franchise development

Atlanta — Papa John’s International, Inc. plans to open 50 new restaurants by 2028 in partnership with franchisee Nadeem Bajwa and his company, The Bajco Group, which has grown over the past 20 years to become one of Papa Johns largest domestic franchisees. Furthering Bajwa’s goal to own 500 Papa Johns restaurants, the new agreement will expand the Papa Johns footprint in The Bajco Group’s existing markets across the Midwest and in Arizona, Pennsylvania and Florida, adding to the more than 200 restaurants the franchisee and his team currently operate. …

Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fazoli’s and 17 other restaurant concepts, has inked a new development deal with franchisee Briwin Restaurants Inc. to bring 25 Fazoli’s locations to Canada over the next 10 years. The first units are expected to open in 2025 in the province of Alberta. “Fazoli’s has enjoyed tremendous success expanding domestically, operating in 26 states with over 200 locations, and is now well positioned to make its international debut,” says Taylor Wiederhorn, chief development officer of FAT Brands. “At …

Tampa, Fla. — Pups Pub, a popular off-leash, indoor and outdoor dog sports bar with two locations in Florida, is launching a strategic franchise initiative, signaling a bold move toward expansive growth on a national scale. Leading the pack in dog bars, Pups Pub is set to quickly gain a strong foothold nationally. In support of the brand’s franchise development efforts, the company has teamed up with Franchise Well, the nation’s leading franchise consulting franchise practice led by industry veteran Dr. Ben Litalien, CFE. Along with company founders Alex Wright …

Dallas — Smoothie King has signed development agreements that will bring seven new locations to Las Vegas. The expansion more than triples Smoothie King’s footprint in the market and is part of the larger growth path that the smoothie brand announced earlier this year, forecasting 100 new store openings in 2024. Smoothie King currently has three locations in the Las Vegas area — in Henderson, Summerlin and Spring Valley — with its most recent opening occurring in 2022. The first of the seven new locations is expected to open as …

Addison, Texas — Toastique, the vibrant, artisan toast and juice café conceptualized on the East Coast, launched its first Texas storefront last month, in Addison. The new location is fueled by the family team of Penny and Mike Mrva, alongside their daughters who boast backgrounds in the nutrition and wellness industries. This collective experience ignited a passion for advocating a health-conscious world, aligning seamlessly with the mission of the Toastique franchise. “Toastique’s commitment to excellence, from presentation to operations, reflects our meticulous approach to creating a space where the values …

San Diego — QDOBA has hired Jeremy Vitaro as chief development officer and head of international. The restaurant development veteran joins QDOBA from Little Caesars Pizza and Dunkin’ Brands; he will be responsible for QDOBA’s asset light development strategy, including new restaurant growth, system remodeling, refranchising, acquisition, prototype design and real estate and construction. “We are thrilled with Jeremy’s decision to join the QDOBA leadership team,” says John Cywinski, CEO of QDOBA and Modern Market Eatery. “QDOBA is an exceptionally well-positioned brand and what I consider to be the best …