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 UNITED STATES FRANCHISE NEWS ARCHIVE
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: : September 2005
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Special
Section: Hurricane
Katrina News
For Franchises, Growing Rapidly Isn't Always Best. When
expansion trumps controlling costs and other goals, operations can
turn sloppy. .... [more]
30/9/05
Krispy Kreme's biggest franchise sues company for business practices.
Krispy Kreme Doughnut Corp.'s largest franchise has sued the company,
claiming executives misappropriated marketing money and lied to the
franchisees about how much they would be charged. .... [more]
30/9/05
New coffee franchise percolating. Amy Gais has been
awarded the Charlotte area's first Coffee Perks franchise, also becoming
the company's first woman franchise owner and its first franchisee
in North Carolina. .... [more]
30/9/05
What It Takes to Be A Successful Franchisee. For companies
sniffing out potential franchisees, a clean financial history isn't
enough anymore. .... [more]
29/9/05
El Pollo Loco Chain to Be Sold and Expand. Investment
company Trimarin Capital Partners has agreed to purchase the El Pollo
Loco fast food chain from American Securities Capital Partners LP,
a move that will allow the chain to expand nationwide. .... [more]
28/9/05
Choice Hotels buys extended-stay chain. Choice Hotels
is expanding its extended-stay hotel business, acquiring Suburban
Franchise Systems for $10.5 million. .... [more]
28/9/05
Wireless Toyz shows no signs of slowing down. Wireless
Toyz founder Joe Barbat expects his stores to triple in number by
the end of next year as cell phone sales continue at a blistering
pace. .... [more]
28/9/05
Red Lion to Unveil Franchising Strategy. Red Lion Hotels
Corp. is expected at the Lodging Conference here this week to unveil
a franchising program hinging on a southwest expansion that will double
its mainstay brand’s markets to 100. .... [more]
28/9/05
Daily Grind Franchises, New Coffee Blend Support Project HOPE's
Work. Project HOPE, an international health education and
humanitarian assistance organization, and the Winchester- headquartered
coffee house franchise Daily Grind today announced an enhanced partnership.
.... [more]
28/9/05
McDonald's Big Mac Rap-Attack Plan Hits Snag. Bad press
and public hue and cry followed a March announcement by McDonald's
that it planned to pay hip-hop artists to name-drop the Big Mac in
their rhymes. .... [more]
27/9/05
Two investor groups to buy Party City. Two private equity
firms, Berkshire Partners LLC and Weston Presidio, said on Tuesday
they had agreed to buy Party City Corp. , the largest U.S. party goods
chain, for about $360 million cash. .... [more]
27/9/05
Glazing Saddles closes Krispy Kreme store in Waco. On
Saturday, Glazing Saddles Ltd. closed its only Krispy Kreme Doughnuts
Inc. store in Waco. .... [more]
27/9/05
Franchising boom rests on variety, opportunity, money.
Franchising is flourishing in Greater Sacramento, driven by a rush
of people who want to own small businesses and franchisers who want
to seize opportunities in the region's booming retail market. ....
[more]
26/9/05
Schlotzsky's next move. Sandwich chain Schlotzsky's
Ltd. says sales are back in the black and it's keeping its headquarters
in Austin. .... [more]
26/9/05
Child-care business becomes franchise. Little Sunshine’s
Playhouse is branching out as owner Rochette Harrington prepares to
open franchise locations throughout the Midwest. .... [more]
26/9/05
UPS Store franchisees send SOS. Randy Holst owns United
Parcel Service's best-performing store in Minnesota. Nationally, he's
ranked among the company's 100 top-grossing stores. But business has
been better. .... [more]
26/9/05
Sonic Reports on Impact of Hurricane Rita. Sonic Corp.
today announced that Hurricane Rita has affected the operations of
a number of partner and franchise drive-ins in the states of Texas
and Louisiana. .... [more]
26/9/05
Taco chain has appetite for Bay Area. A Seattle-based
Fresh-Mex chain has expansion plans in the Bay Area that are as "mondo"
as its signature 24-ounce burrito. .... [more]
25/9/05
Squeegee Squad Launches the Sale of Franchises Nation Wide.
The owners of Squeegee Squad, a residential and new construction window
cleaning company, are launching the sale of Squeegee Squad franchises
nation wide! .... [more]
25/9/05
McDonald's Death Spurs Lawsuit. The family of a truck
driver who died while unloading carbon dioxide at a McDonald's is
suing the restaurant's franchise holder. .... [more]
25/9/05
Franchise owners have stake in and enjoy help as part of larger
entity. One of the biggest American dreams is owning your
own home. Another is owning your own business. .... [more]
25/9/05
Panera to Buy Indiana Franchisee's Cafes. Restaurant
chain Panera Bread Co. said Thursday it agreed to acquire a group
of bakery and cafes from an Indiana franchisee for $27.5 million.
.... [more]
22/9/05
CEO’s letter to shareholders reveals concerns at Pizza
Inn. A Sept. 22 letter from Pizza Inn chief executive Tim
Taft reflected growing shareholder and franchisee concerns over the
future of the struggling 400-unit company. .... [more]
23/9/05
Coffee Perks Signs Its Fourth Franchisee. Coffee Perks
announced that Amy Gais has just been awarded the exclusive rights
to own and operate the franchise in the Charlotte, N.C. area. ....
[more]
22/9/05
Local entrepreneurs expand PRstore franchise. Two Charlotte
entrepreneurs have bought the rights to develop 17 PRstore marketing
franchises. .... [more]
22/9/05
McDonald's plans to sell stock in Chipotle. McDonald's,
the world's largest fast-food company, said Wednesday that it plans
an initial public offering (IPO) of a minority stake in its Chipotle
Mexican Grill brand in the first quarter 2006. .... [more]
21/9/05
Rock Bottom plans expansion. Rock Bottom Restaurants
Inc. of Colorado has obtained $19 million in financing for expansion.
.... [more]
21/9/05
Fraud Sinks Subway's Sub Club. As technology ruins the
viability of some reward promotions, companies are also hoping to
exploit modern advances to create new programs less prone to crime.
.... [more]
21/9/05
McDonald's ads tout Mcjobs. Long maligned as an inferior
job and in need to build the ranks, McDonald's Corp. launched its
first-ever global marketing campaign to tout just how fun and inspirational
a place it is to work. .... [more]
21/9/05
Baymont Opens in Vegas, its 100th Franchise Location.
La Quinta Corp. said it has opened its 100th Baymont-branded franchise
property, The Baymont Inn & Suites–Las Vegas Nellis. ....
[more]
20/9/05
Wireless Toyz Revolutionizes Wireless Retail With its 100th
Store. Cellular superstore franchise Wireless Toyz this week
opens its 100th store with its first location in Anaheim, California.
.... [more]
20/9/05
Let's Dish expands to Boston. Make-and-take meal retailer
Let's Dish plans to open 16 franchise locations in the Boston area
within the next four years. .... [more]
20/9/05
Women's fitness chain shapes up plans. Yogesh and Priti
Aery are muscling into the women's fitness market in Charlotte with
the launch of a chain of Contours Express locations. .... [more]
19/9/05
Wendy's president resigns; stock falls. Wendy's International,
which has been struggling to reverse sluggish sales at its hamburger
restaurants, said Monday its president resigned, effective immediately.
.... [more]
19/9/05
Worldwide Express embraces competitive, team-oriented atmosphere.
When Michael Kemper, president and owner of the local franchise of
Worldwide Express LLC, arrived to sell DHL's services to North Hills-based
Healthy Performance, he offered a slightly lower price than the competition.
.... [more]
19/9/05
Houlihan's expansion will put growth on its menu. Three
years out of bankruptcy, Houlihan's Restaurants Inc. has a plate full
of growth projects, including an important new entree in the local
market. .... [more]
19/9/05
Jiffy Lube sells 68 service centers to franchise group.
Jiffy Lube International said Monday that it sold 68 company-owned
quick-service oil-change locations in Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth
and San Antonio to franchise group Allied Lube Inc. .... [more]
18/9/05
New intimate format replaces burger palace of old. Burger
King restaurants are ready to join the 21st century. A new prototype
that opened in June at one of franchisee Magic Johnson’s restaurants
in Miami’s Liberty City neighborhood aims to borrow a page from
the Starbucks’ playbook and create a place to hang out. ....
[more]
18/9/05
Kansas City Restaurant Company Acquires Famous Sam's Restaurants
and Sports Bars. TWA Restaurant Group, a Kansas City-based
restaurant company, announced today that it has acquired Famous Sam's,
a chain of 29 restaurants and sports bars located throughout the state
of Arizona. .... [more]
16/9/05
GNC faces another push by unhappy franchisees. A group
that claims to represent GNC franchisees says the vitamin retailer
is trying to undermine efforts to organize an independent association
that would serve as an advocate for members - a charge the Downtown-based
company denies. .... [more]
16/9/05
Krispy Kreme says son of early franchisee to leave executive
post. Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. said Thursday the son of
one of the company's earliest franchisees will leave his executive
position this month to pursue personal interest. .... [more]
15/9/05
GE Finance unit buys $203M loan package from Trustreet.
GE Commercial Finance, Franchise Finance has purchased a $203 million
package of real estate mortgage loans from Trustreet Properties Inc.
.... [more]
15/9/05
Eatza Pizza Reaches 100 Restaurant Milestone. Eatza
Pizza Inc., a Scottsdale-based operator of fast casual pizza buffet
restaurants, today announced it has reached the 100 restaurant milestone.
with the signing of several new area development agreements throughout
the United States. .... [more]
15/9/05
Cendant to acquire Wyndham brand and franchise system.
Wyndham International Inc., a hotel company bought in June by The
Blackstone Group and taken private in a $3.2 billion deal, will sell
its brand and franchise system to Cendant Corp. for $100 million in
cash. .... [more]
14/9/05
DoodyCalls Franchising, LLC Announces The Sale of Its First
West Coast Franchise. Kathleen Capps is the new owner of the
first DoodyCalls franchise on the West Coast and is determined to
rid Portland residents of the mounting problem of pet waste. ....
[more]
14/9/05
McDonald's backs phys ed program in US schools. McDonald's
Corp. on Monday said it is sponsoring a physical education program
that will appear in one-third of U.S. public elementary schools. ....
[more]
13/9/05
Tyco Must Pay Pa. Man $32.6 Million. Tyco International
Inc. owes a Sharon, Pa., man $32.6 million in franchise leasing fees
from one of the U.S. subsidiaries, Sensormatic, the 3rd U.S. Circuit
Court of Appeals has affirmed in a non-precedential opinion. ....
[more]
13/9/05
Hair-removal business sold to Michigan rival. Advanced
Laser Clinics, a Lynnwood-based franchiser of hair-removal businesses,
was acquired by its largest competitor, American Laser Centers of
Farmington Hills, Mich, the company announced yesterday. .... [more]
13/9/05
Roly Poly owners watching hospital location carefully.
The creators of the Roly Poly Sandwiches franchise are watching Kevin
Knutson's new venture with interest. Roly Poly is one of several restaurants
that opened in a food court for Good Shepherd Medical Center. ....
[more]
13/9/05
Domino's says high fuel costs will drive up pizza prices.
No. 2 U.S. pizza delivery chain Domino's Pizza Inc., whose drivers
cover nearly 15 million kilometres a week in the United States alone,
will have to raise prices if the cost of gasoline hovers at the current
level for the long haul. .... [more]
13/9/05
UPS Store operators say parent squeezing margins. Since
UPS acquired Mail Boxes Etc. in 2001, franchise owners say they've
seen their business pick up but their margins go down. .... [more]
12/9/05
Bathtub Refinishing Company Opens Nine New Locations.
Miracle Method, the nation's leading bathtub, tile and countertop
restoration company has grown to 107 franchises and more than doubled
its sales in the last eight years. .... [more]
12/9/05
Speaking Roses Announces Franchise Plans. Speaking Roses
International Inc. announced that it has sold the area development
rights to open franchise stores in Utah and southern Nevada. ....
[more]
12/9/05
Boscos opens the tap. Boscos, the self-proclaimed "restaurant
for beer lovers," is taking its first steps toward franchising.
Plans are for future growth to be slow and steady, but it's coming.
.... [more]
12/9/05
Toastissimo Fast Casual Italian Cafe Opens First U.S. Location.
Toastissimo Cafe, a popular Italian eatery with more than 20 European
locations across Italy, France and Spain, opened its first U.S. site
in Orlando, Fla., today. .... [more]
12/9/05
Pizza Inn CEO in bid to put brand back on top. When
Tim Taft took over as CEO of Pizza Inn five months ago, he announced
to the board, shareholders and franchisees that his salary for the
first year would be $1. .... [more]
12/9/05
Sizzler Announces Plans for 25 New Restaurants. Having
shed its all-you- can-eat buffet image, Sizzler, the 313-unit, midscale
casual dining chain, is back in a growth mode, with commitments from
current and a new franchisee for 25 new restaurants worldwide. ....
[more]
12/9/05
Competition brews in Tampa Bay as Dunkin' Donuts adds locations.
Move over Starbucks, Dunkin' Donuts is brewing up competition in the
Tampa Bay area. Dunkin' Donuts has its sights set on becoming the
household word for coffee across the country. .... [more]
11/9/05
Couple Plead Guilty in Wendy's Finger Case. A Nevada
couple pleaded guilty Friday to all charges related to planting a
human finger in a bowl of Wendy's chili in a scheme to extort money
from the fast food restaurant chain. .... [more]
9/9/05
7-Eleven Hires Advisers for Takeover Bid. 7-Eleven Inc.
said Friday it hired financial and legal advisers to help evaluate
a $1.2 billion cash tender offer designed to take the world's largest
convenience store chain private. .... [more]
9/9/05
Franchise owner's arrest spurs effort to end deals.
Three Picurro Pizzeria franchises have filed a lawsuit in Pima County
Superior Court, asking that their franchise agreements be dissolved
following the arrest of Peter Picurro, the 44-year-old owner of the
Picurro franchise. .... [more]
9/9/05
Choice Hotels Opens 5000th Property. Worldwide lodging
franchisor Choice Hotels International, Inc. announced the opening
of the company's 5000th franchised hotel, a Comfort Suites brand hotel
in Lake Geneva, WI. .... [more]
8/9/05
American Fondue Turns 30. The Melting Pot Restaurants
Inc. turned 30 years old and is celebrating with its loyal fondue
fans by giving away a trip to the birthplace of fondue. .... [more]
8/9/05
Burger franchise claims local eatery infringes on trademark.
The In & Out House, a longtime Aspen eatery, may be in danger
of losing its name in a trademark battle with a much older California
corporation. .... [more]
8/9/05
Fourteen Chili's locations planned for Mexico. Brinker
International Inc. said Wednesday that two franchise groups in Mexico
are planning to open 14 new Chili's Grill & Bar locations in and
around Mexico City. .... [more]
7/9/05
Joey's Only to open 11 new stores. Joey's Only Seafood
Restaurants, a division of Embers America, announced Wednesday it
has signed 11 franchise agreements to open locations in Arkansas,
California and North Carolina. .... [more]
7/9/05
Lenny's Sub Shop franchisee opening stores in Missouri.
Lenny's Sub Shop is expanding into the state of Missouri with a deal
to open 10 locations there - the latest of several multi-restaurant
packages announced by the company in recent months. .... [more]
6/9/05
Femme Franchisees. Hispanic women constitute one of
the fastest-growing categories of entrepreneurs, and for women like
Ms. Llamas, franchising offers a balance between independence and
security in running her business. .... [more]
6/9/05
White Plains lawyer chairs state bar panel on franchising.
A White Plains lawyer has been named to head a subcommittee of the
New York State Bar Association charged with helping the group recommend
changes to the state's franchising law. .... [more]
5/9/05
Arby's chain goes back to its roots. When fast-food
chain Arby's moves its headquarters back to Atlanta this year, it
will be a second coming for the roast beef king. .... [more]
5/9/05
Former Ben & Jerry's chief financial officer pleads guilty
to embezzlement. A former chief financial officer at Ben &
Jerry's Homemade Inc., has agreed to plead guilty to a federal wire
fraud charge for embezzling more than $300,000 US from the company.
.... [more]
4/9/05
Show Me the Money. You don't need big bucks to start
a franchise - you just need the right source of funding. .... [more]
2/9/05
Seven-Eleven Japan offers $1.2 billion for U.S.
7-Eleven. Seven-Eleven Japan said Thursday that it will launch
a $1.2 billion cash tender offer for the 27.3% stake it doesn't already
own in its U.S. affiliate 7-Eleven, in a move that would take the
world's largest convenience store chain private. .... [more]
1/9/05
Nevada Franchise Deal Launches Max & Erma's Western Expansion.
Max & Erma's Restaurants, for more than three decades a familiar
sight on the Midwest landscape, will soon begin expansion west of
the Mississippi after signing a franchise deal with the Phoenix Hospitality
Group of Las Vegas. .... [more]
1/9/05
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