Good News! - March 2018

2018 has started out as a good year for franchising, building on last year’s favorable legislation with continued growth from both established and emerging brands and a slew of M&A activity — not only at the franchisee level, but also for franchisors as franchise holding companies continue to increase the number of brands in their stable. But with all that growth and change, it’s harder to keep up! That’s why we provide our “Good News!” monthly digest of selected news items on unit growth, investment and financial developments, international expansion, people, 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

Moran Family of Brands Expands with Several New Deals

Vitality Bowls Signs Deals for 3 Units in California, 1 in Ohio

Del Taco Signs 12-Unit Deal for Detroit Area with Team Schostak

Massage Heights Inks 10-Unit Deal for Fort Worth Market

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit To Open 5 New Restaurants in Nevada

Meritage Hospitality Group Buys 12 Wendy’s in Indiana

CoreLife Eatery Signs 32-Unit Deal for Florida with The Jan Companies

MLB Star Adrian Gonzalez Adds Six More Jersey Mike’s Locations

Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green Signs 20-Unit Blink Fitness Deal

Hilton’s All Suites Brand Enters 2018 With 900 Hotels After Record Year

Financial/M&A

Altamont Capital Buys 17-Unit Planet Fitness Franchisee; Raises Total to 56

Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse To Be Sold to Rhone Group for $560 Million

Could Venture Capital Be the Right Next Step for Your Concept?

Frank Easterbrook Sells Juice It Up! to Private Equity Group SJB Brands

Penn Station East Coast Subs Extends 2017 Store Opening Incentive Program

Big Plans, Big Dreams

Dine Brands Global (Applebee’s, IHOP) Outlines 5-Year Growth Plan

Saladworks Targets Dallas-Fort Worth Market for Expansion

JAB, Owner of Panera Bread, Krispy Kreme, and Peet’s, Plans Growth

International

UFC Gym Signs 100-Unit, 10-Year Deal for the U.K. and Ireland

Papa John’s Opens in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Now in 45 Countries

Cauldron Ice Cream Inks Toronto Deal, Its First in Canada

New and Emerging Brands

Café D’Avignon Inks First Franchise Deal for 5 Units in Florida

Gyroville Signs Its 3rd Franchise Deal with Sale of Corporate Store

StretchLab Begins Franchising Its Health and Fitness Concept

Fork & Salad Begins Franchising Its Healthy Hawaiian Concept

Fit Kids America Sells 10th Franchise, Expands to Mobile, Alabama

Superior Fence & Rail Sells Its 3rd Franchise, To Open in Florida

Wings N’ Things Is Now Epic Wings, Starts Franchising, Hires New President

People, Awards, Milestones

Juice It Up! Names Chris Braun CEO After Sale to PE Firm

Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh Celebrates 10 Years

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Opens Its 300th Restaurant

Bojangles’ CEO Resigns; CFO John Jordan Outlines 2018 Plans

Noodles & Co. Names New Chief Brand Officer, Expands Benefits