franchise development

Atlanta — Krystal, the iconic quick-service chain that has been serving its signature square sliders hot off the grill since 1932, opened its first New Jersey restaurant on June 4 in Union, marking the brand’s Northeast debut. “Opening our first restaurant in New Jersey is a major milestone for Krystal and an important next step for the brand,” says Amanda Hyde, chief operating officer of Krystal. “Krystal has always had fans beyond the South, and now we’re proud to introduce the full experience to the Northeastern community.” Krystal is actively …

Alpharetta, Ga. — Your Pie, a pizza brand known for its customizable brick-oven pizzas and open-kitchen dining experience, is targeting scalable growth across the Southeast, with a focus on metro Atlanta, the Chattanooga-Knoxville-Nashville corridor and Columbia, S.C. “Focusing on the Southeast markets is big for Your Pie right now, especially with the growing population and demand for something new in those areas,” says Ken Caldwell, CEO and head of development of Your Pie. “We believe that these markets resonate exceptionally well with our brand and will give us the opportunity …

Pasadena, Calif. — Wetzel’s Pretzels is teaming up with Cold Stone Creamery to expand its national footprint through co-branded locations. The brands currently have three co-branded locations in development for May, with plans to open an additional eight units by the end of 2026. This pipeline is on top of several new co-branded locations that opened earlier this year. Recent or upcoming openings include: • Clifton Park, N.Y. • Columbus, Ohio • Alamo Ranch, Texas • Bennington, Neb. • Bronx, N.Y.  • Lewisville, Texas • Burleson, Texas • Mt. Washington, …

Atlanta — Rōti Modern Mediterranean®, the fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant concept part of Edible Brands®, is expanding into the London market for the first time through three delivery-first kitchens. The brand is also expanding in the Atlanta area with a new delivery-first store opening in Smyrna, Ga. “What makes Rōti work is simple. It’s bold food, real hospitality and shows up the same way every time,” says Matthew Walls, president and chief stores officer of Edible Brands. “Atlanta is about building depth in a market we not only work in, but …