Good (and Other) News! – January 2021

Welcome to 2021’s first “Good 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’ve added a section on how businesses are coping with the coronavirus – for better and for worse. Sorry, it’s not all good news right now… but you knew that.

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 news here!

COPING WITH COVID – REOPENING, RECOVERY, & CLOSINGS

Covid-19 Propelled Businesses Into the Future, Ready or Not

5 Predictions for Franchising in 2021 (FranConnect)

Restaurant Stocks Rose in 2020 Despite the Pandemic

NRA: 10 Trends That Helped the Restaurant Industry Survive in 2020

Pandemic Recovery Will Be Uneven, But Restaurants Will Emerge Stronger

Small Businesses, Hit Hard by Pandemic, Are Being Starved of Credit

Goldman Sachs Adds $250 Million for Small Businesses, 2020 Commitment Totals $1 Billion

Webinar – Jan. 26: Thinking Beyond, with Panera Bread & Paytronix CEOs

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

FINANCE/M&A

Wendy’s and Flynn Restaurant Group Come to Terms on NPC’s Bankruptcy Sale

Capriotti’s Acquires Wing Zone, Creates $150 Million Company

Peak Rock Capital Buys 300-Unit Shipley Do-Nuts

BoxUnion Acquires Title Boxing Club

Neighborly Acquires Precision Door Service, Grows to 28 Brands

Saladworks Parent Centre Lane Partners Buys Garbanzo Mediterranean for $1.2 Million

Driven Brands Launches IPO: 38 Million Shares at $17 to $20 Per Share

SBA Releases Interim Final Rules Related to Second Draw PPP

What the Coronavirus Stimulus Bill Means for Restaurants

NEW UNITS/GROWTH/EXPANSION/NEW & EMERGING BRANDS

Smoothie King Opened a Record 263 Stores in 2020 

Wow Bao To Add 100 Delivery-Only Locations in Partnership with Franklin Junction

Tasty Restaurant Group Adds 37 More Pizza Huts

DBMC Restaurants Inks 30-Store Development Agreement with MOD Pizza

Prospect Capital Restaurants Teams with Corlex Capital in 23-Unit Wingstop Deal

Solis Management Signs 20-Store Development Agreement with Marco's Pizza

Area Developer Group To Add Another 15 MassageLuxe Locations in Florida

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Opens 400th Location

LEADERSHIP

Scenario Thinking: Confronting Uncertainty Through and Beyond Covid-19

The Visionary/Integrator Dynamic Duo

Dawn Sweeney, Former NRA CEO, Joins New England Consulting Group

LEGAL

Businesses Feared a Flood of Covid-19 Lawsuits – It Hasn’t Happened 

Pandemic Shows Why Mandatory Mediation May Be the Future for Business Disputes

NYC’s Covid-19 Anti-Harassment Laws Upheld, Provides Protections for Small Businesses

MARKETING

Why Penn Station East Coast Subs Killed Its App

5 Consumer Trends for 2021

Forrester: How Consumer Expectations for Brand Experiences, Personalization Are Changing

What’s on Digital Marketers’ Minds Entering 2021: 5 Key Trends

How Subscription Services Are Helping Revive Restaurants

Burger King Unveils First Complete Rebrand in More than 20 Years 

Webinar – Jan. 28: 2021 SEO Predictions (Searchmetrics)

OPERATIONS

6 Surefire Opportunities for Restaurants in a Post-Covid World

Third-Party Food Delivery in 2021: From Consolidation to Reconciliation?

TECHNOLOGY

Deloitte: 12th Annual Tech Trends Report Looks Ahead to 2021

You Can’t Be Customer-Centric If You Can’t See Consumer Journeys

FRANCHISING CARES

Dippin’ Dots Ultra-Cold Freezers Called on To Preserve Covid Vaccines

Everytable: Fighting Racial Inequity with a New Franchise Model

Take 5 Oil Change Raises More Than $1 Million for 49 Independent Children’s Hospitals

CertaPro Painters Raises More Than $100,000 for Breast Cancer Research Foundation