Melting Pot Announces Franchise Growth Incentive

On the heels of another strong year of unit-level sales growth and system-wide remodeling efforts, Melting Pot, a 93-unit experiential dining fondue franchise, has launched a franchise growth incentive, designed to help the brand meet the growing customer demand, as shown through limited Open Table reservation availability in major markets.

Franchise Growth Incentive | Expires July 1, 2024

A candidate or current Melting Pot franchise owner that is approved may execute a new restaurant franchise agreement, paying only a $5,000 franchise fee per unit (discounted from $45,000 * – with a...

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Drives Expansion Through Recent Reinvestment 

Fast-casual restaurant concept Freddy's announced today the signing of several multi-unit development agreements to further expand the brand's nationwide footprint. The growth will be led by seasoned franchisees in Freddy's existing system, bringing more than 30 new restaurants to target markets within New Mexico, Texas, Idaho, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Missouri, and Arizona. This announcement comes on the heels of a historic year of development for Freddy's, as the brand unveiled 62 new restaurants across the nation, including its 500th location...

Franklin Junction Awarded Global Exclusivity for Nathan’s Famous Virtual Restaurants

Host Kitchen® creator, Franklin Junction, marks the third anniversary of their relationship with Nathan’s Famous by landing exclusive license rights for all future virtual restaurants worldwide. The deal also includes rights to Nathan’s Famous sister brands, Arthur Treacher’s Fish and Chips and Wings of New York. The partnership has already expanded the iconic Nathan’s Famous brand to more than 150 new locations in the United States and Europe. Franklin Junction’s ability to translate the iconic American restaurant’s beloved full menu to scale, all while ensuring quality and consistency...

KFC China Celebrates the Opening of Its 10,000th Store

Yum China Holdings, Inc. today celebrated the opening of KFC China's 10,000th store, marking a significant milestone in KFC China's 36-year growth journey in the country.

Situated in Hangzhou, KFC China's 10,000th store is located on the banks of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, a historically important link connecting northern and southern China. Since opening its first store in Beijing in 1987, KFC has grown into the country's largest QSR brand in terms of system sales. This growth has been underpinned by a world-class in-house supply chain management...

QDOBA Completes Whole Business Securitization, Providing Additional Liquidity to Supercharge Growth

QDOBA Restaurant Corporation (“QDOBA”), the leading fast-casual Mexican restaurant franchisor and portfolio company of Butterfly Equity (“Butterfly”), today announced the closing of its inaugural $305 million whole business securitization through Qdoba Funding LLC.

The transaction optimizes QDOBA’s capital structure for ongoing growth and provides meaningful interest expense savings. Proceeds from the transaction will be used primarily to refinance QDOBA’s existing senior debt facilities and provide liquidity to invest meaningfully in general corporate initiatives, such as remodeling more than 80 corporate restaurants and adding digital menu boards to... 

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop Announces 20-Restaurant Agreement with Expansion into Nevada

Experienced franchisee Mark Justice will bring Fuzzy’s Taco Shop to Las Vegas with additional Nevada restaurants to follow

Fuzzy’s Taco Shop announces a 20-restaurant agreement with Mark Justice which will expand the brand’s footprint into Nevada. The Texas-based restaurant group is recognized for its Baja-style fare with 138 franchise-and corporate-owned locations in 19 states.

In addition to Fuzzy’s Taco Shop, Justice owns and operates IHOP restaurants in eight states through the restaurant management company Mr. Stax, Inc. Notably, Justice is the first IHOP franchisee...

Post Malone and The Dallas Cowboys Team Up with Raising Cane's to Open First-of-its-Kind Restaurant 

Post Malone's partnership with Raising Cane's continues Thursday with the opening of a Post Malone x Dallas Cowboys-themed Restaurant right in the heart of Cowboys Country – a place and a team that had lasting impact on Post from an early age. A true Texan at heart, Post was raised under the bright lights of the blue and silver and is a die-hard Cowboys fan. He took that love for America's Team and used it as inspiration when designing the Restaurant...

Pepper Lunch Signs Significant North America Multi-Unit Development Agreement

Pepper Lunch, the Japanese-born experiential fast-casual concept unlike any other, with more than 500 locations in 15 countries, has announced it has signed its first development agreement for North America since announcing the company’s investment in domestic expansion earlier this year, and less than three months after it filed its FDD.

The B.I.D. Investment Group has signed on to develop 10 units over the next five years in and around the Phoenix, AZ area, with the first location planned to open in late Q3, 2024...

Krystal Set For Growth With Strategic Refranchising Program

Krystal, the original quick-service restaurant chain in the South, is unveiling a strategic refranchising initiative aimed at propelling the expansion of its brand presence. The program involves offering existing company-owned locations in markets previously unavailable for franchising, with a targeted focus on attracting established multi-unit operators who possess a proven track record and a desire to acquire a successful portfolio of existing restaurants and continue to build the market with new locations. This strategic move aligns with Krystal’s ambition to amplify its footprint across the United States, transitioning...

Cilantro Taco Grill Partners with Armando Christian Perez, aka Pitbull, and Fransmart

Cilantro Taco Grill, the Mexican immigrant-founded fast casual restaurant with more than 15 locations throughout Chicago, has partnered with new investment partners to fuel the brand’s franchise growth. Armando Christian Perez (Pitbull) and Fransmart, the global leaders in franchise development will grow what they believe is the next generation of Mexican fast casual concepts to more than 1,000 units worldwide over the next 10 years, with initial efforts focused on the nation’s top 100 largest markets.

“I invested in Cilantro because I was inspired by...

Taco Bell Raises the Bar for Team and Fan Experiences as it Sets Goal for 10,000 New Stores

More than halfway into 2023, Taco Bell's growth strategy is focused on fueling growth as the brand unveils new concepts to unlock unique experiences, introduce innovative solutions to industry wide challenges and create more digitally enabled restaurants. Ultimately, Taco Bell is on track to operate 10,000 U.S. based restaurants in the coming years by leveraging a variety of asset types including Cantinas that provide localized urban experiences, to a new iteration of Go Mobile® that will lead the industry in digital...

Johnny Rockets Announces Twenty New Texas Locations

FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Johnny Rockets and 16 other restaurant concepts, announces a new development deal set to bring 20 new franchised Johnny Rockets locations to Texas in the next 10 years with the first unit set to open in 2024.

The brand currently operates a number of restaurants in the Lone Star State. The new locations will open in partnership with Brame Holdings LLC, featuring the classic fare that put the brand on the map over 35 years ago, including juicy, made-to-order burgers and hand...

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Closes First Half of the Year with 31 New Locations 

Fast-casual restaurant concept Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers® announced today its strong start to Q3, signing a franchise development agreement led by new franchisee, Ellis Choi, to debut eight new restaurants in LA County, California, a key target market in the U.S. for the brand. This announcement comes on the heels of a remarkable two quarters of growth, ending the first half of the year with more than 480 locations across 36 states. Freddy's has set its sights on reaching 500 units later this year...

Parent Company of Huddle House and Perkins Restaurant & Bakery Closes Fiscal Year 2023 

Ascent Hospitality Management®, the parent company of Huddle House® and Perkins Restaurant & Bakery®, closed its Fiscal Year 2023 in April 2023 with 32 signed franchise agreements, setting the stage for an exciting journey of expansion. Adding to the thrill, the Brand achieved a remarkable feat of five consecutive months of multi-unit signings.

This continues the trend over the past two years, where Ascent Hospitality Management has signed 70 franchise agreements. The signings in Fiscal Year 2023 bring their portfolio to...

Perkins Restaurant & Bakery and Huddle House Accelerate Multi-Unit Franchise Growth

Ascent Hospitality Management, parent company of Huddle House and Perkins Restaurant & Bakery®, continues to build momentum in 2023 with several consecutive multi-unit agreements.

In the past five months, Ascent Hospitality Management has closed five multi-unit agreements for a total of 14 restaurants across five different states, including Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, and Texas.

“Multi-unit deals are a testament to an entrepreneur’s confidence in the Ascent Hospitality Management brands and the leadership teams. We prioritize supporting our franchise partners by offering a winning...

Smashburger Accelerates Expansion in Utah with Multi-Unit Development Agreement

Smashburger, the leading fast-casual restaurant chain renowned for its hand-smashed to order burgers, announced today the signing of a multi-unit development agreement to further expand its footprint in Utah, bringing five new locations to Salt Lake City. Leading the brand's expansion in the market is multi-unit franchisee Michael Walker of Zuvachs, LLC., who acquired two existing Smashburger locations in Salt Lake City through the deal. The announcement builds on the growth momentum that Smashburger has achieved since the beginning of the year, adding 26 locations to...

Chicken Salad Chick Announces 8-Unit Agreement: Strengthens Brand Presence

Chicken Salad Chick, the nation's only fast casual chicken salad restaurant concept, announces the signing of an eight-unit agreement that will bring new restaurants to Arlington and Fairfax Counties over the next five years. The first location is slated to open in Spring 2024. This development adds to the brand's existing statewide footprint that boasts five open locations - Christiansburg, Hampton, Mechanicsville, Richmond, and Roanoke, with 11 more under various stages of development.

Behind the development agreement is Devon Chamberlin, her father, Patrick Cavanaugh, and her father-in-law, Barry...

El Pollo Loco Signs New Territory Agreements 

El Pollo Loco, Inc., the nation’s leading fire-grilled chicken restaurant chain, announced during the most recent earnings call on May 4, 2023, the signing of three (3) new development agreements covering territories in Northern Colorado, New Mexico and El Paso, TX. A deal has been signed with MEQ EPL, LLC (www.masseq.com), a company with diverse investments across key western U.S. real estate markets, for the development of 10 units over 8 years. The first restaurants are due by December 2024 for Larimer County and portions of Boulder, Broomfield and Weld Counties in ...