Good News! - August 2016

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've brought back our "Good News!" roundup of selected news items on unit growth, investment and financial developments, international expansion news, refranchising, and milestones attained by franchisors large, medium, and emerging. 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

Jimmy’s Egg Announces AD Deals for 52 Units in 6 States

Toppers Pizza Signs 22-Unit Deal for Virginia and Maryland

Costa Vida Reports 14 Deals in First Half; Projects 20 Openings by Year-End

Fazoli’s Signs 9 Deals for 22 Units in July; Reports 13 Quarters of SSS Growth

Bojangles’ Signs Multi-Unit Agreement for Alabama & Mississippi

The Chickery Inks 15-Unit Deal for Northern California

Cicis Signs 32 Agreements for 70-Plus Restaurants by End of 2017

Dunkin’ Donuts: 3 Deals for 13 New Units + 4 Baskin-Robbins Co-Branded

First Watch Restaurants To Open 7 Units at DFW by Year-End

Dippin’ Dots Now Available at All Chuck E. Cheese’s Nationwide

Bach to Rock Announces 2 New Schools; 14 More in Next 2 Years

Bar Louie Signs Deals for 5 Locations in the Houston Area

Financial

McDonald’s Looks To Sell Malaysia & Singapore Rights for $400 Million

Meritage Hospitality Group Buys 10 Wendy’s in Oklahoma City Area

Sliderz Secures $21 Million in VC Funding for 80-Unit National Expansion

Big Plans, Big Dreams

Salata Plans 200 New Locations; Signs 50 New Units So Far in 2016

Moe’s Southwest Grill Seeks Multi-Unit Deals for Detroit

Juice It Up! Looks to Oregon for Expansion

Fajita Pete’s Expansion Plan Aims for 40 Units in Texas in 4 Years

Donatos Pizza Plans More Locations in Nashville

International

Dunkin’ Donuts: 3rd Attempt at China Targets 1,400 Stores in 20 Years

Red Roof Opens Its First Hotel in Japan

Coyote Ugly Signs Deal for 15 Units in Japan; Largest Deal To Date

Coyote Ugly Aims To Beautify Kyrgyzstan with Its First Unit Opening

New And Emerging Brands

Cookie Cutters Haircuts for Kids Opens 1^st of 3 in Baltimore

Rush Bowls, Healthy Natural Food Concept, Begins Franchising

Ziggi’s Coffee, After 12 Years, Decides To Franchise

Bubbakoo’s Burritos 10th Restaurant Is Its 1st Franchised Unit

Milestones

Blaze Pizza Opens 150th Restaurant, a Flagship Unit at Disney World

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Reaches 100 Units with OKC Opening

Kneaders Bakery and Café Opens 50th Unit with New Phoenix Café

People & Awards

Friendly’s CEO John Maguire Also Becomes CEO of Johnny Rockets

Tijuana Flats Names Larry Ryback CEO

Red Robin: Denny Marie Post Replaces Steve Carley as CEO

Noodles & Company CEO Kevin Reddy Steps Down; CFO Named as Interim

Outback President Jeff Smith Retires; Bloomin’ Brands Shifts Brand Presidents

Century 21 Real Estate Wins 4 J.D. Power Customer Satisfaction Awards

Rave Restaurant Group Names Clinton Coleman Interim CEO; Randy Gier Out