Good News - January 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 small. 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

• Firenza Pizza Signs First Agreement: 25-Unit Master Development Deal
• Bowl of Heaven Opens 5 Units in 3 Months; 50 More in Development
• Wingstop Announces 35-Unit Deal with Sizzling Platter for East Coast Growth
• Froots and Gyroville Form Joint Development Partnership
• Pizza Patron Starts Franchising Again After 2-Year Hiatus
• Newk's Signs 10-Unit Deal for Denver Area
• Firehouse Subs Plans 75 Restaurants in Indiana, Illinois
• Smoke's Poutinerie Signs 8-Unit Deal for East Coast

2015 Results, 2016 Hopes & Dreams

• Tropical Smoothie Announces Strongest Quarter Ever; 200 New Units Signed
• Bruster's Real Ice Cream Reports Record Sales in 2015; Will Open 20 Stores in '16
• Tint World Opens 10 in 2015, Plans 10 More in Q1 2016
• Unishippers Global Logistics Reports Record-Breaking 2015, $451 Million Revenue
• Hurricane Grill & Wings: Record Growth in 2015; Targets 12-15 Units in 2016
• Starwood Ends 2015 with Record Hotel Signings and Openings
• FastSigns Tops 600 Locations, Signs 52 Agreements in Record-Breaking 2015
• CruiseOne Reports Double-Digit YOY Growth in 2015
• Stratus Building Solutions Seeks To Grow from 25 to 42 Offices by 2021
• FirstLight HomeCare Doubles Gross Revenues in 2015
• Fazoli's Finishes 2015 Strong, Aims for 12 New Units in 2016
• Saladworks Plots National Expansion, Targets 150 Units in Next 2 Years
• Retro Fitness Focuses on Expansion Beyond Northeast Market
• Native Grill & Wings CEO Talks Expansion Plans After Buyout

Financial/Acquisitions

• Sec. 179 Capital Investments Tax Deduction Finally Made Permanent
• Cambridge Restaurant Holdings Buys 42 Burger Kings from Mirabile Investment

Co-Branding

• Red Mango and Nestlé Toll House Café Partner Offer Co-Branded Stores

Refranchising

• Famous Dave's Sells 7 Chicago Units to Windy City Restaurant Holdings

Incentives

• Caring Senior Services Offers 1-Year Franchise Fee Deferral

International

• McDonald's Seeks To Sell Part of Its Stake in Japan Joint Venture
• Coyote Ugly Eyes Canada for International Expansion
• Zippy Opens First Two Stores in the Philippines; Eyes 24 in Next 5 Years
• Burger King Opens in Ivory Coast in Abidjan, Its First in West Africa
• Johnny Rockets Targets 5 New Countries in 2016
• Rounds Premium Burgers Signs 3-Unit Deal in Qatar

Milestones

• Penn Station East Coast Subs Turns 30, Updates Brand, Targets Growth in '16
• Taziki's Mediterranean Café Celebrates 50th Location
• McDonald's Marks 20 Years in India; Eyes Brand Extension and Delivery
• Bennigan's Turns 40 with Big Growth Plans for 2016

People

• TGI Fridays Names Robert Palleschi, Ex-Hilton Exec, President and CEO
• Sunil Dharod on Growing Roy's, One Year After Buying the Asian Fusion Brand
• Famous Dave’s Names Activist Investor Adam Wright as CEO