Food Franchise Industry News & Announcements

National convention served as a platform for honoring top performers in pizza franchise operations.
MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. - June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Top franchisees for Hungry Howie's Pizza were recently recognized for excellence at the company's national convention, held in Plymouth, Mich. Franchise pizza owners were honored in several different categories.
Multi-unit owner Eric Fairbanks of North Carolina was named Franchisee of the Year 2012. This award recognizes the franchisee who embraces the Hungry Howie's Pizza brand concept and philosophy. With eight stores in the Charlotte area, he is currently scouting more locations for franchise opportunities and plans to open more stores in the near future.
Preston and Sabrina Starr in Douglasville, Georgia won Best Newcomer 2012 for their performance and contribution during their first year of operation...

Dickey’s Barbecue Throws Grand Opening Event in Tuscaloosa
TUSCALOOSA, Ala. - June 13, 2013 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Barbecue kingpin Roland Dickey is stopping by Dickey’s Barbecue Pit in Tuscaloosa on Thursday, June 20 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to celebrate the grand opening of the first location in Alabama. Dickey will be giving the first 100 customers a free copy of “Mr. Dickey’s Barbecue Cookbook” and guests can enjoy Pulled Pork Big Barbecue sandwiches for just a dollar.
“It’s an honor be the first Dickey’s in Alabama and to have Mr. Dickey attending our event,” said owner Raji Pruthi, who owns and operates this location with his wife Deepali Pahuja. “Tuscaloosa is the perfect place for Dickey’s slow smoked Texas style barbecue and family friendly environment...

After 28 years of building Italian food franchises in DC, Maryland and Virginia, Pizza Boli’s is expanding its reach into Pennsylvania with a new restaurant in Harrisburg.
Baltimore, MD (PRWEB) June 13, 2013 - Award-winning pizzeria giant Pizza Boli’s is opening its 70th restaurant on the east coast. On Saturday, June 15th, Pizza Boli’s will celebrate the grand opening of its new store in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.
Pizza Boli’s is already a hometown favorite in Maryland, DC and Virginia. The new Harrisburg restaurant represents Pizza Boli’s second Pennsylvania location. In celebration, the restaurant will offer free slices of pizza from 1-4 PM on Saturday and large one-topping pizzas for $6.99 all day for carryout...

Premier Smoothie Franchise Brings World's Original, Nutritious Smoothies to Addison, Texas
NEW ORLEANS - June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Smoothie King Franchises, Inc., the premier smoothie bar and nutritional lifestyle center, announced today the grand opening of its newest location in Addison, Texas marking the eighth company-owned store to open under Global CEO, Wan Kim. Part of the company's aggressive approach to open 1,000 new domestic and international locations by 2017, the store will be one of the few hundred company stores, operated by SK USA, Inc.
The 5000 Belt Line Rd. location is the thirtieth store in the Dallas-Fort Worth region. The store will celebrate with a preview day on Friday, June 14 with FREE smoothies from 10AM-2PM and will be open to the public on Monday, June 17 with half off smoothies from 7AM-12PM...

Dade County Facility’s Healthy Vending Machine Choices Benefit Patients and Staff
Miami, FL (PRWEB) June 13, 2013 - Dade County’s large Veteran’s Administration Medical Center operates around the clock. That’s a good thing for Veterans and for Fresh Healthy Vending Franchisee Pamela Santucci. Turns out, it’s also a good thing for staff members at the facility.
Santucci shared that from the reports she generates online, she can tell which items are sold from her machine and when they are sold. Turns out, some of her best sales come in the wee hours of the morning.
“We like to supply items that can function as a light meal or meal supplement. We see the protein drinks and bars selling late in the night at break and meal times for the shift personnel,” said Santucci...

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - (Marketwired - June 12, 2013) - The Keg Royalties Income Fund (the "Fund") (TSX:KEG.UN) today announced that its June 2013 distribution of $0.08 cents per unit has been declared and is payable to unitholders of record as at June 21, 2013. The June 2013 distribution will be paid on June 28, 2013.
The Fund is a limited purpose, open-ended trust established under the laws of Ontario. The Fund indirectly owns certain trademarks and other related intellectual property used by Keg Restaurants Ltd. ("KRL") in its Keg Steakhouses & Bars. In exchange for the use of those trademarks, KRL pays the Fund a royalty equal to 4% of the sales of all Keg restaurants in the royalty pool.
About Vancouver-based Keg Restaurants Ltd
Vancouver-based Keg Restaurants Ltd...

Spend Time with Dad by Honoring Him with a Convenient and Delicious Meal from Honeybaked
ATLANTA - June 13, 2013/PRNewswire/ - If "you don't need to get me anything" is dad's typical response to what he wants for Father's Day, you are not alone. Millions of Americans are trying to figure out how to celebrate this special day for the men in their lives. While Father's Day spending is expected to increase this year and hit the $13.3 billion mark,* a recent survey shows what dad really wants is the gift of quality time with family.** HoneyBaked offers the perfect Father's Day solution so you can spend time with dad and make him feel appreciated – by planning a delicious, hassle free meal.
"Every father loves good food, but when he enjoys it with family, the meaning of a great meal is taken to a whole new level," said Maggie DeCan...

Touching on family-friendly nature of the original frozen yogurt, legacy brand gives even more reason to celebrate dads.
Denver, CO (PRWEB) June 12, 2013 - Father’s Day offers families everywhere a chance to come together and celebrate the dads in their life, so adding a healthy treat to the mix makes it even better. The Country’s Best Yogurt (TCBY) is treating fathers nationwide this year to a special – and free – offer. On Sunday, June 16, any dad who enters one of the 400-plus unit TCBY locations nationwide will receive up to a 6 oz. cup of frozen yogurt, either for self-serve or a small cup or cone in traditional locations.
The offer includes all flavors of yogurts and sorbets, any toppings combinations and all “Super Fro-Yo...

Three Southern California Based Friends Turn Passion For Gourmet Hot Dogs Into An In-Demand Fast Casual National Franchise Launching June 2013
June 13, 2013 // Franchising.com // Pasadena, CA – This country may be going to the dogs after all! And leading the pack are Dog Haus partners Hagop Giragossian, Quasim Riaz and André Vener.
Born from a passion for hot dogs, what started between friends as an idea for a fun new concept has turned into Dog Haus, a full-fledged thriving restaurant with three locations in the San Gabriel Valley: Pasadena, Alhambra and Dog Haus Biergarten in Old Pasadena.
And now, less than three years later, the little restaurant that not only could but did, is launching as a national franchise...

Family Sports Pub and Restaurant Hosts Day-Long “Dads Eat Free” Promotion
June 13, 2013 // Franchising.com // TAMPA, FL – Beef 'O' Brady’s, the 210+-unit franchise of family sports pubs and restaurants, is recognizing dads this Father’s Day with a free meal during its ‘Dads Eat Free’ promotion. The special offer is valid up to a $10 value on Sunday, June 16, at participating Beef 'O' Brady’s locations.
“‘No one works harder than dads, and ‘Dads Eat Free’ is our way of showing love and appreciation for all that they do,” said Chris Elliott, CEO of Beef 'O' Brady’s. “This day-long promotion will give our guests the opportunity to acknowledge dad in a family-oriented environment for all to enjoy...

Rapidly expanding franchise concept seeks licensees for “indescribably good” franchise opportunity.
June 13, 2013 // Franchising.com // ATLANTA, Ga. – Zaxby’s Franchising, Inc. announced today that it has launched a new franchising website at ZaxbysFranchising.com. Featuring a crisp design and easy-to-navigate layout, the new site leverages high-quality multimedia elements including video vignettes from Zaxby’s co-founders Zach McLeroy (President & CEO) and Tony Townley (Executive Vice President), as well as executive leadership Robert Baxley (Chief Operating Officer) and Blake Bailey (Chief Financial Officer).
The launch of the new ZaxbysFranchising.com was prompted by an increased demand for franchise information and coincides with an intensified focus on expansion outside of the brand’s current primary footprint in the Southeast...

June 13, 2013 // Franchising.com // WEST PALM BEACH, FL – Hurricane Grill & Wings’ record breaking growth continues as it announces its first ever Iowa restaurant will open this fall. The tropical restaurant will feature a casual dining atmosphere and showcases a range of over 30 sauces and rubs that flavor the chain’s famous, award-winning wings, appetizers and entrées. Hurricane Grill & Wings will invite local residents and families to take a flavor vacation at the new locale in Waterloo.
Hurricane Grill & Wings’ extensive menu offers appetizers such as Firecrackers Shrimp and Stormin Buffalo Chips. Waterloo residents will be introduced to favorites like the restaurant’s Half-Pound 100 Percent Angus Steak Burgers, Caribbean Grilled Chicken, Santa Fe Chicken Wrap, fresh salads like the Grilled Mahi-Mahi Baja Taco Salad and a wide variety of slider selections including Crab Cake and BBQ Pulled Pork...

New Brunswick’s newest hot spot open to 3 a.m. Thursday through Saturday
June 12, 2013 // Franchising.com // New Brunswick, NJ – CUPS Frozen Yogurt – That’s Hot™, the beach-themed self-serve fro-yo concept, will celebrate the grand opening of the New Brunswick CUPS on Saturday, June 15 at 1 Penn Plaza in New Brunswick, New Jersey. CUPS will be offering free frozen yogurt from 4 – 7 pm at the New Brunswick location.
CUPS New Brunswick is conveniently located at the intersection of Route 27 and Easton Avenue, directly across from the train station.
The New Brunswick location is the first CUPS franchise to offer a full Café, featuring coffee, espresso drinks, juices, bottled drinks, tea & Chai, smoothies, shakes and hot chocolate...

Chronic Tacos Revives Authentic Mexican Cuisine with SoCal Influence
June 12, 2013 // Franchising.com // San Clemente, CA – For people who are tired of contrived, cookie-cutter chains that serve tasteless, soulless, average food, Chronic Tacos is the fast casual concept that offers the taste of Mexican cuisine in a fun, laid back atmosphere.
Chronic Tacos was founded in 2001 by Randy Wyner and Dan Biello. The pair had an idea that fast, fresh, made to order Mexican food could be served up with authentic recipes in a fun and friendly atmosphere. They envisioned great Mexican food with California style. By 2004, Chronic Tacos became a local sensation and the owners found that customers were flocking not only from Newport Beach, where the first location opened, but from nearby cities as well...

Edgy, NYC-based Mexican Concept Expanding first in Core East Coast Markets
June 12, 2013 // Franchising.com // New York, NY – Calexico, the New York City-based concept named Best Mexican in New York City by Zagat, has announced plans for nationwide expansion. The edgy fast casual concept is expanding via a new franchise program, focusing first in core East Coast markets, and then elsewhere in the United States. The award-winning concept recently opened its 5th restaurant on the Lower East Side of Manhattan, which also marks the opening of their first franchised unit with multi-unit franchisee Anthony Fauci of Innovative Hospitality Concepts. After signing on to be the first franchisee to develop in NYC, Fauci also signed a 10 unit deal with his partner, Chris Phillips, for the Philadelphia market...

Eight Franchises are Pooling Resources to Raise the Smoothie and Juice Franchise’s Profile in Fairfield County; Effort Could Become National Model
June 12, 2013 // Franchising.com // FAIRFIELD COUNTY, Conn. - Eight Robeks franchises in Fairfield County have banded together to launch an advertising co-op to boost the local profile of the premium smoothie and juice business. The advertising co-op is a first for the Robeks franchise, and could become a national model for the brand, which started in Los Angeles in 1996 and has more than 100 locations nationwide.
The first Robeks opened in Connecticut in 2004. The company has earned a following by offering convenient, healthy and nutritious meals and snacks and by partnering with community groups...

Iconic Family Sports Pub Franchise Continues to 'Spreads Wings' Internationally
TAMPA, Fla. - June 12, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - North America's iconic sports pub franchise made famous by its signature Buffalo-style chicken wings and community-centric activism, announced today the signing of a master franchise agreement with the Koni Group to open multiple restaurants in Jordan over the next several years. The first restaurant in the agreement will open in Amman near the US embassy.
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=19267.
Although Jordan is an uncharted territory for Beef 'O' Brady's, the brand is no stranger to developing its family-friendly concept abroad...

MINNEAPOLIS - June 12, 2013 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) - Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc. (Nasdaq:BWLD), today announced that the Company will present at an upcoming investor conference.
On Wednesday, June 26, 2013, the Company will present at the Oppenheimer Consumer Conference in Boston. The Company's investor presentation will be webcast live at 10:50 a.m. Central Daylight Time at www.buffalowildwings.com.
About Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc.
Buffalo Wild Wings, Inc., founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, is a growing owner, operator and franchisor of Buffalo Wild Wings Grill & Bar™ restaurants featuring a variety of boldly-flavored, made-to-order menu items including its namesake Buffalo, New York-style chicken wings...

Fast Casual Chain to Open Stores in Seven States as Part of Aggressive Expansion Plans
ALPHARETTA, Ga. - June 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - McAlister's Deli, a leading fast casual restaurant, announced it has signed agreements with four franchise groups to develop 21 new restaurants in seven states.
"The first half of 2013 has been off to a very successful start, and as part of our expansion plans, we are excited to bring McAlister's hospitality to more markets around the country," said McAlister's Deli President and CEO Frank Paci. "McAlister's has a loyal fan base and we are experiencing strong same store sales growth which is driving interest in additional development."
The 21 new restaurants will be developed by three new franchise groups and a current McAlister's franchisee...

World-famous wing destination caters to late night crowd with half price appetizer deals.
ATLANTA - June 12, 2013 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Hooters of America, LLC, today announced it is dishing out a brand new late night menu designed for night owls on the prowl for special deals on their favorite Hooters appetizers and beverages. The new late night half price appetizer menus are available every night from 10 p.m. until close at Hooters locations across the U.S.
Hooters late night menus feature a half-price deal on select signature Hooters appetizers items, such as fried pickle chips and Buffalo chicken sliders. In addition, guests can take advantage of thirst-quenching drink specials and an expanded bar menu.
“Hooters is the perfect place to relax and enjoy time with friends at any time of the day, but the late night atmosphere seems to invite even more laughs, memorable moments and good times,” said Dave Henninger, chief marketing officer, Hooters of America...