Good News! – December 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 Meritage Hospitality Group To Buy 57 Wendy’s in 5 States UFG Inks 13-Unit Deal for Experimac and Signarama in Texas and Louisiana Taco Bell Refranchises 18 Restaurants in New Orleans Leeds West Group To Buy 42 Midas Units from Iowa-Based Group Dunkin’ Donuts Inks 2 Deals for 9 New Units in Sacramento Taco John’s Signs Deal for at Least 12 New Units in Kentucky Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Opens 3 Units in the Southeast Hilton Opens Hampton Inn/Homewood Suites Dual-Brand Hotel in Long Beach Financial/M&A Forever Yogurt Parent Premier Restaurant Group Buys Cheeburger Cheeburger 33 Restaurant Companies Have Been Bought or Sold So Far in 2017 Big Plans, Big Dreams A&W Kicks Off New Franchise Sales Campaign with New Website Creamistry Targets 30 New Stores in Florida Hwy 55 Aims for 50 New Locations in Florida in Next 10 Years Jack in the Box CEO Says Brand Will Emphasize Value Promotion in 2018 SpeedPro Imaging’s New CEO Announces His Future Vision for the Brand TPG Forms New Company, Xponential Fitness, To Combine Its Fitness Brands International MTY Food Group Buys Imvescor Restaurant Group, Creates 5,700-Unit System Arby’s to Egypt in 50-Unit Deal with Vantage Egypt Sbarro Signs 20-Unit Deal in Argentina, 15-Unit Deal in Japan Hooters Opens New Unit in Fukuoka, 7th Location in Japan Hooters de Mexico Plans 9 New Locations; Commits To 29 Total Hooters Inks 15-Unit, 3-Year Deal for Spain and Portugal with Grupo Iberfood Discovery Map International Partners with POI of Slovenia Avendelle Assisted Living Signs Master Franchise Deal for Turkey Canada’s The Second Cup Coffee Company Signs Deal for France Bridgepoint (Pret a Manger Owner) To Become Burger King UK Master Franchisee New and Emerging Brands Ultimate Escape Game Promotes Franchising Nationwide Shell Shack Seeks To Double Size in 2018 with at Least 8 New Units Mobility City Begins Franchising Its Mobility Equipment Service Concept Pokeatery To Open Its First Franchised Location, Walnut Creek, California People, Awards, Milestones Steve Ells To Step Down as Chipotle CEO, Become Executive Chairman J.R.