--- title: "Good News! - March 2018" url: https://burnaze.com/article/58565b05-bc72-422d-9569-9d1558a8962a source: "Franchising.com" original_url: https://www.franchising.com/articles/good_news__march_2018.html author: "Eddy Goldberg" category: "Franchise Industry" industry: "Franchise Industry" topics: ["Finance & M&A"] published: 2018-03-18T08:00:00.000Z modified: 2026-11-01T02:37:02.646Z image: https://imgs.franchising.com/art/articles/3799_plate.jpg --- # Good News! - March 2018 **TL;DR:** Franchising has experienced growth and change in 2018, with continued legislation and M&A activity. *By Eddy Goldberg, originally published in Franchising.com on 2018-03-18. [Read the original](https://www.franchising.com/articles/good_news__march_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 Moran Family of Brands Expands with Several New Deals Vitality Bowls Signs Deals for 3 Units in California, 1 in Ohio Del Taco Signs 12-Unit Deal for Detroit Area with Team Schostak Massage Heights Inks 10-Unit Deal for Fort Worth Market Dickey’s Barbecue Pit To Open 5 New Restaurants in Nevada Meritage Hospitality Group Buys 12 Wendy’s in Indiana CoreLife Eatery Signs 32-Unit Deal for Florida with The Jan Companies MLB Star Adrian Gonzalez Adds Six More Jersey Mike’s Locations Golden State Warriors’ Draymond Green Signs 20-Unit Blink Fitness Deal Hilton’s All Suites Brand Enters 2018 With 900 Hotels After Record Year Financial/M&A Altamont Capital Buys 17-Unit Planet Fitness Franchisee; Raises Total to 56 Fogo de Chao Brazilian Steakhouse To Be Sold to Rhone Group for $560 Million Could Venture Capital Be the Right Next Step for Your Concept? Frank Easterbrook Sells Juice It Up! to Private Equity Group SJB Brands Penn Station East Coast Subs Extends 2017 Store Opening Incentive Program Big Plans, Big Dreams Dine Brands Global (Applebee’s, IHOP) Outlines 5-Year Growth Plan Saladworks Targets Dallas-Fort Worth Market for Expansion JAB, Owner of Panera Bread, Krispy Kreme, and Peet’s, Plans Growth International UFC Gym Signs 100-Unit, 10-Year Deal for the U. K. and Ireland Papa John’s Opens in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan; Now in 45 Countries Cauldron Ice Cream Inks Toronto Deal, Its First in Canada New and Emerging Brands Café D’Avignon Inks First Franchise Deal for 5 Units in Florida Gyroville Signs Its 3rd Franchise Deal with Sale of Corporate Store StretchLab Begins Franchising Its Health and Fitness Concept Fork & Salad Begins Franchising Its Healthy Hawaiian Concept Fit Kids America Sells 10th Franchise, Expands to Mobile, Alabama Superior Fence & Rail Sells Its 3rd Franchise, To Open in Florida Wings N’ Things Is Now Epic Wings, Starts Franchising, Hires New President People, Awards, Milestones Juice It Up! Names Chris Braun CEO After Sale to PE Firm Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh Celebrates 10 Years Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Opens Its 300th Restaurant Bojangles’ CEO Resigns; CFO John Jordan Outlines 2018 Plans Noodles & Co. ## Entities - Franchising.com (publication) - Eddy Goldberg (person) --- Originally reported by Eddy Goldberg, Franchising.com (https://www.franchising.com/articles/good_news__march_2018.html). Summarized by Burnaze (https://burnaze.com/article/58565b05-bc72-422d-9569-9d1558a8962a).