Finance & M&A

Restaurant operators should prepare for due diligence 12-18 months before a sale to ensure a smooth transaction, a managing director advises.

Hotel financing failures can occur even with steady guest streams and cash flow, often due to rising borrowing costs and long-deferred renovations.

Burger King, Jersey Mike's, and El Pollo Loco leaders discuss the importance of value, traffic, and franchisee profitability in the QSR industry.

Burger King, Jersey Mike's, and El Pollo Loco leaders discuss the importance of value, traffic, and franchisee profitability in the QSR industry.

ServiceMaster Restore ranked No. 48 on the 2026 Franchise Times Top 400 with $1.5 billion in systemwide sales and over 65 years of restoration expertise.

Over 40% of restaurant operators are taking a cautious approach to using AI, with many still evaluating the business case before committing to implementation.

Food Lion has entered into an agreement to purchase five Winn-Dixie stores in Southern Georgia, expanding its presence in the region.

Puerto Rico-based Encanto Restaurants filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy with $123.9 million in liabilities and $29.8 million in assets.

Founder-led, regional restaurant brands, such as In-N-Out Burger, are thriving due to their focus on employee care and customer lifetime value.

BJ's Restaurants focused on building a strong foundation for future growth, celebrating its ninth straight quarter of same-store sales and traffic growth.

Restaurant chains are making menu upgrades to win back increasingly selective diners, with some seeing significant increases in sales.

Sweetgreen's same-store sales fell 6.4 percent in Q3, but comps were up about 5 percent by October, driven by a 4 percent transaction increase.

Planet Fitness acquires Be-Fit, a Portuguese fitness platform with 25 clubs and 80,000 members, for $114.8 million, advancing its international growth strategy.

Brandon Coleman was named president of McAlister’s and Deli Brands, focusing on brand growth, innovation, and operations.

Wayback Burgers introduces three new limited-time offerings, including the Fiesta Cheeeesy Burger, Chili Lime Fries, and Fruity Protein Shake.

Craveworthy Brands acquires New England Authentic Eats LLC, the parent company of Papa Gino's, adding over 160 locations and $160 million in annual revenue.

The Lightbridge Academy Golf Outing raised $30,000 for The Lightbridge Foundation, supporting children, families, educators, and franchise owners in need.

Second Cup Coffee has hired Kim Rezk as chief of staff and transformation as it prepares for international expansion.

Craveworthy Brands has signed an agreement to acquire Papa Gino's, adding over 160 restaurants to its portfolio and expanding its Wing It On brand.

Dine Brands' turnaround strategy is facing a test as takeover pressure mounts, with the company focusing on Applebee's value proposition.

Tide Services, the franchise platform behind Tide Cleaners and Tide Laundromat, closed the third quarter of 2026 with continued franchise development and five new store openings.

Craveworthy Brands acquires Papa Gino's, adding Wing It On concept to existing locations.

KKR reported a 30% increase in quarterly profit and record fee-related earnings of $1.3 billion, driven by asset sales and returns to investors.

A Schlotzsky's franchisee in North Texas filed for bankruptcy, citing profitability struggles and financial obligations.