Good News! - May 2018

2018 has started out as a good year for franchising, building on last year's favorable legislation with continued growth from both established and emerging brands and a slew of M&A activity -- not only at the franchisee level, but also for franchisors as franchise holding companies continue to increase the number of brands in their stable. But with all that growth and change, it's harder to keep up! That's why we provide our "Good News!" monthly digest of selected news items on unit growth, investment and financial developments, international expansion, people, 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

Black Bear Diner Announces 12 New Locations in 4 States

Fazoli’s Opens 5 New Restaurants in Q1; 7 More Planned for 2018

Twin Peaks Inks Area Development Deal for 4 Units in West Texas

Dunkin’ Donuts Plans 7 More Stores in Montgomery, Alabama

Old Chicago Pizza & Taproom To Open 10 New Restaurants in Missouri

Valvoline Opens 3 New Quick-Lube Locations in Louisville Area

Orangetheory Fitness Opens 61 Studios, Inks 34 Franchise Agreements in Q1

Camp Bow Wow Reports Strong 2017 with 14% YOY Revenue Growth

Elements Massage’s New Corporate Unit Buys 5 Studios in Metro Denver

Mooyah Signs Separate 3-Unit Deals in Virginia and Florida

Financial/M&A/Incentives

Starbucks in $7 Billion Deal with Nestlé To Expand Retail Distribution

Kona Grill To Raise $5.6 Million Through Stock Offering; Plans China Expansion

sweetFrog Buys 5 Hoopla Frozen Yogurt Stores To Convert and Rebrand

Buffalo Wings & Rings Announces “One Franchise Fee for Life”

EventPrep Launches $200,000 Franchise Giveaway for 5 Military Spouses

Del Frisco Buys Barteca Restaurant Group’s 2 Brands and 31 Locations

Dine Brands Reportedly Seeking To Buy a Fast Casual Brand

Big Plans, Big Dreams

On the Border’s New CEO Matt Hood Discusses Plans for the Future

International

Marco’s Pizza Opens in Puerto Rico, Its 900th Location

Wayback Burgers Opens New Location in Lahore, Pakistan

5 Japanese Food Brands Looking To Grow in the U.S.

Fastsigns Inks Master Franchise Agreement for Chile

New and Emerging Brands

Rise Biscuit Donuts Signs 5-Unit Deal for Greater Kansas City

The Hummus & Pita Co. Inks 5-Store Deal for Los Angeles

Hummus Republic Opens Its First Franchised Store (Philadelphia)

I Heart Mac & Cheese Inks 5-Unit AD Deal for Oklahoma City Area

Beavers Coffee + Donuts Rebrands as The Dapper Doughnut, Now Franchising

Arooga’s Grille House & Sports Bar Opens 17th Restaurant; 11th in PA

Curry Up Now Inks Multi-Unit Deal for San Diego and Orange Counties

Sirius Day Spa Signs 3-Unit Deal for Sarasota, Tampa Bay Areas

Office Evolution Opens First of 3 Planned Houston Locations

People, Awards, Milestones

Sport Clips Turns 25, Names Edward Logan New President

Roy Rogers Appoints Jeremy Biser Executive Vice President

Dwyer Group Names 2018 Women in the Trades Scholarship Recipients

Le Duff America Names Lionel Ladouceur, Former BK Exec, as CEO

Boston Market Names Frances Allen, Former JIB President, as CEO