Good News! – December 2020

Back in August 2009 B.C. (Before Covid), deep in the trough of the Great Recession and weary of the daily barrage of “Everything’s going wrong and the world is about to end!” we began this monthly roundup of what was still going right. Today, Covid-19 has created a new kind of uncertainty — but with a critical difference: everyone is susceptible this time around. No “best practices” or management jujitsu will stop the virus, only slow its spread (or so we hope), until widespread vaccine availability (we hope). So, in addition to our regular roundup of business growth and change, we’ve added a special section on how businesses are coping with the coronavirus. 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

What Stays and What Goes in a Post-Covid World

Webinar (Dec. 17): Re-Emergence: Decoding Trends that Will Shape the World Beyond the Virus

The State of Quick-Service Technology in 2021 (Netsurion)

Cheesecake Factory Pays $125,000 Over SEC Covid-Disclosure Charges

Chick-fil-A Sues Poultry Suppliers, Alleging Price-Fixing

20 Restaurant Brands that Unveiled New Store Prototypes in 2020

How Automation Is Shaking Up the Kitchen at Restaurants

McDonald’s Changes Franchise Fees, Eliminates Happy Meals Subsidy

NRA: 10,000 Restaurants Have Closed in the Past 3 Months

Nearly 14% of Washington, D.C. Covid-19 Outbreaks Linked to Restaurants and Bars

Should Restaurants Make Covid Vaccinations Mandatory?

Nearly Half of U.S. Workers Say Employers Should Require Covid-19 Vaccines

Massachusetts Opts for Different Ways of Making Restaurants Safe

Dave & Buster’s Plots Major Ops Changes Amid Continued Pandemic Challenges

The Fastest-Growing Brands of 2020

E-Book: 8 Ways To Stay Resilient in the Restaurant and Food Services Industry in the 2020s

FINANCE/M&A

NRD Capital Raises $47.7 Million

FAT Brands Agrees To Merge with Controlling Shareholder Fog Cutter Capital

Sun Capital, Friendly’s Owner, Hastens Exit from Restaurants with String of Sales

Starbird Chicken Raises $4 Million in Funding

NEW UNITS/GROWTH/EXPANSION/NEW & EMERGING BRANDS

Orangetheory Expands, Even as Covid Cases Soar

Tasty Restaurant Group Adds Another 37 Pizza Huts

Salsa Fresca Mexican Grill Preps for Franchise Growth

MARKETING

Gift Card Giving To Drive Restaurants’ 2020 Holiday Season 

ANA Blasts Apple’s Newest Move Against Tracking Cookies

Pinterest Shares Trend Predictions for 2021 Based on Usage Data

FTC Suggests Removing Bad Reviews Might Deceive Consumers

Bibibop Asian Grill Offers Entire Month of Bowls for $100, Starting Dec. 22

Dollar General and Dollar Tree Stores Start Moving Upmarket

FRANCHISING CARES

Denny’s Raises Over $800,000 for No Kid Hungry To Fight Childhood Hunger in the U.S.

Domino’s Commits More Than $9.6 Million to Front-Line Worker Bonuses

PEOPLE, AWARDS, MILESTONES

Focus Brands President Kat Cole To Step Down by Year-End

Starbucks Names Mellody Hobson Board Chairwoman