The Daily Edition of Franchise Business News

Smashburger, a nationally acclaimed industry-leading "better burger" restaurant, is bringing its "sin-sational" Sin City Smashburger nationwide on Monday January 17, 2011. Until now, this decadently-delicious burger was found only on Las Vegas...

Cold Stone Creamery, the nation's leading premium specialty ice cream brand, today announced the launch of the Cold Stone Yogurt Bar, a new yogurt concept that will be incorporated into existing Cold Stone stores in 2011. The brand extension will...

Yum! Brands, Inc. (NYSE:YUM) today announced its plans to place its Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food Restaurants for sale, and has begun a process to identify a buyer. The Company is sharpening its long-term growth focus on building...

This Valentine's Day, Marble Slab Creamery will show customers some "amore" by giving away a free sample of our new Tiramisu ice cream from 3 to 6 pm on Monday, February 14th.* Marble Slab Creamery is managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of...

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: DTG) will announce fourth quarter and full year 2010 financial results prior to market open on Thurs., Feb. 24, 2011.

Red Mango is thanking America with chocolate. The fastest-growing retailer of all-natural probiotic frozen yogurt and fresh fruit smoothies, will salute its 100th store with a nationwide celebration, introducing its decadent Dark Chocolate frozen...

Genghis Grill – The Mongolian Stir Fry has signed on franchisee group, JNE (Jordan, Nicholas, Elliott) Mongolian, LLC, to lead the Tampa, FL market and Chris Carroll, an existing joint-venture partner, to lead Alabama, North Carolina and South...

Pump It Up, the nation's largest franchise of indoor inflatable playgrounds for private parties and other events, announced today that it has partnered with Autism Speaks, North America's largest autism science and advocacy organization, to...

Leading greeting card publisher and franchisor, Card Connection, has been taking advantage of social media sites like facebook and twitter to promote its popular greeting card franchises.

Just a year after introducing handcrafted oatmeal in stores, Caribou Coffee, the nation's second-largest coffeehouse chain, is rolling out hot and wholesome breakfast sandwiches in its coffeehouses across the country. Served fresh from the oven,...

Domino's Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), the recognized world leader in pizza delivery, is striving to be a part of the solution when it comes to promoting healthy, active lifestyles for young people - highlighted by the launch of its Domino's Smart Slice school...

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: DTG) will announce fourth quarter and full year 2010 financial results prior to market open on Thurs., Feb. 24, 2011. A conference call to review the Company's fourth quarter and full year 2010 results...

Jo-Anne and Michele Ferris, owners of ZIPS Dry Cleaners in Manassas, Va., were recently honored as the recipients of the 2010 Franchise Owner of the Year Award by ZIPS Dry Cleaners, an aggressively expanding dry cleaning franchise chain with more...

A recent survey shows that today's youths are more in touch with the needs of their communities than ever before. In a poll conducted by Build-A-Bear Workshop® (NYSE: BBW), 98 percent of the 400 young people responding said it is important to...

The #1 Internet Marketing Franchise WSI, would like to thank all those who made a donation towards the WSI MCPH (Make Child Poverty History) Holiday Fundraiser. The family based franchise is pleased to announce they surpassed their goal and as a...

Marc Delaby took the first step toward becoming a business coach in 2001 when he realized his life's calling was to help others grow and achieve their dreams. This is when he studied NLP to become a Master Practitioner and began working part time as...

Dickey's Barbecue Pit Las Vegas Franchise Owner, Jason Rivera, will hold a customer appreciation day Friday, January 21st benefitting Steven Schorr Elementary School and marking nearly 2 years since the location opened its doors.

Upon his retirement from a long and successful journey in the corporate world, Anthony Tjahjono began looking for an opportunity where he could use his skills and help businesses and individuals with an entrepreneurial mindset reach their full...

Pizza Inn, Inc. (Nasdaq:PZZI) today announced an agreement to expand its term loan credit facility with Amegy Bank to $2.56 million, providing additional capacity for continued growth of company-owned stores. The additional available credit will...

Chipotle Mexican Grill, Inc. (NYSE: CMG), the national chain of burrito restaurants known for serving Food With Integrity, today announced that it will host a conference call to discuss fourth-quarter and full-year 2010 financial results on...

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE:HOT) is strengthening its long established position in the Middle East as one of the leading luxury hotel operators in the region with a portfolio of nearly 50 existing hotels and a pipeline of 25...

Aloft Hotels, the sizzling brand from Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc. (NYSE: HOT) that's rocked the hotel industry since launching in 2008, today announced the opening of a second Jacksonville property with Aloft Jacksonville Tapestry...

H&R Block (NYSE: HRB) set out to prove in its 2011 testimonial ad campaign that if you're not using H&R Block for tax preparation, you're probably leaving money on the table.

The 2011 Columbus Build, Remodel, and Landscape Expo will celebrate its 10th anniversary in 2011. Located within the Greater Columbus Convention Center, this event will take place January 14th, 15th, and 16th. The show will feature distributors,...

Snap Fitness, the world' s fastest growing franchisor of compact, state-of-the-art fitness centers, has been named one of the top 500 franchises in the United States, ranking No. 33 in Entrepreneur Magazine' s Franchise 500, No. 27 in...

The Franchise 500 list by Entrepreneur is the world's first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking that is based on objective, quantifiable measures of success from financial and statistical data. In its 32nd year of release, the list...

The Greene Turtle added yet another feather in its cap as 2010 drew to a close, climbing more than 125 spots up Entrepreneur's prestigious Franchise 500 list to #339.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today announces the opening of the Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport Convention Center. After a $13 million conversion from a Quality...

Genghis Grill – The Mongolian Stir Fry has signed on franchisee, Carlos Politano, to lead the Washington, D.C. market.

Weight Watchers, the world's leading provider of weight management services, has teamed up with Fashion Consultant Tim Gunn, to inspire people on their weight loss journey. In addition to providing fashion tips for the many stages of weight loss,...

Alex Roberts, ProTect Painters franchise president, formally announced the hiring of Anne Nemer as senior director of integrated marketing for the residential and commercial painting franchise.

TSS Photography, the leading provider of youth sports and school photography services in the U.S., is only one of 12 franchise businesses chosen to be featured in FRANCHI$IT, the thrilling new board game of skill and strategy.

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, today announces the opening of the Crowne Plaza Charleston Airport Convention Center. After a $13 million conversion from a Quality...

WSI, the world's #1 internet marketing franchise, announces the beginning of a Master Franchise office in Epone, France; this new office will be operated by Gilles Dandel's organization.

RE/MAX Elite, one of the more prominent real estate franchises on Florida's east coast, raised more than $19,900 this year for local charities despite a challenging housing market.

After months of testing new limited time product Spicy Cheddar Sausage in North Texas locations, Dickey's Barbecue Pit officials have heard a few messages loud and clear: customers love spice and the more cheese, the better.

Jenny Craig, Inc., one of the nation's leading authorities on weight management, today announced Carrie Fisher as the newest Jenny Craig celebrity client and spokesperson. The actress and critically acclaimed bestselling author, best known for her...

Massage Envy, the pioneer and national leader of affordable and convenient massage and spa services, announced today that the company experienced unprecedented growth in 2010 with 43 new locations -- bringing the total number of Massage Envy...

Come find food for every mood at Chili's(R) Grill & Bar with the brand's introduction of the new 'Wild or Mild' menu. Guests can take their taste buds for a ride on the wild side with kicked up versions of Chili's favorites or enjoy classic...

Following a year of rapid growth in Asia with six Wyndham branded hotel openings in China and another seven under construction, Wyndham Hotel Group, part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), today announced the signing of a franchise...

Spicy Pickle Franchising, Inc. (OTCBB: SPKL) today announced the appointment of Peter Wright as its new Chief Development Officer.

Late passage of tax legislation and delayed processing of some tax forms may make taxpayers wonder how this tax season will differ from last season. As the IRS prepares to accept e-filed returns Jan. 14, H&R Block is taking the guesswork out of...

With its recent ranking in the top half of Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500, it's no wonder EagleRider, the world's largest motorcycle rental and tour company, is revving up for another busy year. To help maximize the company's growth,...

Entrepreneur magazine released its Franchise 500 list for 2011 naming Tutor Doctor as one of the Top Global Franchises. In its third consecutive year on the list, the one-on-one, in-home tutor service was also ranked as a Fastest Growing Franchise...

Snap Fitness, the world's fastest growing franchisor of compact, state-of-the-art fitness centers, has been named one of the top 500 franchises in the United States, ranking No. 33 in Entrepreneur Magazine's Franchise 500®, No. 27 in...

Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning®, a company who uses revolutionary carpet cleaning technology and safe and effective products to clean carpets and rugs, has now been recognized by the WOOLSAFE organization.

ACE Cash Express, Inc., a leading retailer of financial services, announced a donation of $25,000 to Junior Achievement in support of its mission to educate and inspire young people to succeed in the global economy.

After last year's successful growth in China, Wyndham Hotel Group, part of Wyndham Worldwide Corporation (NYSE: WYN), is off to a strong start in 2011. The hotel company today announced the signing of a management agreement to open a Wyndham Hotels...

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: DTG) and Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAR) today released the following joint statement:

This season, travelers can earn great rewards three times as fast with Choice Privileges from Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH). Choice Privileges members who book their stays at ChoiceHotels.com or 800-4CHOICE arriving between now and...

IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON: IHG, NYSE: IHG (ADRs)], the world's largest hotel group by number of rooms, announced today the opening of the new Staybridge Suites Houston Stafford-Sugar Land, the first hotel in the brand's portfolio to...

Pretzelmaker announced today that the company added a delicious new flavor to its extensive line of blended drinks – Lemon Twist. The new flavor offers customers a tart and refreshing zest of lemon in a cool, smooth blended drink and is being...

In support of its global growth initiative, Baskin-Robbins, the world's largest ice cream brand, today announced the appointment of three experienced restaurant industry executives to its international marketing and operations team. Paul Reynish,...

Togo's Sandwiches, a West Coast Original since 1971 serving big, made to order sandwiches stuffed with the freshest ingredients announced today that in honor of National Pastrami Day, Friday, January 14, 2011, the company's unprecedented Pastrami...

North America's "Free Your Toes" retailer kicks off the New Year with big news for eyewear enthusiasts.

Dollar Thrifty Automotive Group, Inc. (NYSE: DTG) and Avis Budget Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CAR)today released the following joint statement: As previously reported, following the termination of Dollar Thrifty's merger agreement with Hertz Global...

Racing Limos America, Inc., a subsidiary of Atlas Technology Group (PINKSHEETS: ATYG), is pleased to announce the start of its anticipated plans for expansion in 2011.

It is a dream come true for Kathryn Flores of Wharton, Texas to be announced winner of the ColorTyme Big Tyme Big Game Giveaway. Flores, whose name was drawn randomly from hundreds of entries, wins a trip for two to the biggest football event of the...

Denny's Corporation (NASDAQ: DENN), one of America's largest full-service family restaurant chains, today announced the appointment of John C. Miller to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer, effective February 1, 2011. Mr. Miller...

When the real estate market is in flux, buying a foreclosed home can be one of the best deals around. And while now is a great time to buy a home, especially for first-time buyers, HouseMaster, the first and oldest home inspection franchise system...

The federal tax credit extension, coupled with an uptick in seasonal buying, helped keep the real estate market on its tracks in the first two quarters of 2010, according to the RE/MAX of New England 2011 Housing Market Outlook and Forecast*....

The 1-800-DryClean franchise once again ranks among America's top franchise opportunities as evidenced by the brand's 2011 Franchise 500 ranking in the January issue of Entrepreneur magazine.

ActionCOACH has announced a new joint venture in India that will expand the franchise into one of the fastest growing economies in the world.

WSI, the world's leading digital marketing franchise, is proud to announce that one of its franchisees, Anthony Burke located in Etchingham, East Sussex has successfully completed his Advanced Internet Marketing (AIM) Certification for 2011.

DotLoop, the trusted source for sharing and signing documents online, announced an agreement with Keller Williams Realty, the third largest franchise operation in the U.S., to provide its services to 80,000 agents in nearly 700 locations in North...

The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and Dogfish Head Craft Brewery have teamed up for the "Off-Centered Film Fest" short film competition on April 15 & 16 in Austin, TX. Featuring off-centered films for off-centered people, the festival celebrates the...

Thirty years ago, very few retailers specialized in providing supplies and information for attracting and feeding backyard birds. So on January 28, 1981, Jim Carpenter, an unemployed nature enthusiast, combined his retail experience with his passion...

FOCUS Brands Inc., the franchisor and operator of more than 3,300 ice cream stores, bakeries, restaurants and cafes, announced today that Kat Cole has been named President of Cinnabon, Inc., the 25-year-old market leader among cinnamon roll bakeries...