Food Franchise Industry News & Announcements

Dairy Queen® Brings Newest Treat Concept to the City
May 24, 2012 // Franchising.com // MUSKEGON, Mich. - The Dairy Queen® system always has been about sharing smiles and stories. Now the treat category leader and one of the leaders in quick service restaurants (QSRs) has opened its newest, most exciting treat concept, a DQ® Orange Julius® store in Muskegon, the first in Muskegon County. The new restaurant offers all of the amazing Dairy Queen soft-serve treats and cakes as well as Orange Julius products, including an array of fruit beverages and smoothies. In addition, the store also will serve Dairy Queen signature Iron Grilled Sandwiches. Located within the Lakes Mall food court at 5600 Harvey Street, the 700-square-foot restaurant employs a staff of 15...

May 24, 2012 // Franchising.com // SHARON, PA – Quaker Steak & Lube® known for their Best Wings USA and over 20 Award-Winning sauce varieties recently concluded a nationwide search for the one who’s sauce would be crowned Boss. Gatesman+Dave of Pittsburgh created the application that housed the contest on the restaurant chain’s Official Facebook. Lube Nation was given the challenge of combining up to three of The Lube®'s Award-Winning sauces and Dry Rubs to create a sauce-a-licious concoction, give it a name, a photo, and submit it via the online application.
“The Lube’s award-winning sauce variety is the most talked about topic on the Official Quaker Steak & Lube® Facebook fan page,” said Beth Choike of Gatesman+Dave...

New Restaurant Serves up Dairy Queen® Iconic Soft-serve Treats and Flavorful Food Offerings
May 24, 2012 // Franchising.com // FRISCO, Texas – The Dairy Queen® system has opened a new location at 8855 Teal Parkway in Frisco. The 2,900-square-foot DQ® Restaurant has added 45 new jobs in the area, contributing to the employment growth in Texas. The new restaurant also will contribute to the state’s restaurant sales, which according to the National Restaurant Association, are projected to increase by 4.1 percent this year.
“We are excited to open the Frisco DQ Restaurant and welcome the community in to enjoy our full menu of cravable food items and cool treats,” said restaurant operator Richard Witherspoon, who has been a Dairy Queen franchisee for 40 years...

PITTSBURGH, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Bruster's Real Ice Cream opened its first international location in Georgetown, Guyana. W&T George and Company Ltd. signed a Master Franchise Agreement with Bruster's Real Ice Cream. Their first store is conveniently located in an expanding downtown area that attracts both residents and workers.
According to Bruster's CEO Jim Sahene, "We are excited about the expansion of our brand and taking it to the people in Guyana. The leaders at W&T George understand the restaurant industry, the importance of product consistency and quality service." Selwin George, Director at W&T George stated, "Bruster's is a world-class premium ice cream, and our partnership will transform the traditional landscape with the introduction of freshly-made ice cream to an underserved market...

Ready, Set, Get Healthy!
May 24, 2012 // Franchising.com // SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA  – As the obesity rate continues to cause alarm across the nation, many businesses, retailers and hospitals are looking for a way to help make their employees, and customers healthier. Now, Fresh Healthy Vending is offering a simple and cost-effective way to do just that! Fresh Healthy Vending, the company that revolutionized the vending machine, is currently seeking locations that would like to replace their old, or add a new, vending machine with one that offers all-healthy food options.
“We still have opportunities for placement across the nation,” explained Dan Negroni, the chief executive officer and president of Fresh Healthy Vending (www...

MIAMI, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Pollo Tropical® is going wild this summer by offering free Create Your Own Family Meals to support zoos within the state of Florida. Anyone who joins or renews a family-category zoo membership (or above) at Zoo Miami, Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens or Tampa's Lowry Park Zoo, will receive a free Pollo Tropical Create Your Own Family Meal, complete with a whole marinated grilled chicken, four rolls and choice of any two sides. The offer is valued at more than $16 and is valid through June 30, 2012.
The zoo memberships are valid for one year and include unlimited zoo admission, invitations to members-only events and previews, gift shop discounts, educational programs, summer camp discounts, free subscriptions to zoo magazines and more...

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Pollo Tropical® celebrated the grand opening of its third company-owned restaurant, in Jacksonville, Florida at the River City Marketplace, 730 Skymarks Drive, on Friday, May 18th, 2012. More than 100 customers lined up before the doors opened to be one of the first in the area to try the chain’s legendary marinated grilled chicken and Caribbean inspired menu.
To celebrate the grand opening, Pollo Tropical partnered with Duval County Public Schools’ Read It Forward Jax! initiative urging customers to bring donated books to the event. By the end of the day, more than 600 books were collected for the program.
The newest Jacksonville Pollo Tropical location offers the brand’s signature grilled chicken and made-from-scratch side dishes that customers have come to expect from the quick casual chain...

Fans Encouraged to "Sip Up Summer" by Capturing and Sharing Summer-Filtered Photos with the Caribou Community
MINNEAPOLIS, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Caribou Coffee Company, Inc. (NASDAQ: CBOU) today launched a photo contest that will display summer pictures on both Facebook and Instagram. The contest invites fun-loving fans to submit pictures of colorful and sun-filled summer moments with their Caribou beverages – whether it's a lazy day at the beach, a picnic with friends or relaxing on the lake – for a chance to win great summer prizes.
The "Sip Up Summer" Facebook Photo Contest was created to celebrate the launch of Caribou Coffee's new sparkling teas and juices made with all natural ingredients– including Green Tea Lemonade, Peach Black Tea, Lemon Ginger Pomegranate Juice, Berry Black Tea, Mint Lime White Tea, Very Berry Juice – which are now available in all Caribou Coffee locations...

ATLANTA, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Marble Slab Creamery® and MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery® will kick-off the Memorial Day weekend by offering limited-edition Hola Margarita Sorbet and Caramelized Pineapple Ice Cream. Both brands are managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group.
A refreshing treat, with no dairy or sugar, the Hola Margarita Sorbet is available in individual push-pops for $3.99 each or in a three-pack for $9.99 as well as by the scoop ranging in price from $2.99-$5.99.
The dessert destination will also debut the Coconut Pineapple Paradise Favorite Combination featuring limited edition Caramelized Pineapple Ice Cream, chocolate chips, coconut flakes and marshmallow topping...

CANTON, Mass., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Dunkin' Brands Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: DNKN), the parent company of Dunkin' Donuts (DD) and Baskin-Robbins (BR), announced today that management will be presenting on Tuesday, June 5, 2012 at the Goldman Sachs Lodging, Gaming, Restaurant and Leisure Conference in New York City at 9:15 am Eastern Time, on Tuesday, June 12, 2012 at the William Blair & Company Growth Stock Conference in Chicago at 2:10 pm Central Time, and on June 18, 2012 at the Jefferies Global Consumer Conference in Nantucket, Mass. at 12:00 pm Eastern Time. 
Live audio webcasts will be available at http://investor.dunkinbrands.com under the Events and Presentations tab, and will be archived in the same section for a period of 14 days...

OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwire - May 24, 2012) - McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) today announced that Dave Hoffmann, 44, currently Senior Vice President for Restaurant Support in McDonald's Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA) region, has been elected President of McDonald's APMEA by the McDonald's Board of Directors, effective July 1.
Hoffmann, a 16-year McDonald's veteran, succeeds Tim Fenton who recently was promoted to McDonald's Chief Operating Officer, also effective July 1.
McDonald's CEO-elect Don Thompson, who replaces retiring CEO Jim Skinner, said, "Throughout his career, Dave has demonstrated outstanding leadership and strategic insight. Jim and I are very confident in Dave's abilities to deliver on the growth opportunities in the APMEA markets and to build our business and brand in this important region...

Zinga Frozen Yogurt at Northpark Plaza in Westminster, Colorado is giving away free 6oz cups of frozen yogurt from 5pm Friday, May 25 to 5pm Sunday, May 27th.
Westminster, Colorado (PRWEB) May 24, 2012 - Zinga Frozen Yogurt at Northpark Plaza in Westminster, Colorado is giving away free 6oz cups of frozen yogurt from 5pm Friday, May 25 to 5pm Sunday, May 27th. Northpark Plaza is located on the South West corner of 120th and Federal next to King Soopers. No purchase necessary.
Zinga, the world’s best frozen yogurt, offers twelve flavors of delicious frozen yogurt daily. This self-serve concept enables customers to mix and match any combination of these flavors with over 50 toppings including fresh fruits. Customers create the size dessert they want and then pay by the ounce...

OAK BROOK, Ill., May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- On May 23, 2012, McDonald's (NYSE: MCD) Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.70 per share of common stock, payable on June 15, 2012, to shareholders of record at the close of business on June 4, 2012.
Upcoming Communications
McDonald's Annual Shareholders' Meeting will be webcast live on May 24, 2012 at 9:00 a.m. (Central Time) on www.investor.mcdonalds.com. An archived replay and podcast of the meeting will be available for a limited time.
Don Thompson, President and Chief Operating Officer, and Tim Fenton, President of Asia/Pacific, Middle East and Africa, will participate in the Sanford Bernstein Strategic Decisions conference at 8:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) in New York on May 30, 2012...

CARACAS, Venezuela - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Pollo Tropical® announced the opening of its third franchised restaurant in Caracas, Venezuela at the Sambil Shopping Center, the fourth-largest mall in South America. This is the third in a ten-unit development agreement with Restaurantes Internacionales C.A. The Venezuelan-based franchisee has opened two other Pollo Tropical restaurants in Barquisimeto and Punto Fijo since 2010.
The new Caracas Pollo Tropical location seats 100 customers and serves the brand’s famous flame-grilled chicken, roast pork, guava barbecue ribs and made-from-scratch side dishes. Other menu favorites include the Pollo Tropical TropiChops® - a casserole bowl of grilled chicken breast, pork or vegetables served atop a bed of white or yellow rice and topped with freshly made salsa...

World's Largest Barbecue Franchise Dishes Out Ways to Fire Things Up
DALLAS, May 24, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Since 1941, the world's largest barbecue franchise has served up its slow smoked barbecue and signature sides to barbecue fans nationwide. The restaurant chain known for its lip smackin' barbecue is kicking off Memorial Day weekend with tips for hosting a cookout.  
"There's nothing better than having friends and family over for a cookout," said Roland Dickey, Jr president of Dickey's Barbecue Restaurants, Inc. "We've come up with ideal approaches to pleasing your guests while not knocking yourself out with all of the work."
To help hosts hone their cook-out skills, Dickey's offers a few tips to ensure a successful event...

Maui Wowi Hawaiian, an all-natural fresh fruit smoothie and Hawaiian coffee company, has been named a 2012 Military Friendly Franchise for the third year in a row by G.I. Jobs magazine, ranking them in the top 10% of all franchises nationwide.
Greenwood Village, Colo. (PRWEB) May 23, 2012 - Appearing for the third year in a row, Maui Wowi Hawaiian Coffees and Smoothies has been named a 2012 Military Friendly Franchise by G.I. Jobs magazine. This honor ranks the company in the top 10% of all franchises nationwide.
“Maui Wowi is delighted to be recognized as a Military Friendly Franchise. As a member of the IFA VetFran Program, as well as SBA’s Small Business Development Program, we allow members of our military and veterans the opportunity to become successful business owners...

May 23, 2012 // Franchising.com // Alpharetta, Ga. - Fresh To Order (f2o) announced today the signing of the franchise agreement with Concessions International to open a location in Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport. The company’s first airport location will be in the Concourse B food court and is scheduled to open in October. Construction is slated to begin this summer.
“Opening a restaurant in the world’s busiest airport will generate brand recognition far beyond Atlanta,” said Pierre Panos, concept creator and President of Fresh To Order. “Atlantans have been extremely loyal since the opening of our first restaurant in 2006. We hope visitors to the area will be just as receptive as our long-time guests...

First 3 Walmart Locations Opened May 21
May 23, 2012 // Franchising.com // Nashville, TN - Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie opened their first locations inside of Walmart Tuesday, May 22. The franchised co-branded centers will open in three Nashville, Tenn.-area Walmarts—the Charlotte Pike Walmart (7044 Charlotte Pike, Nashville, Tenn.), the Smyrna Walmart (570 Enon Springs Road East, Smyrna, Tenn.) and the Lebanon Walmart (615 South Cumberland Street Lebanon, Tenn.). All three locations—which replace the old portrait studios—are immediately inside the grocery store entrance.
The Walmart locations are also some of the first co-branded Tasti D-Lite and Planet Smoothie centers. Tasti D-Lite, the great-tasting, lower-calorie frozen dessert chain with a fanatical following among health-conscious consumers as well as celebrities, acquired Planet Smoothie, which serves real fruit smoothies with low calorie, low sugar and high protein options, last year...

Longtime Chef Worked as Executive for Successful Restaurant System
NEW ORLEANS, LA--(Marketwire - May 23, 2012) - Gregg Frazer, whose long career as a chef and restaurant executive has taken him from fine dining establishments in Australia to a Mississippi-based network of chain eateries, has joined the executive team at VooDoo BBQ & Grill, one of the nation's hottest food franchise systems.
Frazer, 36, is the 10-year-old barbecue restaurant franchise's executive chef and vice president of operations, a new position. He is responsible for inventory and cost analysis as well as analysis of the company's recipes and the VooDoo BBQ menu. In the coming months, Frazer will oversee the development and implementation of a centralized database system to manage all of the growing company's operations, from procurement to sales...

Open 7 days a week, Monday- Sunday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 a.m.
Phoenix, Arizona (PRWEB) May 23, 2012 - Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers is proud to announce their newest addition to the Mellow Mushroom collection in Phoenix CityNorth. This Mellow is located at 5350 E. High Street, on the corner of High and 54th Street.
Owners Jay and Diana Beskind are thrilled to open this location in the Phoenix CityNorth market. “Mellow Mushroom has had an incredible reception from our guests in Happy Valley and we’re looking forward to expanding our presence in the North Phoenix area. The unique restaurant design and menu will offer an unforgettable experience to locals and tourists alike.”
Whether guests are looking for craft pizza or delicious salads made only with the highest quality of ingredients, Mellow Mushroom Pizza Bakers offers something for everyone...