Good News! - October 2016

The good news: 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

Starwood’s 3 Specialty Select Brands Ink Deals for 132 Units in 2016

Hooters Signs 5-Unit Deal with F&S Restaurant Group for NC and Virginia

Del Taco Inks Deal with Bajwa Group To Add 5 Units in San Diego County

Realty One Group Continues Strong 2016 Growth with October Openings

Captain D’s Opens 23rd Virginia Restaurant; Group Plans Three More

Uncle Maddio’s Signs Two 3-Unit Deals for Nashville Area

ZIPS Dry Cleaners Signs Leases for Next 4 Stores

Edible Arrangements Signs 13 New Franchise Agreements in August

Homestyle Dining Opens 4th Restaurant in 6 Months; 5th by Year-End

Financial

JAE Restaurant Group Buys 97 South Florida Restaurants from Wendy’s

Cowboy Chicken Inks 30-Store Deal for California

Twin Peaks Agrees To Sell Majority Stake to Its Largest Franchisee Group

Big Plans, Big Dreams

Dairy Queen Targets 100 New Units for New York’s Buffalo Niagara Region

Carvel Targets New Jersey for Up to 20 More Locations

The Driver Training Group Targets California and Texas for Growth

International

Cajun Global (Church’s Chicken, Texas Chicken) Opens 500th International Unit

Smoothie King Opens in Dubai, Its First Middle East Location

Senior Helpers Opens in Toronto, Its First Canadian Location

Denny’s Opens Its First Restaurant in The Philippines; Plans for 10

New And Emerging Brands

Naugles, SoCal Taco Chain, Begins Franchising, Hires Fransmart

Legal Cannabis Industry Eyes Franchising at Franchise Expo West

Sugar Plum Parties (Flip Flop Shops Founders) Inks Deals for 5 Cities

Milestones

Zaxby’s Opens Its 800th Restaurant (Mustang, Oklahoma)

9Round Opens Its 400th Gym (Greenville, South Carolina)

Dickey’s Barbecue Pit Celebrates 75th Anniversary in October

People & Awards

The Melt Hires Former Pei Wei CEO Ralph Bower as CEO

Papa Murphy’s Chair John Barr Steps Down; Jean Birch Named New Chair

Big O Tires EVP/COO Kevin Kormondy Retires; John Kairys Named New EVP/GM

Newk’s Promotes CFO Michael Clark to President; Jim Greco Departs

Toppers Hires David Biederman as Chief Development Officer