Good News! - June 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 Great Clips Plans 40 New Salons in Memphis in Next 2–3 Years New Franchisee PCF Restaurant Group Buys 16 Pizza Huts in New Jersey Dunkin’ Donuts Signs 4-Unit Louisiana Deal with SWLA Delights A&W Restaurants Turns Around, Returns to Growth Sylvan Learning Signs 15 Agreements in Q1, Details Expansion Plans Financial/Acquisitions Irish Beef Acquires 8 Tucson Arby’s, Plans To Open 4 More in Next 3 Years Teriyaki Madness To Include All Income Statements in Item 19 Restaurant Stocks Have Risen 25 Percent Since November Technology RNR Tire Express & Custom Wheels Unveils 3 New Digital Platforms Naranga’s Franchise Management Software Lands 19 New Clients in Q1 Big Plans, Big Dreams Buffalo Wild Wings To Test Fast Casual with B-Dubs Express Model Russo’s Restaurants Opens Its First Italian Fast Casual Location Pets Warehouse Announces Growth Plan Target Areas Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Outlines Plans for “Controlled Expansion” International Pollo Campero Outlines Plans for U.S. Expansion Hooters Opens New Restaurant in Koh Samui, Thailand Goldfish Swim School Set To Break Ground on First Canada Franchise Marriott International’s Asia-Pacific Operation To Double in Next 4 Years Technomic Reports Growth in Canadian Cafes and Bakeries New And Emerging Brands Guidepost 13 “Quick Craft Casual” Concept Begins Franchising Centertec Launches First Virtual Reality Entertainment Franchise Creamistry: 70 To Open by Year-End; Plans in Place for Hundreds More Urban Bricks Pizza To Add 3 Restaurants in the Carolinas Incentives Del Taco Announces Development Incentives Targeting Multi-Unit Operators Veterans Accessible Home Health Care Awards Franchise To 2 Vets — and Their Mother Milestones Tropical Smoothie Cafe To Open #600 on June 23 in Joplin, Mo.

Pet Supplies Plus Opens 400th Store in May in Coconut Creek, Fla. People & Awards Papa Murphy’s Names Weldon Spangler CEO Noodles & Co.