Good (and Other) News! – February 2021

Welcome back to our monthly news roundup. We’ve added a note of realism, calling it “Good (and Other) News,” to reflect the ongoing effects of the pandemic on franchising. So in addition to our regular roundup of business growth and change, we’re continuing with our new section on how businesses are coping with the coronavirus – for better and for worse – and what the near and mid-term future may hold.

Here’s your chance to follow the leaders, every third Tuesday of the month! And if you’re not doing it already, send us your good (and other) news here!

COPING WITH COVID – REOPENING & RECOVERY

Close, Reopen, Repeat: Restaurants Don’t Know What Covid-19 Will Dish Out Next

U.S. House To Vote on $25B Restaurants Act Week of Feb. 22: What It Means

$15 Minimum Wage Would Cut Employment, Reduce Poverty, CBO Study Finds

Restaurant R&D Accelerates to Warp Speed

Post-Covid Surge in Demand Predicted for Meals, Entertainment, & Vacations

Pandemic Accelerates Demand for Co-Working Space

Commercial Cleaning & Disinfection Expectations 2021: How Attitudes Have Changed Post-Vaccine (Guidebook)

Neighborly Reports Unprecedented Growth in 2020, Plans Continued Expansion in 2021

Captain D’s To Accelerate Franchise Growth in 2021 

Burger King Counts on Value Platform & More To Turn Around Sagging Results

DoorDash Adds Startup Chowbotics for Meal Prep

Webinar, Feb. 17—The State of Franchising, Winter 2021: Findings from FranConnect’s Franchisor Survey 

Webinar – Feb. 24: Managing Change in 2021: Systems, People, and How They Must Work Together

Webinar: March 2—Customer Experiences of the Future: Trends, Disruptors, & How They’re Changing the Landscape

FINANCE/M&A

RBI, Popeyes & Burger King Parent, Turns in Disappointing Q4 Sales

Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group Files To Raise $250 Million for a New SPAC

LEADERSHIP

Church’s Chicken: What Happens When Leaders Listen

LEGAL

Mass. Judge Rules a Boston Cafe CANNOT Be Forced To Backpay Rent While Closed During the Pandemic

Challenges to Covid-19 Lockdowns Have Been Mostly Losing in Court

TECHNOLOGY

Wendy’s CIO Aims To Keep Pandemic-Fueled Digital Efforts on the Menu in 2021

Sift, a Digital Safety Company, Uncovers Telegram-Based Scheme Exploiting Restaurant & Delivery Apps

PEOPLE & MILESTONES

Tropical Smoothie Cafe Promotes Cheryl Fletcher to CDO

Freddy’s Adds Julie Davis as Director of Franchise Development 

Blaze Pizza Names Chris Demery CTO

Scooter’s Coffee Passes 300 Units