Good News! – May 2019

It's hard keeping up with all of today's changes in franchising. That's why we provide this monthly digest of selected news items on unit growth, investment and financial developments, international expansion, people, and milestones. 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!

Leadership

"The Undermanagement Epidemic Report 2019" (Free Download)

Lead Generation: 22 Case Studies To Learn From (Video)

Focus Brands Adds Global CMO to Leadership Team

5 Tips On Using Your Culture as a Competitive Advantage

New Units/Growth/Expansion

Dunkin' To Open 50 New Units Under New Development Agreements

Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh To Open 25 New Units in the Midwest

My Place Hotels Opens 4 New Locations, 50th on Tap

Tropical Smoothie To Open 130 Units in 2019; 110 Opened in 2018

Financial, M&A, Private Equity

Kona Grill's Ex-CEO Bids $27.4 Million To Buy Struggling Brand

Jack in the Box Off the Market, Plans Refinance and Share Buyback

D.P. Dough Acquired by Competitor Founded by Former Employee

Papa John's Gets $250 Million from Starboard; Shaq as Board Member

John Schnatter Sells $6 Million (1.1%) of His Papa John's Shares

Big Plans, Big Ideas, Big Picture

RBI Announces Plans To Grow to 40,000 Restaurants in 8-10 Years

Teriyaki Madness CEO Predicts 500 Units in 5-7 Years (Interview)

Wingstop Follows Up Strong Year with Additional Spending on Growth

Church's Chicken: 3-Year Strategic Plan Now Focuses on Repositioning

Regulation, Legislation, Labor

AlixPartners Surveys 1,000+ Consumers About the Restaurant Industry

Joint Employer: In California, Burden of Proof Shifting to Franchisors?

New and Emerging Brands

Fat Shack Lands $250,000 Investment and Help from Mark Cuban

Huey Magoo's Chicken Tenders To Grow from 7 to 13 Units in 2019

iCRYO Cryotherapy Opens in Florida with First Responders Program

Technology

Wendy's Looks to Tech and Digital Investments To Boost Market Share

Five Guys Rolls Out Zenput Platform at Corporate Stores; Zees Are Next

People, Awards, Milestones

A&W Prepares To Celebrate 100th Anniversary in 2019

Dawn Sweeney To Retire as CEO of the NRA at Year-End

Panera Bread Names Niren Chaudhary CEO, Former Krispy Kreme President

Wendy's Names Kurt Kane U.S. President, Abigail Pringle President International

Mooyah Names Tony Darden New President and COO

Nathan's Famous Hires Ex-Subway Exec James Walker as SVP, Restaurants

FranConnect Promotes Gabby Wong to CEO