Good News! – October 2017

The good news: Despite ongoing external threats to the business model, 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

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Franchisee Group To Open 13 More in Texas and Louisiana

Dunkin’ Donuts Franchisee in Rochester, New York Plans 4 New Restaurants

Big Whiskey’s Signs Two-Store Deal in Birmingham, Alabama

Curio Collection by Hilton To Open in Seattle, Cincinnati, and New York

Del Taco Inks 5-Unit Deal for the Athens, Georgia Area Over 6 Years

Financial/M&A

Wings Over, with 40 Units, Sold to New Group, Delectable Capital

New PE Fund, Cove Hill, Founded by Former Bain Restaurant Buyout Veteran

Big Plans, Big Dreams

SpeedPro Imaging Announces “Explosive” Growth Plans

BurgerFi CEO Corey Winograd Outlines Growth Strategy; Hits 100 Units

Church’s Chicken CEO Joe Christina Details Plans for System-Wide Growth

International

9Round Opens First Locations in Turkey; 18 More Planned in 5 Years

Chutneys Indian Grill Looks To Follow Up Its Canadian Success in the U.S.

Marriott To Open 6 New Luxury Hotels in the Middle East, 3 in Dubai

Nestlé Toll House Café by Chip Opens Its 18th Kuwait Location

Arby’s Opens Its 1st Restaurant in Kuwait with Kharafi Global

Domino’s Opens Two-Story “Pizza Theater” Store in Bratislava, Slovakia

Ontario-Based Hopscotch Fast Casual Brand Signs 4-Unit Deal for Edmonton

New and Emerging Brands

theCoderSchool Set To Open Its First New York School in Syosset, Long Island

Bareburger Announces Plans for a New 100% Vegan Restaurant Brand

Meatheads, a 17-Unit Chicagoland Chain, Begins Franchising

Shuckin’ Shack Oyster Bar Continues Recent Expansion

Mass.-Based Hot Harry’s Fresh Burritos Inks Deal for 8th Unit (Pottstown, PA)

Avid Hotels, a New Midscale Brand, Coming from Intercontinental Hotels Group

Revolism Wellness & Weight Loss Launches Franchising in Georgia

People & Awards

Marco’s Pizza CEO Jack Butorac Named NRN’s 2017 Operator of the Year

Donna Josephson Leaves Fazoli’s for SVP/CMO Job at Corner Bakery Cafe

Diane Reed Named CFO at Bravo Brio Restaurant Group

Andrew Alfano Named President of The Learning Experience

Papa Murphy’s Names CFO Mark Hutchens as COO