The Daily Edition of Franchise Business News

‘Tis the season for sugar and spice … and gingerbread latte. Oh thank heaven for 7-Eleven! Participating stores now have a rich, creamy gingerbread latte available at the hot beverage bar.

The Pine Lodge on Whitefish River and The Ridgeline Hotel at Yellowstone are among the newest additions to the growing Ascend Hotel Collection by Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH).

Barberitos, a fast-casual burrito restaurant with 50 locations across the Southeast, is pleased to announce ESPN broadcaster and former NFL player David Pollack as the chain's new brand ambassador.

The upscale Cambria Hotels brand and Green Stay Hospitality LLC. announced Wednesday the official start of construction on the first Cambria hotel in Orlando at a groundbreaking event at the property's future location.

Romacorp, Inc., the parent company of Tony Roma’s® - the world’s largest casual dining concept specializing in ribs - announces the opening of a brand new location in the Festival Plaza Mall in Dubai.

Unity Rd., powered by ONE Cannabis Group, was named one of the top cannabis retail leaders in the nation by MJBizDaily, the most trusted daily news source for the cannabis industry.

Home Instead, Inc., the franchisor for Home Instead Senior Care, the leading provider of in-home care for older adults, today announced that Global Chief Information Officer Jim Hood will assume the role of president, effective immediately.

Industry-leading franchise uBreakiFix brings top-tier smartphone repair to the Cannery Corner shopping center in Las Vegas.

Scenthound, an emerging brand in the $75 billion pet industry, is celebrating its first year as an official franchise and the growth the brand has experienced since launching the franchise opportunity.

G6 Hospitality LLC, the parent company of Motel 6 and Studio 6 brands in the United States and Canada, announced Adam Cannon has been promoted to the newly created position of Vice President, Brand Management.

City Wide, the nation’s leading management company in the building maintenance industry, is celebrating a year of reaching several growth milestones.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE:H) announced today the opening of Hyatt Regency Portland at the Oregon Convention Center, marking Hyatt’s first full-service hotel in the city of Portland, Ore. and the city’s first convention center hotel.

FlannelJax’s, America’s premier axe-throwing and Lumberjack experience, recently named Terry Stewart as Vice President – Franchise Services & Operations.

Cambria Hotels commemorated the opening of its third location in the Phoenix metro area, the Cambria Hotel Downtown Phoenix Convention Center, with an exclusive ribbon-cutting ceremony and "Paint with a Brew" event.

Saladworks is looking to expand with franchise prospects across North Carolina - and it has already signed two major deals for the Charlotte and Raleigh area.

AlphaGraphics, a global leader in printing and marketing solutions, has received positive feedback from franchisees following Franchise Business Review's annual survey completed in September of this year.

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) announced today that it's testing a new restaurant design to better support its billion-dollar digital business.

Engel & Völkers today announced that Shirley and Victor Attias of The Attias Group will join its Engel & Völkers Fort Lauderdale shop.

Danish-founded retail furniture franchise BoConcept is capping off a major year of growth that saw the global brand receive four major industry awards in 2019.

Aaron's, Inc. (NYSE: AAN) concluded a busy fall by completing makeovers at three Boys & Girls Clubs teen centers around the country.

Choice Hotels International, Inc. (NYSE: CHH) has awarded franchise agreements to two top developers to build new Cambria hotels in Austin, Texas and Niagara Falls, New York.

With its eighth straight year of increased system-wide sales coming to a close, A&W Restaurants is preparing for more growth in 2020 with several leadership promotions, new staff positions and a larger support center.

Just in time for the brutal cold winter, offices in Cook County, Chicago will welcome in a hot new office coffee service franchise thanks to Xpresso Delight's newest franchisee, Derek Gilroy.

Einstein Bros. Bagels is declaring its independence from the shared holiday with National Pizza Day by officially moving National Bagel Day to January 15, 2020.

Kinderdance® International Inc. continues to prove that dance, movement and fitness programs standout as a highly popular children’s franchise.

Brain Balance Achievement Centers announced their 2020 initiative to ensure all their locations become Board Certified Cognitive Centers (BCCC).

ComForCare Home Care, a franchised provider of in-home caregiving services, announced their Caregiver of the Year at the company's national conference.

Wing Zone has announced their College Bowl Mania Contest, in which participants are asked to pick the winner of 41 College Football Bowl Games - including the College Football Playoff Championship.

ERA Real Estate, a global franchising leader, today announced the results of its national #GivingTuesdayERA campaign, which aims to unite ERA® offices worldwide in support of various charities and causes.

Young Rembrandts, a leader in art education, announced today that it has been named the Most Unique Afterschool Art Class Throughout Midwest USA in Corporate Vision Magazine’s second annual Franchise Awards.

International frozen dessert concept, Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream is now introducing frothy hot drinks with their tasty ice cream base.

Kinderdance® International has been named by Entrepreneur magazine as Top 200 Global Franchise to own.

The results are in: Slim Chickens is the fast casual to watch. Just six years into franchising, the brand has opened its 100th location.

Always Best Care Senior Services, one of the leading senior care franchise systems in the United States, announced today that Jeff Gladstein is the new owner of the Southbury franchise.

Start spreading the news! Artichoke Basille’s Pizza will open later this month at 1410 Broadway on 39th Street, just a few blocks from New York City’s iconic Times Square.

Just a few weeks following the opening of Central Florida based Huey Magoo’s first restaurant in Georgia continues rapid expansion throughout the Southeast with the grand opening of its first location in Sunrise, Florida.

To celebrate back-to-back bowl appearances, Chipotle is offering fans the chance to win free delivery on other deliveries.

Fan-favorite fast-casual sandwich chain, Capriotti's Sandwich Shop, is upping the ante in the plant-based eating game. The brand's award-winning Cheese Steak sandwich is now available to more fans than ever before.

Take a Big Gulp. In an exclusive deal, 7-Eleven, Inc. and Stripes are the first to bring Jarritos Craft Soda to the soft drink fountain.

Big Frog Custom T-Shirts & More® announced the opening of a new location at 2244 Broadway on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.

Critter Control announced that it is on track for 10 new franchise locations in 2019, which is the largest franchise growth for the company since 2007.

The Halal Guys, the largest American halal street food concept in the world, is continuing its expansion across the Atlanta area with a new location at 3455 Peachtree Industrial Blvd. in Duluth, Georgia.

Cousins Subs® today announced the addition of Sub in a Bowl to its menu, offering guests the opportunity to order any deli fresh or grilled to order sub over a bed of fresh mixed greens instead of on bread.

Paul Davis Restoration, a leading provider of fire, water and mold damage emergency and restoration services for residential and commercial properties, offers the following tips to help make the holidays safe.

JINYA Ramen Bar is pleased to announce new franchise signings for restaurants Athens and Buford, Georgia.

Fully Promoted®, the global promotional products and marketing brand, has announced a pivotal addition to their executive team.

Realty ONE Group recently donated $11,111 to the Beverly Carter Foundation, an organization created to support the foundation’s mission to ensure every real estate professional’s safety.

MaidPro announces they've been named a Top Franchise to Own for 2020 by Franchise Business Review (FBR). This is the first award that MaidPro has been honored with for the upcoming 2020 year.

Firehouse Subs announces the grand opening of its first location in Baxter, Minnesota at 15094 Dellwood Drive, Suite 102.

Fitness Machine Technicians, specialists in the maintenance and repair of exercise equipment for commercial and residential customers, announced it will open its first location in Indiana today.

MUTTS Canine Cantina®, the fastest growing pet eatertainment concept in North America, finalized the lease for a new franchise location in the Allen area.

Radisson Blu, the upper-upscale hotel brand that delivers personalized service in stylish spaces, celebrates the opening of an exceptional new beachfront resort on the pure shores of Vietnam.

Hospitality business Whitbread is pulling crackers as part of an industry-leading initiative to eliminate the use of unnecessary* single-use plastics by 2025.

A new-build Holiday Inn will open in the trendy inner-Melbourne suburb of Richmond in 2023.

Hyatt Hotels Corporation (NYSE: H) announced today that a Hyatt affiliate has entered into a franchise agreement with Primehotels Oy for the first Hyatt property in Finland.

Regis Corporation announced today they have entered into an agreement for the sale and conversion of an additional 133 company-owned salons located in the state of Pennsylvania and surrounding areas to the Alline Salon Group.

Retro Fitness, a leader in the high-value, low price fitness space, is excited to announce an exclusive unprecedented Buy One, Give One year-long gym membership.

Related to this refranchising agreement, SoCal Food Group has also committed to develop up to 21 additional Del Taco restaurants over the next seven years, primarily in the San Diego market.

Wolfnights®, the iconic New York gourmet wrap concept and hotspot, today announced it has partnered with Fransmart.

Pizza Inn - America’s Hometown Pizza Place - is back and better than ever in Durant.

Gloria Jean’s Coffees – U.S., an innovator in the specialty coffee segment providing fresh, premium blends and award-winning roasts, is excited to announce its newest drive thru location is now open in Homewood, Illinois.

Since launching delivery via chilis.com and the Chili's app in June, millions of homes have become Chili's "restaurants."

The wait is finally over … Fazoli’s - the brand known for menu innovation - will debut Impossible® meat sauce in a test at all five restaurants in its hometown - Lexington, Kentucky.