in China in Guangzhou

Blaze Fast-Fire’d Pizza Opens First Calgary Location

Brioche Dorée Opens in San Jose, Costa Rica’s Airport

Milestones

Discovery Point Child Development Center Marks 25 Years in Franchising

Real Deals on Home Décor Celebrates 10 Years of Franchising

Fabric Restoration Service Team (FRSTeam) Turns 10

New And Emerging Brands

The Casual Pint (10 Units) Plans To Open 15 More in 9 States in 2016

New French Fry Brand — #getfried Fry Café — Rolls Out Franchising Offer

People

Frisch’s Big Boy Names Jason Vaughn CEO After Acquisition by NRD Capital

Robeks Promotes Franchisee and CFO David Rawnsley to President

Freebirds World Burrito Adds President to Bobby Shaw’s COO Role

Saladworks Appoints Patrick Sugrue CEO, Following Bankruptcy