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Canada-based CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market to Open First U.S. Location

by Katie Lee

Vancouver, B.C. — CRAFT Restaurant & Beer Market plans to open its first U.S. location at Preston Center in Dallas in early 2026. This marks the company’s highly anticipated entry into the American market, building on its success across Canada. The flagship U.S. location will feature more than 100 beers on tap — including local Texas brews — along with cocktails, wine and a globally inspired menu of scratch-made dishes. In 2019, PJ L’Heureux, founder of CRAFT, partnered with Tom Gaglardi, owner of the Dallas Stars and the highly successful …

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GoTo Foods Names New Chief Brand Officer of Cinnabon

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — GoTo Foods, parent company of the Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill® and Schlotzsky’s® brands, has appointed Urvi Patel as the chief brand officer of Cinnabon. As chief brand officer, Patel will be responsible for providing executive-level guidance on brand strategy, managing marketing efforts and developing key operational strategies to drive financial growth and ensure franchise success for the brand. “Urvi’s appointment as Cinnabon’s new chief brand officer presents significant opportunities for the iconic brand,” says Shelly Harris, chief operating officer at GoTo Foods. …

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Krispy Krunchy Chicken Names Chief Financial Officer

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Krispy Krunchy Chicken®, one of the fastest-growing hot food concepts in the convenience store business with over 3,200 locations, has appointed Jim Zielke as its chief financial officer. Zielke will report to CEO Jim Norberg. Zielke most recently served as the chief financial officer for the Peruvian-inspired restaurant brand Viva Chicken Holdings, LLC, where he oversaw finance, human resources, legal and IT departments for the company. He brings over 30 years of experience in the industry. “Jim has a wealth of knowledge and experience from the chicken and …

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Just Salad Opens First-Ever Drive-Thru Location

by Katie Lee

New York City — Just Salad has opened its first-ever drive-thru location, marking a major milestone in the brand’s mission to bring healthy food options to more communities. Located in Livingston, N.J., in The Shoppes at the Livingston Circle, this store is the first of multiple Just Salad drive-thru locations expected to open throughout 2025. “This new location reflects our belief that fast food can be redefined — it can be fresh, it can be sustainable, and it can still be convenient,” says Nick Kenner, founder and CEO at Just …

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Firehouse Subs to Debut in Brazil With 500+ Locations Over Next 10 Years

by Katie Lee

Toronto — Firehouse Subs® plans to debut in Brazil with ambitious growth plans, building on its international expansion. The brand plans to open more than 500 restaurants in 10 years across the country. The first restaurant is expected to launch in 2025 and will mark Firehouse Subs’ debut in South America. The expansion into Brazil is part of a joint venture supported by parent company Restaurant Brands International (RBI), one of the world’s largest QSR companies, in partnership with Iuri Miranda, former CEO and board member of Zamp S.A., master …

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Taco John’s Unveils Optimized Business Model to Accelerate Franchise Growth

by Katie Lee

Cheyenne, Wyo. — Taco John’s® is charting a bold new course for franchise growth with its optimized business model. Focused on driving unit-level profitability and expanding market reach, the brand has introduced strategic improvements in operations, franchise development, branding and technology. “There’s never been a more opportune time to grow with Taco John’s,” says Heather Neary, president and CEO. “With prime territories available for growth, our enhanced development and performance strategies remain centered on finding franchisees who align with our business strategy and rich culture, while continuing to prioritize innovation …

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URBAN REVIVO Unveils Global Expansion Plans for 2025

by Katie Lee

Guangzhou, China — At the dawn of a new year, fast-fashion brand URBAN REVIVO (UR) is celebrating significant milestones in its international market expansion throughout 2024 and unveiling ambitious plans for further global outreach in 2025. Building on a successful entry into Southeast Asian markets, URBAN REVIVO now sets its sights on major fashion capitals worldwide. In a pivotal year, URBAN REVIVO opened nine new stores across key Southeast Asian markets including Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam and the Philippines. This expansion brings the total number of the brand’s stores in …

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Blaze Pizza Plans 25 New Units in Southern California

by Katie Lee

Atlanta — Blaze Pizza has signed a 25-unit expansion agreement with longtime franchisee SoCal Blazers, Inc. The agreement spans Southern California counties, including Los Angeles, San Bernadino, Riverside, Orange and San Diego. Led by Reza Medali, Mehdi Khosh and Ryan Khosh Medali, the franchisee group currently operates 21 locations in the region. The agreement includes the opening of four new restaurants in 2025. “Reza and his team exemplify what it means to be exceptional operators, and we couldn’t be more excited to champion their continued success with Blaze,” says Beto …

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Smalls Sliders Makes Texas Debut

by Katie Lee

Willis, Texas — Smalls Sliders, the industry-disrupting cheeseburger slider brand, is hosting an opening celebration on Jan. 4 for its first Texas location, situated in the suburban Houston town of Willis. “The excitement of bringing Smalls Sliders to Texas is something I’m proud to be part of, and there’s no better place to start than Willis,” says Preston Cunningham, local franchisee and operator. “This community has a unique charm and a welcoming spirit that makes it the perfect home for our first Texas Can. The city has grown tremendously over …

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Cover Storyfranchise developmentFrom The Magazinerestaurants

Sweetening the Deal

by Katie Lee

— Interview with Flynn Dekker — With a fresh new development team in place, Shipley Do-Nuts leans into growing digital sales and new product innovation as it enters new states and markets. Shipley Do-Nuts has been a sweet, savory mainstay for many generations, first opening in 1936 and now operating more than 360 units in 12 states — and growing. This year, the Houston-based brand added significant new members to its executive team, as well as more than 100 units to its development pipeline. To support this dynamic growth, Shipley …

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