Good News! - July 2018

As we enter the second half of 2018, things are heating up in franchising. Consolidation continues, new brands are emerging, emerging brands are growing, and U.S.

brands are casting their sights overseas and vice versa. It's hard keeping up with all this growth and change, which is why we provide our "Good News!" monthly digest of selected news items on unit growth, investment and financial developments, international expansion, people, and milestones.

This month we've added a new focus: coverage of big-picture ideas, trends, and developments likely to shape franchising in the coming months and years. 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 Smoothie King Signs 60-Unit Deal for Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Florida Marriott International Buys Sheraton Grand Phoenix for $255 Million Jamba Juice Signs 2 NFL Players for Up to 6 Stores in Greater D.C. Quaker Steak To Build Standalone Travel Center Restaurant in Virginia Newk’s Eatery Announces 10-Restaurant Deal in Southeast Florida FInancial/M&A/Incentives Rent-A-Center Acquired for Nearly $1.

4 Billion by Vintage Capital Long John Silver’s Launches Ambitious Incentive Program Tim Hortons To Spend $100 Million To Revamp Its Distribution System Centerbridge Partners Looking To Sell 300-Unit P.F. Chang’s The Learning Experience Acquired by Golden Gate Capital Big Plans, Big Ideas, Big Picture Ed Teixera on Managing Change in Franchising Domino’s CEO Patrick Doyle Steps Down; Analysts Predict Gains Opinion: How Patrick Doyle Changed Domino’s — and the Restaurant Industry Leadership Lessons from Jersey Mike’s CEO Peter Cancro Opinion: 4 Reasons Chipotle Is Moving HQ to Southern California Dawn Sweeney, NRA CEO, Likes Association Health Plans for SMBs 7 of 8 Franchises in “No Poaching” Probe Halt the Practice International U.

K’s Leon To Debut in Washington, D.C. in Late Summer 9Round Expands To India and Argentina IHG Opens Its 1,000th Hotel in EMEAA Region; Plans 321 More in 5 Years McDonald’s To Open 2 More McCafés in Canada, Targeting Gen Z Customers Philippines’ Jollibee Foods Now Seeks Mexican Concept in U.

S. U.K.’