Good News! – December 2017

The good news: Despite ongoing external threats to the business model, 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 emerging. 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

Meritage Hospitality Group To Buy 57 Wendy’s in 5 States

UFG Inks 13-Unit Deal for Experimac and Signarama in Texas and Louisiana

Taco Bell Refranchises 18 Restaurants in New Orleans

Leeds West Group To Buy 42 Midas Units from Iowa-Based Group

Dunkin’ Donuts Inks 2 Deals for 9 New Units in Sacramento

Taco John’s Signs Deal for at Least 12 New Units in Kentucky

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Opens 3 Units in the Southeast

Hilton Opens Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites Dual-Brand Hotel in Long Beach

Financial/M&A

Forever Yogurt Parent Premier Restaurant Group Buys Cheeburger Cheeburger

33 Restaurant Companies Have Been Bought or Sold So Far in 2017

Big Plans, Big Dreams

A&W Kicks Off New Franchise Sales Campaign with New Website

Creamistry Targets 30 New Stores in Florida

Hwy 55 Aims for 50 New Locations in Florida in Next 10 Years

Jack in the Box CEO Says Brand Will Emphasize Value Promotion in 2018

SpeedPro Imaging’s New CEO Announces His Future Vision for the Brand

TPG Forms New Company, Xponential Fitness, To Combine Its Fitness Brands

International

MTY Food Group Buys Imvescor Restaurant Group, Creates 5,700-Unit System

Arby’s to Egypt in 50-Unit Deal with Vantage Egypt

Sbarro Signs 20-Unit Deal in Argentina, 15-Unit Deal in Japan

Hooters Opens New Unit in Fukuoka, 7th Location in Japan

Hooters de Mexico Plans 9 New Locations; Commits To 29 Total

Hooters Inks 15-Unit, 3-Year Deal for Spain and Portugal with Grupo Iberfood

Discovery Map International Partners with POI of Slovenia

Avendelle Assisted Living Signs Master Franchise Deal for Turkey

Canada’s The Second Cup Coffee Company Signs Deal for France

Bridgepoint (Pret a Manger Owner) To Become Burger King UK Master Franchisee

New and Emerging Brands

Ultimate Escape Game Promotes Franchising Nationwide

Shell Shack Seeks To Double Size in 2018 with at Least 8 New Units

Mobility City Begins Franchising Its Mobility Equipment Service Concept

Pokeatery To Open Its First Franchised Location, Walnut Creek, California

People, Awards, Milestones

Steve Ells To Step Down as Chipotle CEO, Become Executive Chairman

J.R. Galardi, Son of Founder, Promoted to President of Galardi Group

Potbelly Hires Alan Johnson as CEO and President

Hooters Opens 200th Corporate Location (East Kissimmee, Florida)