Good News! - April 2017

The good news: Despite ongoing external threats to the business model, 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

Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Signs Deals for 7 New Markets

Fazoli’s and TravelCenters of America Team Up To Open Restaurants

Del Taco Inks 5-Unit Atlanta Deal with Ex-NFL-er Donnell Thompson

My Pie Pizza Signs 6-Unit Development Deal for Utah

Four Foods Group Acquires 48 Little Caesars in Alabama, Louisiana

Bojangles’ Signs 4-Unit Development Deal for Virginia

OXXO Care Cleaners Opens 4 New Stores in Florida and Houston

Slapfish Goes to Albuquerque in 2-Unit Deal

CoreLife Eatery Inks 10-Unit, 4-Year Deal for Indiana

Financial

The Hummus & Pita Co. Lands Investment from Kitchen Fund

Why Panera Bread Went Private, Selling to Germany’s JAB for $7.5 Billion

The Dog Wizard (18 Units) Scores Franchise Funding Group Investment

Ignite (Joe’s Crab Shack, Brick House Tavern), Names CEO, Seeks Buyer

Firenza Acquires 7-Unit Persona Wood Fired Pizzeria; Will Rebrand

Big Plans, Big Dreams

The Pizza Press Turns 5, Announces International Expansion Plans

Growler USA CEO Outlines Ambitious Growth Plans

Pets Warehouse Plans 150 New Franchised Locations in 5 Years

Vital Restoration Seeks Contractors in Southern California for Franchising

International

The Cheesecake Factory Enters Canada with Toronto Location

OsteoStrong Opens Its First International Unit, in Marbella, Spain

Hooters Expands in Germany with New Hamburg Location

Hooters Signs 3-Unit Deal for Lithuania, Estonia, and Latvia

The Chickery Lands Multi-Unit Deal for Alberta

New and Emerging Brands

Wing It On!, Fast-Casual Chicken Brand, Launches First Major Expansion

Hair Saloon (14 Units) Marks 20th Anniversary by Branching Out of St. Louis

Milestones

Church’s Chicken Turns 65, Plans Year-Long Series of Events

Tide Dry Cleaners Celebrates Opening of 50th Location

HuHot Mongolian Grill Opens 60th Restaurant

People & Awards

Black Bear Diner Names Anita Adams New CFO

Kevin Hochman Promoted to President of KFC U.S.

WellBiz Brands Names Jeremy Morgan CEO of Elements Massage