--- title: "Good News! - April 2018" url: https://burnaze.com/article/2b43e4af-565d-4624-8000-93854883ad2a source: "Franchising.com" original_url: https://www.franchising.com/articles/good_news__april_2018.html category: "Franchisors" industry: "Franchise Industry" segment: "Franchisors" topics: ["Finance & M&A"] published: 2018-04-15T08:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T04:11:12.839Z image: https://imgs.franchising.com/art/articles/3836_plate.jpg --- # Good News! - April 2018 **TL;DR:** Several franchise brands, including Gold's Gym, Monster Tree Service, and Dunkin' Donuts, have announced new unit openings and growth initiatives. The franchising industry has seen continued growth and change, with M&A activity and international expansion. *originally published in Franchising.com on 2018-04-15. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/articles/good_news__april_2018.html).* ## Story 2018 has started out as a good year for franchising, building on last year’s favorable legislation with continued growth from both established and emerging brands and a slew of M&A activity — not only at the franchisee level, but also for franchisors as franchise holding companies continue to increase the number of brands in their stable. But with all that growth and change, it’s harder to keep up! That’s why we provide our “Good News!” monthly digest of selected news items on unit growth, investment and financial developments, international expansion, people, 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 Gold's Gym Adds 12 New Locations in Q1 2018, 7 Overseas Monster Tree Service Sells 28 New Franchises in Q1 2018 Dunkin' Donuts Inks 2 Multi-Unit Deals To Add 5 Units in North Carolina Dunkin' Donuts Signs 3-Unit Deal with New Franchisee for Kansas City, Mo. sweetFrog Frozen Yogurt Transfers Ownership of 5 Units to 7-Unit Franchisee Capriotti's Signs 3-Unit Deal for Southern California Pet Supplies Plus Opens 5 New Stores in 4 Different States Captain D's Signs 2 New Franchisees in Texas for 2 New Restaurants Brightway Insurance Opens New Stores in Florida, Michigan, and Texas Financial/M&A/Incentives TSC Lands $20 Million in Debt Capital from ApplePie Capital for Franchisee Growth Quaker Steak & Lube Offers Multi-Unit Incentives at Multi-Unit Conference Big Plans, Big Dreams Robeks Plans 12 Openings in 2018 and Aims for 100 Locations by 2019 Salsa Fresca Mexican Grill Targets 100 Restaurants in 5 Years International Hooters Adds New Unit for 17th Restaurant in Mexico Canada's Spray-Net Targets Pennsylvania for U.S. Expansion New and Emerging Brands Strange Donuts, Based in St. Louis, Begins Franchising Nationally CoreLife Eatery Signs Deal for Up to 14 New Stores in North Carolina Melt Shop Outlines U.S. Growth Plans; Opens First International Store Pincho Factory Gets Investment, New President, and Inks 10-Unit Deal Crave Hot Dogs and BBQ, Founded by 2 Industry Pros, Begins Franchising Crisp & Green Launches Franchise Program 1 Year After Opening R Taco Opens 2 New Restaurants in Texas; Now Up to 26 Total Velvet Taco Now Up to 10 Restaurants Open or Under Construction People, Awards, Milestones Ziebart Int'l Celebrates 40th Anniversary of CEO/President Thomas E. ## Entities - Franchising.com (publication) - unit expansion (topic) - Franchise Industry (sector) - international expansion (topic) - Dunkin' Donuts (company) - Gold's Gym (company) - ApplePie Capital (investor) - Monster Tree Service (company) - growth initiatives (topic) - m&a activity (topic) --- Originally reported by Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/articles/good_news__april_2018.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/2b43e4af-565d-4624-8000-93854883ad2a).