Good News! - September 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

MOD Pizza Signs 50-Unit Deal for Florida with BBX Capital

Checkers & Rally’s Signs 40 New Franchisees in Continuing Expansion

Toppers Pizza Signs 2 New Deals for 35 More Locations

Newk’s Eatery Enters Indiana with 15-Unit Development Deal

Captain D’s Inks Deals for 9 New Restaurants (Georgia, Texas, Virginia)

Burgerim Continues U.S. Growth with 33 New Franchises

First-Time Dairy Queen Zee in Texas Opens 9th Restaurant in 40 Months

Bottle & Bottega Signs 4 New Franchisees in 3rd Quarter

J. Gumbo’s Inks Deals with 5 New Franchisees

Applebee’s Opens 1st Hawaii Location; Now in All 50 States

Financial

Yum China Lands $460 Million Cash Infusion Before Planned Oct. 31 Spinoff

Montreal-Based MTY Food Group Acquires Baja Fresh, La Salsa for $27 Million

Roark Capital Buys Majority Stake in Jimmy John’s; Weston Presidio Exits

Wetzel’s Pretzels Sold to PE Firm CenterOak Partners by Levine Leichtman Capital

Capriotti’s Lands JD and Shelly Sun, David Barr as Investors, Advisors

KFK Group’s Southeast Restaurant Group Buys 8 Taco Bells in Louisiana

Velvet Taco Receives “Significant” Investment from PE Firm L Catterton

Big Plans, Big Dreams

Potbelly Seeks To Double To 1,000 Units Through Increased Franchising

Friendly’s Reboots, Looks To Expand Following Sale of Ice Cream Plant

Moe’s Targets Minnesota, Seeks New Franchisees

PizzaRev Announces Expansion Plans for Austin and San Antonio

Hard Rock Cafe Ends Mexico Master Agreement, Seeks New Franchise Deals

Premier Franchise Advisors Launched by Five Franchise Pros

International

Ziebart International Grants Master License for Thailand

PJ’s Coffee of New Orleans Opens First Shop in Vietnam

UFC Gym Set To Open in Hanoi; First of Several Planned for Region

9Round Opens First of 100 Planned Kickboxing Gyms in Japan

Papa John’s Signs Mexico Deal for 60 Restaurants in 8 Years

New And Emerging Brands

Hammer & Nails Grooming Shop for Guys Signs Area Rep Deal for 83 Units

BareBones WorkWear Signs 3-Unit Deal in California

Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar Inks 5-Unit Deal for South Texas

Milestones

Schlotzsky’s Turns 45 on October 4 with $45,000 Giveaway

Oggi’s Sports Brewhouse Pizza Celebrates 25 Years

NextHome Announces 100th Franchised Office

Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes Opens 100th Restaurant

People & Awards

Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs Promotes COO Scott Ford to President

Muscle Maker Grill Names Scott Carlock New CFO

Ruby Tuesday Names Land Cardwell Interim CEO; Buettgen Resigns

CEO of Fiesta Restaurant Group (Pollo Tropical, Taco Cabana) To Retire

Which Wich Names Ric Scicchitano, Restaurant Veteran, as President