Good News Is Back!

The good news: 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're bringing back our "Good News" roundup of selected news items about unit growth, investment and financial developments, international expansion news, refranchising, and milestones attained by franchisors large, medium, and small. 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

Pie Five To Open 30 New Locations in North Carolina

Caribou Coffee, Einstein Bros. Bagels To Co-Brand 20 Units by Year-End

Pollo Tropical To Open 12 Units in DFW

BurgerFi Announces 18 Units in Texas in 2 Deals

McAlister's Sells 5-Pack to Dunkin' Franchisee in Chicago Market

The Joint Corp. To Open 12 Clinics in LA, 4 in Chicago

Financial/Investment

John's Incredible Pizza Company Lands $39.5 Million Loan from Citizens Bank

Sonic Reports 7.3% Same Store Sales Growth for Fiscal 2015

63-Unit Outback Steakhouse Franchisee Acquired by PE Group

Skechers Co-Founder & Partner Acquire Controlling Stake in Fitwall

H&R Block Announces New $2 Billion Credit Facility

International

Red Roof Inn To Open First Hotels in Thailand

Krispy Kreme Debuts in Peru: 24 Units in 5 Years

Krispy Kreme Debuts in Bolivia: 12 Units in 5 Years

Fastsigns Boosts Canadian Expansion

McDonald's To Add 250 Units in Western, Southern India

Pieology Pizzeria To Open First Units in Guam and Saipan

Milestones/Anniversaries/Awards

Salata Celebrates 10th Anniversary

Brightway Celebrates Seventh Anniversary

Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers Opens 100th Location

Penn Station East Coast Subs Turns 30, Approaches 300 Units

Mary Kennedy Thompson Receives 2015 Don Dwyer Award of Excellence

Retirements

Jamba CEO James White To Step Down When Successor Named

Wendy's CEO Emil Brolick To Retire; CFO Todd Penegor To Assume Reins