Good News! – September 2019

It’s hard keeping up with all of today’s franchise news. That’s why we provide this monthly digest of selected news items on unit growth, investment and financial developments, international expansion, people, and milestones. 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

• Capriotti’s Signs Deals for 48 Units in First Half of 2019
• Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes To Add 9 Locations in Orlando
• Meineke Signs Deal for 10 Locations in the Charlotte, NC Area
• Quaker Steak & Lube To Open First Philadelphia Area Restaurant
• Baskin-Robbins Signs 10-Unit Deal for Upstate New York 

FINANCIAL, M&A, PRIVATE EQUITY

• Kona Grill Sold to One Group Hospitality for About $25 Million
• Biz2Credit Study Says Loans to Restaurants Are Doing Well

INCENTIVES

• Maaco Offers New Incentives Through Year-End for New and Current Owners

REGULATION, LEGISLATION, LABOR

• GDPR: New Compliancy Rules Issued by IAB Europe
• California’s CCPA Is Coming January 1; 56% of Business Are Unprepared
• Dept. of Labor Readying New Rules on Overtime, Tip Pooling, 80/20 Rule
• Website Accessibility Lawsuits: A Possible Ray of Light for Franchisors?

BIG PLANS, BIG IDEAS, BIG PICTURE

• Q&A with Church’s Chicken CEO Joe Christina
• Taco Bueno’s New Owner Guillermo Perales Is in a Hurry To Grow
• KFC COO Monica Rothgery Discusses the Brand’s Comeback Plans
• Krispy Kreme’s CMO Dave Skena on Remodeling and Plans To Expand
• Q&A with Earl of Sandwich’s Robert Earl Highlights Growth Plans
• Wendy’s Plans To Launch Breakfast Systemwide in 2020

NEW & EMERGING BRAND

• Sport Clips Founder Gordon Logan in JV To Open Gambuzza’s Barbershop
• Naf Naf Grill Signs 4 New Deals, Bringing Total Agreements to 35
• Jon Taffer Inks First Deal for His New Taffer’s Tavern: 5 Units in Georgia
• Perspire Sauna Studio Signs 3-Unit Deal for Orlando
• Shine, a Window Care Concept, Signs 3-Unit Deal for DFW Market
• Rush Bowls Opens First of 3 Portland, Oregon Locations
• Mayweather Boxing + Fitness Inks Multi-Unit Deal for South Florida
• Tin Drum Asian Kitchen To Open First of 5 Units in Houston
• Coolgreens Inks Deal for at Least 5 Units in DFW Area
• I Heart Mac & Cheese Signs 7-Store Deal for Texas

PEOPLE, AWARDS, MILESTONES

• Papa John’s Names Former Arby’s CMO Rob Lynch President and CEO
• Arby’s Promotes Former CMO Jim Taylor to President
• Long John Silver’s Celebrates 50th Anniversary
• Dunkin’ Names 3 New Regional Vice Presidents
• Tropical Smoothie Opens 800th Unit
• Fitness Together Names Stephanie Hu as CEO
• NFL QB Drew Brees Joins Franworth as Partner and Board Member
• Velvet Taco Promotes Clay Dover to CEO
• Schlotzsky’s Signs Starbucks SVP Beto Guajardo as New President
• Saladworks Signs Former Schlotzsky’s President Kelly Roddy as New CEO
• Smashburger Promotes COO Carl Bachmann to President,
• Blaze Pizza CEO/President Jim Mizes Retires; Amanda Shaw Named Interim CEO