Franchise Industry Product Announcements

Popular Michigan-based Pizza Chain Expands Gluten-Free Menu to Include Sandwiches
Ann Arbor, MI (PRWEB) May 22, 2013 - Right in time for Celiac Awareness Month, gourmet pizza chain Cottage Inn has launched gluten-free sandwiches in each of its stores. Cottage Inn has been offering gluten-free pizzas and cheese bread since 2009 to cater to customers who suffer from celiac disease or gluten intolerance. With several franchise owners having celiac disease themselves, Cottage Inn has personal ties to its gluten-free initiative.
According to the Vice President of Operations Deborah Masse, about 10% of Cottage Inn franchise owners have celiac disease or other digestive disorders, making their gluten-free offerings a welcome addition to both customers and owners...

Liberating Hotel TV from Conventional Channels, Aloft Cupertino Aims to Reinvent Hotel Entertainment Experience
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STAMFORD, Conn. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - May. 22, 2013 - Call it hotel TV, untethered. Aloft Cupertino, which recently opened, is featuring an industry-leading digital media hub in all 123 guestrooms. The hub is designed for the next generation of travelers who often travel with multiple content-loaded devices and want to watch or listen to what they want, when they want.
"Since our guests don't confine themselves to conventional television at home, we thought we should unshackle hotel TV as well," said Brian McGuinness, Senior Vice President of Specialty Select Brands for Starwood...

Fresh Healthy Vending Announces New Website Launch.
(PRWEB) May 22, 2013 - Fresh Healthy Vending is proud to announce the launch of their new website, http://www.freshvending.com. After hours of hard work by Fresh’s Marketing Department, the new website offers a treasure trove of information, resources, and a new fresh look and user friendly interface.
Alexander Capio, the Director of Marketing is proud of all the hard work the team put in. “This new website is taking Fresh Healthy Vending to the next level. We are the number one Healthy Vending Company in the world, and are proud that this will be reflected in the new site design and content.”
The Fresh Healthy Vending business is a cause that goes beyond financial benefit; it’s a socially responsible vending program...

The results are in for RESCUECOM’s 2013 Q1 Computer Reliability Report; Samsung shows significant lead at the top, while Sony falls out of the top rankings!
May 22, 2013 // Franchising.com // SYRACUSE, N.Y. – “As consumers change their computing preferences, RESCUECOM is changing our methodology of reporting computer reliability,” stated David Milman, CEO of RESCUECOM. “Much like the shift from PC desktops to laptops, a shift is happening from PCs to mobile computing, including tablets. Computer repair for these mobile devices is in high demand and reflect this new shift in the computer marketplace. Though in previous Rescuecom computer reliability reports, manufacturer reliability scores have not included tablets, both market share and computer repair calls for tablets are now included in our calculations...

May 22, 2013 // Franchising.com // Dublin, OH – Wendy’s® has launched a bolder, brighter and more interactive Wendys.com, which – after a complete overhaul – is much more friendly for those on smartphones and tablets.
In response to consumers evolving digital habits, the new Wendys.com features such digital-savvy elements as feeds from Wendy’s Facebook, Twitter and Instagram; an easy-to-navigate grid layout, more multimedia content and prominent and easy to use nutrition information. Thanks to its responsive design, the website is accessible from smartphones, tablets and other modern Internet-enabled devices.
“The new Wendys.com uses cutting-edge technology and design to allow consumers to engage with our brand when, where and how they want,” said Craig Bahner, Wendy’s CMO...

May 21, 2013 // Franchising.com // CORALVILLE, IA – Pancheros (www.pancheros.com), the fast casual Mexican restaurant known for “Burritos Better Built,” introduces its new on-trend package design. The packaging revamp includes novel graphic designs for all of the franchise’s items such as beverage cups, napkins, carry-out bags and burrito boxes.
Pancheros’ amusing packaging features entertaining phrases to give diners a chuckle at checkout. For example, printed on the napkins is, “You probably won’t need this but you should take one just in queso,” playing on the word “case” and the Spanish word for “cheese.” The witty designs utilize the brand’s trademark terra cotta and yellow and the contemporary style of using different font sizes in a single graphic to engage guests while also showcasing Pancheros’ commitment to fresh, quality ingredients with slogans like the one on their beverage cup, “Ice the only frozen thing we’ve got...

Original Tartar Sauce Available Summer 2013.
Louisville, Kentucky (PRWEB) May 21, 2013 - Long John Silver’s (http://www.ljsilvers.com), the world’s largest quick service seafood company, is bringing back the restaurant’s classic tartar sauce this summer.
“After introducing a new tartar sauce recipe to Long John Silver’s locations around the country, some of our customers told us they missed the original recipe,” said Charles St. Clair, Chief Marketing Officer, Long John Silver’s. “When our customers speak, we listen. That is why we are proud to announce the homecoming of our classic tartar sauce recipe during the summer of 2013.”
Long John Silver’s locations nationwide will begin offering the original tartar sauce in early June, with drive thru availability by the end of September...

PARSIPPANY, NJ - (Marketwired - May 21, 2013) - Looking to get a little something extra out of this year's summer vacation? Take a ZOOcation! Stay two consecutive nights at your favorite Travelodge® hotel and in addition to great rates and a comfy room, you'll receive two complimentary children's tickets good at more than 135 participating zoos across the country.
Created through an association between Travelodge, National Geographic and The Association of Zoos and Aquariums (AZA), the Travelodge ZOOcation promotion runs through September 30, 2013 and is only available at Travelodge.com. Free children's tickets are awarded in the form of a voucher and are redeemable when combined with the purchase of an equal number of adult admissions at a participating AZA-accredited zoo...

New 200-Room Property Scheduled to Open September 2014 will Anchor New Convention Complex
JEKYLL ISLAND, Ga. - May 21, 2013 - (BUSINESS WIRE) - Jekyll Oceanfront Hotel, LLC (JOFH), (a joint venture comprised of Leon N. Weiner & Associates, Inc. (“LNWA”), a nationally recognized real estate development company, New Castle Hotels & Resorts (“NCHR”), an award winning, independent third-party hotel manager, owner and developer and other investors) today broke ground on the $41 million Westin Jekyll Island, a 200-room, convention-class, beachfront hotel that will open in September 2014 as part of the Jekyll Island Beach Village project. The ceremonies were held at the construction site, 110 Ocean Way, adjacent to the new Jekyll Island Convention Center...

Health-Conscious Franchise Becomes First National Restaurant to Partner with Plant-Based Protein Maker
ATLANTA - May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - In a move to further cement its status as a health-conscious restaurant brand, Atlanta-based Tropical Smoothie Cafe® has partnered with Beyond Meat™, a Los Angeles-based company that specializes in plant-based protein products that look, taste and chew just like chicken. Tropical Smoothie Cafe, with 338 locations across the U.S., is the first national restaurant chain to serve Beyond Meat's 100 percent plant-based, chicken-free products. All locations will add this menu option starting May 21.
The Chicken-Free Strips are a blend of soy and pea protein, mirroring the taste of real chicken...

SPRING GROVE, IL - (Marketwired - May 20, 2013) - According to a recent study by the National Association of Colleges and Employers, nearly 1.8 million college graduates will enter the job market in 2013. To help the influx of recent grads land their first job, Cartridge World, the leading ink and toner retailer, is offering free resume printing services.
To receive free printing of 15-25 copies of a resume, new college graduates may stop by their local participating Cartridge World store in May or June with their resume on a USB flash drive (two-page maximum length, one-color printing).
"A successful job hunt starts with a great resume, and Cartridge World is here to help local grads get the job done right," said Tom McLaughlin, Marketing Director...

Get the season's favorite nutritious fruit in strawberry-packed smoothies like Strawberries Wild, Strawberry Surf Rider and Jamba Kids Strawberries Gone Bananas
EMERYVILLE, Calif. - May 21, 2013 /PRNewswire/ - Jamba Juice Company (NASDAQ:JMBA), a leading healthy, active lifestyle brand is set to satisfy the summertime craving for the season's most popular fruit: strawberries. Jamba® selects strawberries picked at the peak of perfection, so they're deliciously refreshing, nutritious and a rich source of antioxidants (vitamin C). What better way to get a real taste of summer than from a Jamba strawberry-packed smoothie made with whole fruit, including Strawberries Wild®, Strawberry Surf Rider™ and Jamba Kids™ Strawberries Gone Bananas™...

Liberty Tax Service, a subsidiary of JTH Holding, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAX), is offering free tax preparation along with distribution advice to the winner(s) of Saturday night's $590.5M Powerball jackpot.
Virginia Beach VA (PRWEB) May 20, 2013 - Liberty Tax Service, a subsidiary of JTH Holding, Inc. (NASDAQ: TAX), is offering free tax preparation along with distribution advice to the winner(s) of Saturday night's $590.5M Powerball jackpot. The winning numbers on the ticket, purchased at a supermarket in Zephyrhills, FL, are 10, 13, 14, 22, 52 and 11. With such an enormous influx of income, Liberty Tax is offering professional tax advice for the winner(s) at no cost.
Lottery winnings are considered “gambling earnings” by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) and are therefore taxable income, regardless of whether the winner takes a lump sum or a series of annual payments...

An Aurora waxing location is giving students new ways to save on hair removal.
Aurora, CO (PRWEB) May 20, 2013 - European Wax Center, the recognized leader in healthy, comfortable waxing recently named the #1 Fastest Growing Franchise in Inc. 500 Magazine, has announced a new loyalty program for students, making body waxing in Aurora, Colorado not only smoother, but much more affordable.
The new Student Wax Pass allows students with a valid student ID to save 25 percent by purchasing three waxing services and receiving the fourth one for free. The Student Wax Pass is accepted at European Wax Center Aurora-Parker and Arapahoe Roads any time for a single service, such as bikini waxing in Aurora.
European Wax Center Aurora-Parker and Arapahoe Roads offers the very latest in hair removal in Aurora, Colorado in an upscale environment at an affordable rate...

Synergy HomeCare provides free ebook for adult children wanting to talk to parents about home care.
Huntersville, NC - May 19, 2013 - (PR.com) - While Mother’s Day has passed, worries may still linger if you’re one of the growing number of adult children with an aging mother. Perhaps you couldn’t help but notice that Mom wasn’t quite as sharp as she used to be or how her arthritis makes it difficult for her to navigate up and down stairs. She may even be letting her once-immaculate home get cluttered and gather dust.
According to Synergy HomeCare of Greater Charlotte, these are just a few of the telltale signs that it’s time to have "The Conversation" about your aging mother’s home care needs...

Now, first time guests in San Jose, California can receive a complimentary waxing service.
San Jose, California (PRWEB) May 19, 2013 - European Wax Center San Jose-The Plant is happy to announce their latest money saving option for hair removal in San Jose, California. Now, first time guests to European Wax Center can receive a Free Wax Offer in Santa Clara County.
With the fantastic Free Wax Offer men may receive a free ear, nose, or eyebrow wax, while women may receive a free underarm, bikini, or eyebrow waxing in San Jose, CA. This thrifty offer lets smart Louisville guests experience difference between European Wax Center and other waxing facilities for themselves.
At European Wax Center San Jose-The Plant, they only use their patented purple Comfort Wax that was exclusively designed in Paris and only sticks to the hair, not skin, to ensure virtually pain-free waxing in Santa Clara, California...

Co-host of “The American Woodshop” on PBS, Scott Phillips offers Father’s Day gift ideas from Woodcraft for woodworking and home improvement projects.
Parkersburg, West Virginia (PRWEB) May 17, 2013 - To help shoppers looking for Father’s Day gift ideas, Scott Phillips visited Woodcraft and found nearly two dozen products that Dads who are woodworkers and DIYers should welcome.
“Woodcraft and I have gone together and selected some of the best product ideas for any handy person in a woodshop,” Phillips said. Some of his suggestions are included below, but to view the entire “Woodcraft Father’s Day Gift Guide with Scott Phillips” video, click here http://youtu.be/6pwDrDkczBY. Phillips and his wife Suzy are co-hosts of “The American Woodshop” on PBS...

South Beach Tanning is looking to have some fun with their clients and help them fulfill their Powerball dreams.
Orlando, FL (PRWEB) May 18, 2013 - This weekend’s Powerball jackpot is up to $550 million, and that’s got a lot of people pretty excited—including South Beach Tanning Company. They’re so excited that they thought they’d share their enthusiasm with their Facebook fans in the form of a Powerball split. South Beach Tanning has purchased two Powerball tickets for Saturday’s drawing and they’re offering their Facebook fans a way to get in on the action.
To enter, fans should go to South Beach Tanning’s Facebook page, like it, then find the picture of the Powerball tickets and like that, as well...

Longtime Fan Helps Launch the “ReinCONEation” of Fan-Favorite from the Flavor Graveyard
BURLINGTON, Vt. - May 17, 2013(BUSINESS WIRE) - What is the proper grieving period for a dearly departed... ice cream flavor? Regardless, for Ben & Jerry's fans who have counted White Russian as one of their favorite Ben & Jerry's flavors, the time for mourning is over! After years of dealing with the loss, laying flowers at the flavor’s headstone at the Ben & Jerry’s Flavor Graveyard, and writing to the company asking for the flavor to come back, the fan-favorite White Russian is being reinCONEated! Fans can celebrate by stopping by their local scoop shop across the country to taste the sweet surprise.
White Russian, a smooth and intense coffee liqueur ice cream, was available in pints and in scoop shops from 1986 through 1996 before being laid to rest peacefully in the Flavor Graveyard, after trailing other flavors in popularity...

Now, first time guests in Louisville, Kentucky can receive a complimentary waxing service.
Louisville, Kentucky (PRWEB) May 18, 2013 - European Wax Center Louisville is happy to announce a new money saving option for waxing in Louisville, Kentucky. Now, first time guests to European Wax Center can receive a Free Wax Offer.
With the Free Wax Offer men may receive a free ear, nose, or eyebrow wax, while women may receive a free underarm, eyebrow or bikini waxing in Jefferson County, Kentucky. This great offer lets Louisville guests experience and see the difference between European Wax Center and other waxing facilities for themselves.
At European Wax Center Louisville, they use their patented purple Comfort Wax that was exclusively designed in Paris and only sticks to the hair, not skin, to ensure virtually pain-free hair removal in Louisville, Kentucky...