Good (and Other) News! – May 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 – and now, with vaccines becoming more widespread every day, a glimmer of optimism. So in addition to our regular grab bag of news about business growth and change, we’re leading with our section on how businesses are beginning to get comfortable with the idea of a post-Covid recovery.

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!

POST–COVID: REOPENING & RECOVERY

New York Plans To Drop Most Restaurant Restrictions on May 19

Dunkin’ Has Reopened 2,600+ Dining Rooms, Plans More

Americans Paying Off Credit Cards at Fastest Rates in Years

More Borrowers Late on Mortgages than Since the Great Recession

Survey: 8 in 10 North American Execs Are Prepping for a Future Pandemic

DoorDash Allows Restaurants To Choose Commissions in a Post-Pandemic Future

Yelp: Q1 Restaurant & Food Openings Up 5% YOY

4 Key Ingredients for Restaurant Success in a Post-Pandemic Era

A Recipe for Building Restaurants Back Stronger and Better

Chicken Shortage Sends Prices Soaring; Restaurants Can’t Keep Up

Subscription Models Grew in 2020 with More Growth Expected

HIRING & EMPLOYMENT

It’s Not a Labor Shortage, It’s a Great Reassessment of Work in the U.S.

Navigating the Labor Shortage in a Recovering Restaurant Industry

Why the Hiring Crisis Is a Moment of Reckoning for Restaurants

KFC Looks To Hire 20,000 Following a Strong Q1

Taco John’s Seeks 6,000+ Team Members Following Strong Sales and Growth

Ledo Pizza Seeks More Than 1,000 Team Members Following Rapid Growth

FINANCE/M&A

SBA Announces PPP Funds Are Exhausted

How To Apply for a Restaurant Revitalization Fund Grant

Employee Retention Tax Credit for Small Businesses Extended to Dec. 31

$29B Restaurant Revitalization Fund Could Run Out of Money Quickly

SBA Already Has Received 186,200 Restaurant Revitalization Fund Applications 

COMPANY NEWS

White Castle Opens in Florida After 50 Years to Massive Lines

Krispy Kreme Prepares To Go Public Again

Bojangles & Chaac Foods Restaurants Announce 80-Unit Development Agreement

Slim Chickens Inks 30-Unit Deal for NC, SC, VA

Rita’s Italian Ice Expects To Sign at Least 90 Franchise Sales Deals in 2021

Papa John’s Q1 Revenues Rise 24.9%

Steak ‘N Shake, Zurich Unit Agree To End Virus Coverage Suit

Pepsi Launches Pep’s Place, a Virtual Restaurant with Famous Dave’s

Noodles & Company Sees Early Progress Toward Major Growth Objectives 

LEADERSHIP

5 Things Emotionally Intelligent Leaders Can Do To Retain Remote Workers

NRN’s 50 Most Influential Women In Foodservice

TECHNOLOGY

The Digitized Future Is Here

FRANCHISING CARES

Panda Express Launches $10 Million Program To Uplift Diverse Groups

OPERATIONS

Dog Haus Expands Its Virtual Brand Presence in California 

MARKETING

Global Omni-Channel Benchmarks Report (Innovid)

Per-Advertiser CTV Spend Up 22% in 2020: 35% Expect To Increase CTV in 2021

How Apple’s iOS 14.5 Update Will Disrupt the Mobile Advertising Sector

Apple’s Privacy Fortress Signals the End for Ad-Tech Patchwork Solutions

Burger King Offer To Use Restaurants as Classrooms in the Dominican Republic Sparks Controversy

2020 Hispanic Marketing Report: The New American Mainstream

Why Consumer Data Is Key to Growth for F&B Brands 

PEOPLE & MILESTONES

Freddy’s Frozen Custard Names Chris Dull CEO; Ex-CEO & Co-Founder Randy Simon Named Chairman

Shipley Do-Nuts Names New CEO, Ops Chief

Subway Names Donagh Herlihy Chief Digital & Information Officer

BurgerFi Names Marketing Veteran Henry Gonzales CMO