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 UNITED STATES FRANCHISE NEWS ARCHIVE
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: : Current
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Brixx Plans to Open Dozens of New Restaurants. Restaurants and Institutions identified Brixx Wood Fired Pizza as one of 10 emerging chains to track. The Charlotte-based chain's wood-fired oven, which gives the pizza its signature taste, and the inexpensive menu are cited as reasons for the restaurant's success. .... [more]
18/11/08
NexCen Brands Receives Notification Letter from Nasdaq. NexCen Brands, Inc., today announced that, as anticipated, on November 14, 2008, the Company received additional notification from The Nasdaq Stock Market that the Company is not in compliance with the continued listing requirement. .... [more]
18/11/08
7-Eleven on the hunt for local franchisees. 7-Eleven plans to convert its remaining company-owned stores in the D.C. and Baltimore areas to franchise locations. .... [more]
17/11/08
Papa John's One-Ups Pizza Hut on Facebook. Papa John's continues to explore the digital frontier for ways to make ordering a pizza more convenient and enticing. This time around, Papa John's is looking to Facebook and giving free pizzas to their most technology savvy brand ambassadors. .... [more]
17/11/08
Beautiful Brands partners with donut concept. Beautiful Brands International, the developer of Camille’s Sidewalk Café, Coney Beach and FreshBerry Frozen Yogurt Cafe, has signed a deal with Tulsa-based Daylight Donut Flour Co., parent company of Dixie Cream Donuts, to franchise and market the Dixie Cream Donuts brand. .... [more]
17/11/08
Lube franchisee sued first, calls action ‘heavy handed’. The DuBois man whose company was sued over a Quaker Steak and Lube franchise near State College said in a statement Friday that the suit is a “heavy-handed action” in response to a suit he filed against Quaker Steak and some of its executives. .... [more]
14/11/08
Yum! Restructures, Cuts Hundreds of Jobs. Louisville, Kentucky-based Yum! Brands made the recession real for the quick-serve industry when it announced plans to cut several hundred jobs as it restructures its business by selling off company-owned KFC and Pizza Hut units to franchisees. .... [more]
14/11/08
Lenny’s launches $100K promotion. Lenny’s Sub Shop’s latest promotion is an “economic stimulus package” for its customers and is hoped to give the sandwich maker a business boost in tough times. .... [more]
14/11/08
RE/MAX Among Top Franchise Opportunities for Minorities. RE/MAX International is proud to have been selected as one of the country's "50 Top Franchises for Minorities." As the only real estate franchisor included in the prestigious ranking, RE/MAX is joined by such notable corporations as McDonalds, 7-11, and InterContinental Hotels Group. .... [more]
14/11/08
Anytime Fitness brings 24-hour gyms to Ohio. Anytime Fitness, a Hastings, Minn.-based 24-hour fitness franchise, is adding at least 15 locations in Ohio soon, where it already operates 16 sites. .... [more]
14/11/08
Pizza Patron Moves into Non-Mexican Market. Pizza Patrón has executed a development agreement with Latitude Partners Florida, LLC to develop twelve stores in the Miami and Fort Lauderdale areas. .... [more]
13/11/08
AFC Enterprises Q3 net income down to $4M. AFC Enterprises Inc.’s profit was down 38 percent in the third quarter, affected by the souring economy. .... [more]
13/11/08
Quaker Steak & Lube sues former franchise holder. Quaker Steak & Lube Franchising Corp. and QSL Intellectual Properties Corp. have sued a DuBois company, claiming it is continuing to operate a Quaker Steak & Lube restaurant after Quaker Steak terminated the franchise agreement. .... [more]
12/11/08
Papa Bello Reaches Milestone With Opening of 20th Franchise. Papa Bello Enterprises is pleased to announce that the company has reached a significant milestone this week with the opening of its 20th franchise restaurant, located in Boiling Springs, SC. .... [more]
12/11/08
Izzy's Restaurant on track with changes. Correcting erroneous news reports that financial trouble may force the closing of all their stores, the owners of Izzy's Franchise Systems say that, on the contrary, the 30-year-old chain of Oregon-Washington buffet restaurants is on track with a major “re-branding” program. .... [more]
12/11/08
U.S. Slowdown Hurts Starbucks. Starbucks said it will open fewer stores internationally than planned and offered a more pessimistic earnings forecast for the coming year. .... [more]
11/11/08
Genghis Grill Is Celebrating 10 Years of Khanquering! November 17th, 2008 marks the 10th anniversary of Genghis Grill - The Mongolian Stir Fry. Genghis Grill brought the "BUILD YOUR OWN BOWL" concept to Dallas, TX in 1998. .... [more]
11/11/08
Great Clips to expand next year. With a recession underway, cheap haircuts look better. Great Clips Inc. announced Tuesday it plans to open 300 new locations in North America through 2009. .... [more]
11/11/08
Denny's Franchisee Association Hosts Largest Convention In Group's History. The 2008 Denny's Franchisee Association (DFA) convention was the largest in association history, hosting more than 1,000 attendees in Las Vegas on Nov. 2-5. .... [more]
11/11/08
Australian hydraulic hose firm says G’day to Houston. PirTek, a Sydney, Australia-based industrial franchise company that entered the United States a decade ago is now targeting Houston. .... [more]
10/11/08
Can You Buy a Big Franchise? Once you realize the appeal of a joining a big franchise, the next logical question is: "Is it possible for me?" Even if you're extremely interested in buying a McDonald's or Subway or 7-Eleven, will those big-name players want to sell to you, Joe the Franchisee? .... [more]
10/11/08
Focus Brands names new chief executive. Russ Umphenour, founder of what became the largest Arby’s franchisee group, was named Monday as the new president and CEO of Focus Brands. .... [more]
10/11/08
Mattress Firm to buy franchisee's five Birmingham-area stores. Retailer Mattress Firm said it plans to buy five of its local stores from a Birmingham franchisee for an undisclosed sum. .... [more]
10/11/08
3 Sources of Franchise Financing. Everyone knows the current lending environment is a challenge--especially if you're trying to finance a startup. Yes, there's still financing available for qualified people, but selecting the right funding strategy is more important than ever. .... [more]
10/11/08
Krispy Kreme Exiting Some C-stores. SCRANTON, Pa. -- Customers here won’t find Krispy Kreme doughnuts at the region’s convenience stores and supermarkets anymore, The Times-Tribune reported. .... [more]
10/11/08
Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour making a comeback. A series of operational blunders and legal tussles led to the closure of more than 100 Farrell’s in the United States years ago. But, now, the Orange County firm that owns the Farrell’s brand trademark said it plans to grow the beloved ice cream parlour concept, again. .... [more]
9/11/08
The Grape files Chapter 11. The parent company behind the trendy The Grape bistro and wine bar at The Summit in Birmingham filed Thursday for bankruptcy protection, almost exactly a year after it obtained more than $2 million in debt financing. .... [more]
7/11/08
Top National Health-Focused Franchise Hits Benchmark of 500th Clinic. Massage Envy, leading provider of massage therapy across the nation, opens it's 500th clinic in New Jersey as well as sells their 800th franchise. .... [more]
7/11/08
Obama's economic agenda could affect small business. A new Democratic administration and Congress means that 27 million U.S. small-business owners — already shaken badly by the economic slump — could face an array of new issues, from potentially higher taxes to costlier workplace benefits. .... [more]
6/11/08
US Franchisees Getting Some Relief From 'Parent' Cos. Some restaurant companies are helping their franchisees save cash by deferring royalty payments or absorbing higher ingredient costs, hoping that taking a financial hit now could help companies emerge stronger from the downturn. .... [more]
6/11/08
Franchising Back at Desert Moon. After a hiatus from actively pursuing new franchisees Gary Occhiogrosso, president of Desert Moon Fresh Mexican Grille announced that the company is re-launching its franchise program. .... [more]
6/11/08
Wendy’s and Triarc in the red in Q3. The acquisition of Wendy’s by an Atlanta company pushed the chain into the red for the third quarter. .... [more]
6/11/08
NPC to acquire, sell Pizza Hut units. NPC International Inc., the largest Pizza Hut franchisee, has entered into two agreements with Pizza Hut Inc., the company announced. .... [more]
6/11/08
IFA outlines the implications of 2008 election on franchising. On the heels of the results of the 2008 presidential election, the International Franchise Association is also weighing the outcome of the results of the House and Senate races. .... [more]
5/11/08
Great Harvest Bread Honored as World-Class Franchise. The Franchise Research Institute has recognized Great Harvest as a 'World-Class Franchise" based on significant research. .... [more]
5/11/08
Carrols Restaurant Group to slow store openings. Burger King franchisee Carrols Restaurant Group Inc. said Tuesday it will slow store openings as a weak U.S. economy crimps momentum. .... [more]
4/11/08
Red Roof offering incentives to franchisees. Red Roof Inns Inc. is counting on a sleek and simple hotel redesign to be a major part of the chain in the future. It’s getting potential franchisees to bite that’s the challenge these days. .... [more]
3/11/08
My Way Storage goes out of business. An East Grand Rapids entrepreneur's venture into mobile storage units is out of business just two years after its launch. Founder and President Bryan Houck has resigned and his five My Way Storage franchisees are trying to figure out to how to stay in business. .... [more]
3/11/08
H&R Block sells advisers unit, buys franchise operator. H&R Block Inc. has completed the sale of its H&R Block Financial Advisors unit to Ameriprise Financial Inc., and the $278 million purchase of the operator of its tax preparation franchise units in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas. .... [more]
3/11/08
Brooke franchisees caught in insurance firm’s collapse. St. Louis-area franchisees of financially troubled Brooke Insurance of Overland Park, Kan., are working to end their franchise contracts with the company. Meanwhile, a pair of Kansas businessmen have said they intend to acquire the Brooke Insurance agencies. .... [more]
3/11/08
Geeks On Call and Mr. Handyman Co-Market Professional Services. Geeks On Call Holdings, Inc. announced today that it has launched a preferred provider relationship with renowned national home improvement and repair franchisor Mr. Handyman through its Value-Added Benefit program. .... [more]
3/11/08
Gymboree back in business. Four of five area Gymboree Play & Music locations were back in business today as corporate officials from San Francisco took over the failed franchise and assured parents that "Gymboree is here to stay." .... [more]
3/11/08
Personal Fitness Training & Nutrition Franchise: Cracking the Codes on Fitness & Franchising. Personal Training Institute (PTI), a unique fitness concept that provides personal fitness training and nutrition consultation to every client has moved slowly into franchising since its inception in 2000. .... [more]
3/11/08
Fast-food order accuracy rises with English-fluent hiring pool. If your next fast-food order at the drive-through has the right food in the right bag, you may have something surprising to thank: the bad economy. .... [more]
2/11/08
Snap plans overseas expansion. Snap Fitness Inc. has hired former Curves International Inc. executive Gary Findley to help the company muscle its way into markets abroad. .... [more]
31/10/08
Burger King profit misses view, keeps outlook. Burger King Holdings Inc posted a lower-than-expected quarterly profit on Friday as commodity costs and other expenses hurt margins, but the world's No. 2 hamburger chain stood by its full-year outlook. .... [more]
31/10/08
Bankrupcty claims Brooke, gives franchisees hope. Brooke Corp. is headed for a fire sale in bankruptcy court, and two Kansas businessmen hope to salvage something from the ashes. .... [more]
31/10/08
Chili's parent Brinker counts on international restaurant growth as U.S. economy sags. With the U.S. economy sagging, franchisees of Brinker International Inc. will open restaurants outside the U.S. at a pace that rivals domestic growth, the company's chief executive said Thursday. .... [more]
30/10/08
7-Eleven aims to convert stores by 2012. Convenience store operator 7-Eleven is continuing its push to convert most company-owned and operated stores into franchise operations. .... [more]
30/10/08
Dunkin' Donuts Opens West Virginia for Franchise Sales. Dunkin' Donuts, America's favorite everyday, all-day stop for coffee and baked goods, is in the midst of a national expansion to increase its franchised locations in the U.S. .... [more]
30/10/08
Diedrich Coffee Submits Application to Transfer the Listing of its Common Stock to the NASDAQ Capital Market. Diedrich Coffee, Inc. today announced that it submitted a transfer application to the NASDAQ Stock Market to transfer the listing of its common stock from the NASDAQ Global Market to the NASDAQ Capital Market. .... [more]
30/10/08
Freshii Announces National Franchising. Freshii founder and CEO, Matthew Corrin, began his career dressing runway models and working under fashion icon, Oscar de la Renta. Today, the young and driven CEO is launching a nationwide expansion plan for his new brand, Freshii. .... [more]
29/10/08
Goddard Schools Thrive, Grow Despite Economic Trends. When Goddard Systems, Inc., opens its 300th franchise school on Nov. 8, it will be added evidence that the company's growth continues, even in a challenging economy. .... [more]
29/10/08
Truck cleaning coming to S.A. Frank Hatcher III is trading in his 14 years of U.S. Army service - he's an IT systems administrator - to wash trucks. This summer, he signed up with Orange Park, Fla.-based Superior Wash to be a franchisee for Central Texas and has since lined up clients in San Antonio, Austin and Killeen. .... [more]
29/10/08
U.S. Military Veteran Opens Pizza Franchise Under Little Caesars Veterans Program. Little Caesar Enterprises, Inc. today celebrates another store grand opening under the Little Caesars Veterans Program as former United States Army Helicopter Pilot Warrant Officer Tony Ceppaluni opens his doors for business. .... [more]
29/10/08
Au Bon Pain Announces Franchise Honors. Au Bon Pain today announced award winners for outstanding franchisees and employees at the company's recent annual meeting. The awards recognized individuals who best exemplify the company's passion to go beyond the ordinary for its guests. .... [more]
29/10/08
Saxbys drinks up Bucks County Coffee. About 15 Bucks County Coffee locations around the region will become Saxbys Coffee Worldwide stores in coming months. .... [more]
29/10/08
Curves Kailua closes its doors. Curves, a fitness center for women, closed its doors in Kailua earlier this month due to financial issues, leaving some 270 members in the lurch. .... [more]
29/10/08
Brooke Corp., Brooke Capital file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Brooke Corp. and Brooke Capital Corp. filed for reorganization Tuesday in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Kansas, continuing the insurance franchisor’s long financial struggle. .... [more]
28/10/08
McDonald's Coffee Strategy Is Tough Sell. After unveiling plans earlier this year to sell espresso drinks at all of its U.S. locations, McDonald's Corp. now faces a fresh set of challenges. The weak economy has prompted some consumers to brew coffee at home instead of buying it at coffee shops. .... [more]
28/10/08
Krispy Kreme Encourages Voters. On Election Day, Nov. 4, 2008, participating Krispy Kreme stores will offer one free star-shaped doughnut with red, white, and blue sprinkles to each customer wearing an "I Voted" sticker. .... [more]
28/10/08
Local franchisee of The Curtain Exchange plans up to 10 new U.S. stores next year. Tanner-Meyer Group LLC has opened Curtain and Bedding Outlet, the first outlet store in The Curtain Exchange franchise, and plans are in place to develop as many as 10 new Curtain Exchange stores in the U.S. next year. .... [more]
28/10/08
Franchisee buying all 37 Applebee's in D-FW, Waco. A franchisee has signed a deal to buy all 37 Applebee's restaurants in the Dallas, Fort Worth and Waco areas, the parent company said this week. .... [more]
28/10/08
Home Based Franchises Help Supplement Incomes in the Midst of Struggling Economy. With the economy down and unemployment rates up, Americans all across the country are supplementing their incomes and guarding against the credit crunch by investing in their own home based franchises says Franchise Direct. .... [more]
28/10/08
Jittery Joe's names new vice president of operations. Jittery Joe's Franchising, a coffee roaster and cafe chain, has appointed Kim Collins as its new vice president of operations. .... [more]
28/10/08
Stroller Strides Franchises Succeed Despite Economic Climate. One small business that's proven to provide an invaluable service despite the shaky consumer climate is Stroller Strides - a franchised stroller exercise program for new moms found in over 800 national and Canadian locations. .... [more]
28/10/08
Red Roof Inn Introduces Unprecedented NextGen Incentives for Franchisees. Launched in April, Red Roof’s NextGen™ prototype signaled a brand new direction for one of the country’s leading economy lodging brands. .... [more]
28/10/08
Freddy's franchisees swap ideas. Freddy's Frozen Custard franchisees gathered Monday in Wichita with an eye toward growth and retaining the company's values. .... [more]
28/10/08
Nothnagle seeks to grow nationally with franchises. Despite tough economic times, Nothnagle Realtors is about to embark on a regional expansion that will be a step toward going national, company officials said Monday. .... [more]
28/10/08
Choice Hotels enters boutique business. Choice Hotels, known for franchise brands Comfort Inn and Econo Lodge, is looking to sign up unique, independent hotels across the country. .... [more]
27/10/08
Economy Slowing, Lawn Care Still Growing. Millions of households are cutting back as energy prices rise, home values drop and credit tightens during the current economic downturn. But according to the William Rosenberg International Center of Franchising, businesses that aid busy two-income families are maintaining their success. .... [more]
27/10/08
Trading halted on Brooke stocks. Stock trading for both Brooke Corp. and Brooke Capital Corp. has been shut down by Nasdaq since Thursday. .... [more]
27/10/08
AIM for FAST Success in Franchising Now a Reality. Targeting both aspiring and seasoned franchisees, the nation's premier Business Coaching firm, The Entrepreneur's Source (E-Source), and E-Myth(R) Worldwide are launching a certified business-education program based on the business success principles of E-Myth Worldwide. .... [more]
27/10/08
NexCen Brands Expands Franchised Stores Internationally. NexCen Brands, Inc. today announced that it has expanded its franchised stores internationally through the opening of 43 stores to date in 2008 outside the United States and through the entry into multi-year agreements that provide for the opening of a minimum of an additional 160 stores in eight countries. .... [more]
24/10/08
Driven Brands buys Maaco Franchising. Driven Brands Inc., the parent company of Meineke Car Care Centers Inc., has acquired Maaco Franchising Inc. .... [more]
24/10/08
Mrs. Fields Emerges from Bankruptcy. Mrs. Fields’ Original Cookies, Inc. announced today that it has emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy with an improved balance sheet, a good working capital position, and new ownership. .... [more]
24/10/08
Diedrich Coffee Receives Deficiency Letter From NASDAQ. Diedrich Coffee, Inc. today announced that it received a Nasdaq Staff Deficiency Letter on October 20, 2008 indicating that for the last thirty consecutive trading days, the Company's common stock has not maintained a minimum market value. .... [more]
24/10/08
Regis Corp. will cut acquisition spending. Customer are spending less, and Regis Corp. will follow suit in 2009, the company said on Thursday. Citing slower spending and reduced visits to salons, Regis said that it would cut its capital and acquisition budgets for fiscal 2009 by $35 million to $40 million. .... [more]
24/10/08
Gymborees Abruptly Close; Other Play Centers Step In. TAMPA - Local Gymboree Play & Music centers abruptly closed their doors today, a day after the bankruptcy of the local franchise owner was changed to a liquidation. .... [more]
24/10/08
Marriott Owners and Franchisees Recognized for Hospitality Excellence. Marriott International, Inc. honored top full-service owner and franchise partners at an annual conference held recently. .... [more]
24/10/08
Bennigan's to focus on pub fare post-bankruptcy. Bennigan's diners can expect a bigger emphasis on booze, burgers and other bar and grill fare in the days and months to come, the new owner of the chain said Thursday. .... [more]
23/10/08
Brooke Corp. lays off 52 more. Already scheduled to be in Phillipsburg today to help laid-off Brooke Corp. workers, employment officials were greeted with news that additional layoffs had taken place Tuesday. That's when another 52 employees were laid off at the Phillipsburg office of the financially beleaguered Brooke Corp. .... [more]
23/10/08
RadioShack's profit rises in 3Q. Electronics retailer RadioShack saw its third-quarter profit rise 8 percent on increased comparable same-store sales. .... [more]
23/10/08
Snap-on Announces Record Third Quarter 2008 Earnings. Snap-on Incorporated today announced operating results for the third quarter of 2008. .... [more]
23/10/08
Skinner: McDonald's is 'Recession Resistant'. With the "Plan to Win" in full swing, it's rarely news when McDonald's reports strong quarterly earnings. But amidst an economic crisis, it is surprising to see a company post a 7.1 percent increase in global same-store sales which McDonald's reported in its third-quarter statement released today. .... [more]
22/10/08
Burger King worries over credit crunch impact. The global downturn is pushing consumers to Burger King's stores in search of cheaper dining, but the company is worried that a prolonged credit crunch could hurt its franchisees' borrowing ability. .... [more]
22/10/08
Sale of Bennigan's Franchising approved. Investment firm Atalaya Capital Management has obtained approval from a federal bankruptcy court to buy Bennigan’s Franchising Co., the parent company of the remaining Bennigan’s franchisees that survived a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing. .... [more]
22/10/08
Metromedia Steakhouses files Chapter 11. Metromedia Steakhouses Co., which operates the Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse brands, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. .... [more]
22/10/08
T.G.I. Friday's Restaurants Announce Expansion of Casino Restaurant Operations. Following the extraordinary success of the T.G.I. Friday's restaurant at The Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, T.G.I. Friday's restaurants today announced the opening of four new T.G.I. Friday's restaurants located within casinos in Las Vegas over the next six weeks. .... [more]
22/10/08
Smashburger Secures Franchise Group for 30-Store East Coast Expansion. Smashburger, a fast-casual “better burger” concept recently launched and funded with $15 million by private equity and concept development firm Consumer Capital Partners, has secured its first franchisee and “Founders Club” member, New Jersey-based Mascott Corporation. .... [more]
22/10/08
Great Clips Opens Boston for Franchise Sales. Great Clips, Inc., the largest walk-in hair salon brand in North America, is rapidly expanding its footprint with today's announcement that Boston is now open for franchise sales. More than 200 salons are projected for the greater Boston area. .... [more]
22/10/08
Bishops Barbershop Targets Seattle for Franchise Sales. Bishops Barbershop, cuts and colors for men and women, today announced the launch of a franchise development plan in the U.S. .... [more]
22/10/08
INTEREST - Republicans Spend More at Domino's. For the third consecutive week, Republicans participating in the Domino's Pizza Tracker Poll, launched Oct. 7 on the company's Web site, spend more money per order than Democrats do. .... [more]
22/10/08
Owners Say Franchisers Pass on More Costs. Some franchisees say they are being forced to pay for a variety of expenses for the first time -- making difficult economic times even tougher. .... [more]
21/10/08
Popeyes honors top franchisees. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen, a division of AFC Enterprises Inc., has announced the recipients of its franchise awards at its annual International Franchise Conference, held in Scottsdale, Ariz. .... [more]
21/10/08
Pizzerias caught in the credit crunch. As the credit crisis reverberates through the economy, dough is getting tight for pizza companies. The tightening credit markets have forced several pizzeria operators to put expansion plans on hold as sources of financing dry up. .... [more]
21/10/08
Brooke names Baranowski as CEO, details turnover of board. Carl Baranowski has been named as president, CEO and secretary of Brooke Corp. after a housecleaning that has left the company with a board of directors consisting of one person. .... [more]
21/10/08
Peter Piper picks new CEO. A former FedEx Kinko's vice president has been named chief executive officer of Peter Piper Inc. The Phoenix-based pizza franchise has tapped Joseph Luongo Jr. to head the private-equity-owned firm. .... [more]
21/10/08
Quiznos Franchisees Walloped by Recession. While the recession and banking crisis have taken a toll on the entire restaurant industry, a number of Quiznos franchisees claim to have been disproportionately affected. .... [more]
20/10/08
Vote for franchising on Nov. 4. An estimated 100 million Americans don't vote on Election Day. To help the franchising community register to vote and make it to the polls on Nov. 4, the International Franchise Association created the Web site www.franchisingvotes.com. .... [more]
20/10/08
Sonesta To Add U.S. Franchises. The upscale Sonesta International Hotels Corp. is on track to become a bigger player in the corporate travel market as it embarks on an aggressive growth plan, begins courting domestic franchising opportunities and readies for the launch of a new rewards program. .... [more]
20/10/08
Papa Romano’s and Mr. Pita opens in Houston. Papa Romano’s and Mr. Pita have opened a co-branded restaurant in Houston. The new unit, which features the foods of both Papa Romano’s and Mr. Pita, is the first of 80 locations the chains plan to open in Houston. .... [more]
20/10/08
Former Bojangles' Management Team Acquires Qdoba Mexican Grill Franchises. QCarolina Restaurants LLC, led by former Bojangles' CEO Joe Drury, announces the acquisition of Qdoba Mexican Grill restaurants which currently operates 16 restaurants in North Carolina and 2 in Tennessee. .... [more]
20/10/08
Franchise Business Consultant Jeff Brake Launches FranchiseChemistry.com. FranchiseChemistry.com is an assessment-driven website dedicated to helping solve the question: "Which franchise opportunities are right for me?" .... [more]
17/10/08
Franchise Fever. 7-Eleven takes a big gulp, then commits to giving up a 50-50 split of company to franchise stores. .... [more]
17/10/08
Re/Max refugees form new competitor. One of Silicon Valley’s largest Re/Max International Inc. franchisees is abandoning the brand, marking the fourth notable California defection this year for the Denver-based real estate franchisor. .... [more]
17/10/08
Ways to Support Franchisees During a Time of Escalating Costs. Prove your system's value to franchisees every day. That's the mantra of growth-oriented franchisors, especially given the current economy. .... [more]
17/10/08
Dunkin' Opens First Green Store. Dunkin' Donuts opened its first green store today. The St. Petersburg, Florida, restaurant is Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certified and includes other green initiatives such as innovative recycling programs like worm casting and food donations to the local food bank. .... [more]
17/10/08
Coast Casinos embraces T.G.I. Friday's brand. Coast Casino patrons will soon be able to say TGIF every day at all Coast locations. Boyd Gaming announced all of its Coast Casino properties will have a T.G.I. Friday's restaurant open for business within a few weeks. .... [more]
17/10/08
Rocky Mountain, Cold Stone to Co-Brand. Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory Inc., which franchises gourmet chocolate and confection stores, and Cold Stone Creamery are signing a nonbinding Letter of Intent to negotiate the terms of a Test License Agreement between the two brands. .... [more]
17/10/08
Red Lion Hotels' decline after deal falls through. Shares of Red Lion Hotels Corp. continued to decline on Friday, one day after the hotel company said a buyout proposal has been withdrawn and its strategic alternatives process concluded without another offer. .... [more]
17/10/08
Mr. Rooter Plumbers Root for Small Business on Capitol Hill. While Mr. Rooter Plumbing may not have THE Joe the Plumber, there are many like him, including Bob the Plumber and several others who recently took their small business concerns straight to Capitol Hill. .... [more]
16/10/08
RE/MAX Global Network Keeps Growing. RE/MAX International Inc., one of the leading real estate brands in the world, announced today that it has added more than 500 new franchises to its global network in the first three quarters of 2008. .... [more]
16/10/08
Arby's names new CFO, COO as Triarc, Wendy's merge. Arby's Restaurant Group Inc. said Wednesday it named Michael Lippert as chief operating officer and John Dasis as chief financial officer, as parent company Triarc Cos. Inc. completes its merger with Wendy's to form Wendy's/Arby's Group. .... [more]
15/10/08
Golden Spoon signs area development agreement with Pacific Yogurt. Golden Spoon, a frozen yogurt chain, has signed an area development agreement with Pacific Yogurt Partners to develop 30 Golden Spoon franchise locations in the Greater San Francisco Bay Area. .... [more]
15/10/08
Diedrich Coffee Receives Deficiency Letter From NASDAQ. Diedrich Coffee, Inc. today announced that it received a NASDAQ Staff Deficiency Letter on October 10, 2008 indicating that the Company does not comply with the minimum stockholders' equity requirement of $10 million for continued listing on The NASDAQ Global Market. .... [more]
15/10/08
Pizza Hut Debuts Facebook Ordering. Pizza Hut is unveiling a new application for Facebook Platform, making it the only national pizza chain to offer the ability to order delivery food without ever leaving the popular Web site. .... [more]
15/10/08
Restaurants' Gloom Spreads. Restaurant chains are bracing for dismal fall and holiday dining seasons by cutting prices, trimming earnings and sales forecasts and shuttering locations. .... [more]
14/10/08
Chain Reaction. Many immigrants look to establish themselves by running their own business. But starting -- and successfully running -- a small business is hard enough without the language and cultural barriers. So, many turn to a franchise concept. .... [more]
14/10/08
Bishops Barbershop Makes West Coast Franchise Expo Debut. Bishops Barbershop, cuts and colors for men and women, will be exhibiting for the first time at the West Coast Franchise Expo in Los Angeles, Nov. 7-9, 2008. .... [more]
14/10/08
Dog Care & Franchising: a Thriving Business in a Down Economy. Times are tough and Americans are curtailing their spending. But passionate pet owners draw the line at cutting back for our furry friends. .... [more]
14/10/08
Cereal Bowl Opens First Franchised Location. The Cereal Bowl, opened its first franchised location at 181 E. Main Street Newark, Delaware, this past Saturday, October 11. .... [more]
13/10/08
GarageTown USA Successful Garage Condo Trend Through Franchising. GarageTown USA began offering franchises of its successful garage “condo” business model last month under the newly formed GarageTown USA Franchise Services LLC (GTFS). .... [more]
13/10/08
Burger House, Wild About Harry's will expand franchising despite economy. Despite the chokehold on commercial credit, two Dallas restaurant companies have decided this is the time to make their first major push into franchising. .... [more]
11/10/08
Krispy Kreme Expands in Arizona. Krispy Kreme is evolving its store concept to better compete in today's market with the "neighborhood doughnut shop," first being introduced in the Arizona market on Oct. 9, 2008. .... [more]
10/10/08
Restaurants Face Lean Times in the Economic Downturn. As the credit crisis and the economic downturn begin to bite on Main Street America, restaurant row is in for a shake-up. For the first time in nearly two decades, the $550 billion restaurant industry has suffered stagnant sales this year. .... [more]
10/10/08
McAlister’s, franchises find financing a tough go. A year ago, Paul Wilson and business partner Don Harris set their sights on three new McAlister’s Deli franchises, in Fairview Heights and Edwardsville, Ill., and Paducah, Ky. Today the tightening credit market has made it nearly impossible to secure a loan to fund their plans. .... [more]
10/10/08
Salad Creations Opens 50th Restaurant. Salad Creations, a national franchise offering a fresh alternative to fast-food for today's healthy lifestyle, announced today it has opened its 50th restaurant, which is located in Miami, Florida. .... [more]
10/10/08
Geeks On Call Outsourced IT Services Available to Christmas Decor Franchises. Geeks On Call Holdings, Inc. announced today that they will be offering IT services through their Value-Added Benefit Program to Christmas Decor, a division of The Decor Group and the nation's largest outdoor lighting and decorating franchise. .... [more]
10/10/08
The Amazing Cuban Cafe will now be expanding throughout the U.S. Soul de Cuba Cafe has announced they will be launching an aggressive expansion program through franchising. Soul de Cuba Cafe brings traditional, authentic Cuban cuisine by embracing Afro Cuban culture and history. .... [more]
10/10/08
Women asserting role in franchise business. According to the International Franchise Association (IFA), women have founded 23 franchise systems in the United States and the number of women-owned franchises continues to climb. .... [more]
9/10/08
Subway kicks off energy campaign. The nation's largest sandwich shop franchise sent each one of its U.S. stores one compact fluorescent light bulb to install last week to help kick off a national Energy Star campaign, which is in its ninth year. .... [more]
9/10/08
Saxbys Coffee Worldwide Acquires Bucks County Coffee. Saxbys Coffee Worldwide, one of the fastest growing coffee companies in the country, today completed a private transaction to acquire the assets of Bucks County Coffee Co., including its 15 retail locations and a distribution channel to approximately 400 grocery outlets. .... [more]
9/10/08
Mama Mimi's Franchises. U. S. Air Force Senior Master Sergeant (also referred to as First Sergeant) Raymond Munger and his wife Teri, also a U. S. Air Force veteran, signed a multiple unit development agreement for the Dayton, Ohio, market with the Columbus-based Mama Mimi's Take N' Bake Pizza chain. Ray and Teri are the chain's first franchisee. .... [more]
9/10/08
The Best-Kept Secret From Down Under Hits U.S. Shores. New Zealand Natural Ice Cream announces that they will now be available at the Staples LA Live Center in November 2008. The company has quickly expanded from its original roots in New Zealand, the South Pacific, and Asia to now saturating the United States. .... [more]
8/10/08
Yum effort to sell restraurants to franchisees tougher. A campaign at Yum! Brands to sell more of the company’s U.S. restaurants to franchisees is more difficult due to the credit crunch, a company executive said today. .... [more]
8/10/08
Medifast Announces Opening of First Franchise Clinic. Medifast, Inc. announced the opening of the first franchisee-owned Medifast Weight Control Center in the Baltimore, Maryland market. .... [more]
8/10/08
Analyst tries to quash credit anxiety at Carrols. A JPMorgan analyst on Tuesday attempted to quash investors' fears of a potential bankruptcy at Burger King franchisee Carrols Restaurant Group Inc., saying the company still has several options for paying down debt. .... [more]
7/10/08
Tim Hortons signs deal with U.S.-based Tops. Tim Hortons has made further inroads into the United States by signing a deal for 82 full-service restaurants and self-serve kiosks at Tops Friendly Markets grocery stores. .... [more]
7/10/08
Baja Fresh Rolls Out New Concept. Baja Fresh Mexican Grill the quick casual Mexican grill chain today announced the grand opening of its two newest locations and its newest concept, Baja Fresh Express. .... [more]
7/10/08
Whataburger acquires 47 stores from its largest franchisee. Corpus Christi-based Whataburger bought out its largest franchise owner, acquiring 47 restaurants and bringing the number of corporate-owned outlets to almost 600. .... [more]
7/10/08
The Hitting Academy Announces Sports Franchise Opportunities. The Hitting Academy announced the launch of its national baseball franchise program, which will allow the company to offer state-of-the-art baseball and softball training facilities and programs across the country. .... [more]
7/10/08
4 Advantages to Buying a Big-Name Franchise. With borrowing leverage, purchasing power and marketing prowess already in place, big franchises just make sense. .... [more]
6/10/08
As economy hurts, so does franchising. Reduced access to capital has some franchisers struggling to maintain their growth and many franchisees wondering how to pay for improvements. Prospective franchisees, meanwhile, face having to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for start-up costs at a time when banks are reluctant to lend. .... [more]
6/10/08
Sector Snap: Restaurants plummet. A slew of negative analyst reports in recent days and investors' fears of a global credit crisis combined to help sink restaurant shares Monday. .... [more]
6/10/08
Over 550 Franchise and Coaching Executives Gather in Miami to Transform the State of Franchising and Business Coaching. FranchisEsource Brands International (FSBI) hosted one of the largest gatherings of Franchise and Business Coaching professionals in the industry last week. .... [more]
6/10/08
FranNet pairs would-be business owners, franchises. Thinking about buying a business franchise? One place to a start a search is Louisville-based FranNet, a 22-year-old firm that offers consulting and brokering services for the franchise industry. .... [more]
6/10/08
Craters & Freighters Opens Washington DC Location. Craters & Freighters, the national leader in specialty freight solutions, announced today the opening of its franchise location in Washington, DC, in response to the area's high demand for the packing and shipping of large, valuable, and fragile goods. .... [more]
6/10/08
Redevelopment freezes out original Carvel store. The original Carvel shop prepared to serve its last cones Sunday, more than seven decades after becoming the birthplace of an ice cream empire. .... [more]
5/10/08
Bookkeeping franchise expands into Huntington. The owner of a national bookkeeping franchise plans to expand into the Huntington area and is looking for interested franchisees. .... [more]
5/10/08
Fantastic Sams To Open Salons In Region. As many businesses look to scale back during the current economic crisis, others see it as the best time to expand. Fantastic Sams, with more than 1,400 locations nationwide and annual sales of $400 million, expects to open between 12 and 15 new salons in the Greater Hartford by 2013. .... [more]
5/10/08
Einstein Looks to Grow Through Licensing. With an existing 20 licensed locations around the country, Einstein Noah Restaurant Group is set to open at least 15 additional licensed units before the end of the year. .... [more]
3/10/08
Brooke Capital faces possible delisting. Brooke Capital Corp. is in danger of getting delisted from the American Stock Exchange unless it creates a plan for bringing the company back in compliance with listing guidelines. .... [more]
3/10/08
Hooters Celebrates 25 Years of Delightfully Tacky Prosperity. October 4th marks the 25th anniversary of the original Hooters restaurant that brought the "delightfully tacky, yet unrefined" concept to Clearwater, Florida in 1983. .... [more]
3/10/08
FranchiseThis! Adds Franchise Consultant Division. A new business startup, Virginia-based FranchiseThis!, recently launched a franchise consultant division at the company under the name of MyFranchisePath. .... [more]
3/10/08
Mrs. Fields Plan of Reorganization Confirmed. Mrs. Fields' Original Cookies, Inc. announced today that it has successfully satisfied the restructuring conditions set forth in its Plan of Reorganization (the "Plan") and that the Plan has been confirmed by the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware. .... [more]
2/10/08
Presidential candidates answer IFA questions on key business issues. In an exclusive to the International Franchise Association's flagship publication Franchising World magazine, presidential candidates Barack Obama and John McCain have outlined their views on issues important to the franchise industry. .... [more]
1/10/08
Pizzeria not endorsed by the NYPD. It may be just a cheesy way to capitalize on the New York Police Department's reputation, but under terms of a recent settlement N.Y.P.D. Pizza can keep its name as long as it makes clear it is not affiliated with New York's Finest. .... [more]
1/10/08
Sonic Responds to Remarks about the Company's Franchisees. Sonic Corp. today responded to remarks in the press yesterday concerning the company’s franchisees, who were used to illustrate the problems of a tightening credit market. .... [more]
1/10/08
Mrs. Fields Revamp Plan Faces Obstacle. Several parties, including the Internal Revenue Service and a group of frozen-yogurt franchises, are objecting to Mrs. Fields Famous Brands Inc.'s prepackaged plan of reorganization, which the cookie company has considered its fast-track ticket out of bankruptcy-court protection. .... [more]
1/10/08
Giggle Beans Announces Launch of National Franchising. Giggle Beans has received such amazing support from the local community, they have begun national franchising. Created to by Dawn and Mike Bajis, two Oakland County, Michigan residents, the couple strived to offer parental sanity in a fun indoor play place for young children. .... [more]
1/10/08
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