Good News! - August 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 Captain D’s Signs Deals for 10 Units in 4 States The Lost Cajun Inks 5-Unit Houston Deal Bubbakoo’s Burritos Opens 6 Restaurants in the First 7 Months of 2017 Potbelly Sandwich Shop Inks 5-Unit Deal for Virginia Dunkin’ Donuts To Open 3 Units in Kansas Price Chopper Stores Financial/M&A Ninety-Nine Restaurant & Pub To Merge with J. Alexander Holdings 97-Unit Garden Fresh Restaurant Group Acquired by Two PE Groups First Watch Lands PE Investment from Advent International Landry’s Buys Ignite Restaurant Group for $55 Million in Bankruptcy Auction Wyndham Hotel Group Acquires AmericInn for $170 Million Big Plans, Big Dreams Anytime Fitness Sets Sights on 150 Locations in New York in 5 Years Wing Zone CEO Discusses “Pivot” to Smaller Units, Simpler Menu Salsarita’s Unveils New Prototype; Growth To Include More Corporate Units Famous Toastery’s CDO Dishes on Growth Plans for the 20-Unit Brand International Tim Hortons Signs JV Deal for Spain Amid Flagging Domestic Sales Hooters Signs 3-Unit Lithuania Deal with Local Basketball Stars The Melting Pot Inks 17-Unit Deal in Mexico with GINgroup The Carving Board Signs 12-Unit Deal in Dubai Wyndham Worldwide Acquires London-Based Love Home Swap New And Emerging Brands Artichoke Basille’s Pizza Signs with Fransmart for National Expansion Meatballs, Etc. Begins Franchising Its Fast-Casual Create-Your-Own-Meal Concept theCoderSchool Opens Its First School in Massachusetts Veterans/Incentives Nestlé Toll House Café Offers 50% Franchise Fee to Military Veterans People & Awards Mici Handcrafted Italian Names Elliot Schiffer CEO; Franchising in the Works The Chickery Names Kert Gennings Its New President J.