franchise development

Newport Beach, Calif. — Juice It Up!, a leading handcrafted smoothie, raw juice and açaí and superfruit bowl chain, has opened three new locations in the first half of the year, debuting in Long Beach, Bakersfield and Reedley, Calif., with another nine locations on track to open this year. With 30+ locations in the development pipeline, Juice It Up! is set to reach its 100-location milestone by the end of 2024, setting the brand on pace to surpass its 200-unit goal by 2028. “We are extremely happy to close the …

Phoenix — GoTo Foods, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky’s®, has expanded Moe’s Southwest Grill into Arizona with a five-unit franchise agreement that will bring locations to the greater Phoenix area. Behind the deal are serial entrepreneurs and father-son team, Tony and Namit Mangat. “As proud Arizona residents, my son and I are excited for the opportunity to be the first to bring Moe’s Southwest Grill to the state,” says Tony Mangat. “We’ve wanted to make the jump into the …

South Portland, Maine — South Portland-based lobster roll concept Cousins Maine Lobster has announced plans for a multi-state food truck tour throughout the Midwest to introduce the brand to new markets. Franchisee Chris Papp — whose portfolio includes two restaurants and four food trucks — will lead the tour. Scheduled for Aug. 7-16, the tour will stop at breweries and festivals in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. 

Dallas — Dallas-based food-and-beverage franchising company BRIX Holdings LLC has entered into an agreement with franchise owner Richard Stassi to open four new units in Arizona and Missouri. Stassi will open three Smoothie Factory + Kitchen and Red Mango co-branded shops within the next three years in metro Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. The first of the units is scheduled to open in early 2025. Franchisee Gary Patel signed the fourth deal with Stassi and will open a Red Mango store in Kansas City, Missouri, in early 2025, marking the first entry …

Pasadena, Calif. — Founded in 2017 in East Hollywood, Dave’s Hot Chicken is on track to reach a milestone of 300 units open by the end of 2024 after rounding the 200-unit milestone in the first quarter. The brand now has over 206 locations in the United States, Canada and the Middle East — with more than 990 units signed to date (including its recently signed agreement with Azzurri Group to open 60 locations in the UK and Ireland, with the first location planned to open in London by first …