San Antonio, Texas — Taco Cabana®, a popular fast-casual chain since 1978, has launched a franchise program to grow the brand in new markets across the country, including Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Missouri, Oklahoma and Tennessee. “After 45 storied years building the Taco Cabana brand in Texas, we have the leadership and operational systems in place to deliver a nationwide franchising opportunity for passionate and experienced operators who want to introduce our acclaimed restaurant chain to their communities,” says Ulyses Camacho, president and COO of Taco Cabana. “This exciting step forward …
franchise development
San Diego — Jack in the Box Inc., a leading franchisor in the quick-service industry, is expanding again into the Chicago market with a 12-unit franchising deal. This builds on the brand’s momentum with the planned openings of 2 CloudKitchens in downtown and the previous announcement of 8 company-operated locations to be developed in the suburbs of Chicago. “We are excited to bring Jack in the Box back to Chicago,” says Van Ingram, vice president franchise development. “Chicagoland serves as the gateway to the Midwest, and we see tremendous opportunity …
Hartland, Wis. — Batteries Plus is laying the foundation for future expansion with a restructured franchise development strategy, emphasizing leadership, diversity and opportunities for underrepresented communities. As part of this strategy, the brand is announcing two key leadership appointments that will play a pivotal role in both domestic growth and building a foundation for potential future international expansion. Victor Daher (pictured), a seasoned franchise development expert with extensive experience in diverse markets, has been named the global vice president of franchise development after 4 successful years with Batteries Plus. Fluent …
Charlotte, N.C. — On Sept. 30, Sweetgreen opened its first North Carolina location in Uptown Charlotte at One Independence Center. The 2,479-square-foot location marks a significant milestone amidst the brand’s continued nationwide expansion. “We’re so grateful for the warm welcome and excitement around Sweetgreen coming to North Carolina to join the Queen City,” says Jonathan Neman, co-founder and CEO of Sweetgreen. “As we expand across the Carolinas, we’re looking forward to teaming up with local partners in the Southeast.” The Uptown space will accommodate up to 42 diners inside and …
Tucson, Ariz. — Quiznos is returning to Tucson, Ariz., with a new restaurant opening near the University of Arizona campus as part of a blockbuster deal calling for 30 new locations to open in Arizona over the next 5 to 7 years. This is the first new full-menu Quiznos in Arizona since 2010, and it comes with exciting new features like a drive-thru — only the second Quiznos in the U.S. to have one. The Tucson location had a soft opening on Sept. 26, with a grand opening planned for …
Athens, Ga. — This year, Jittery Joe’s Coffee is celebrating 30 years in business. The specialty coffee roaster, based in Athens, Ga., is also now launching franchise opportunities for a new drive-thru model. Jittery Joe’s Coffee’s new drive-thru concept stands out by maintaining a smaller footprint, offering lower labor costs and enhancing efficiency. “As demand for coffee and energy continues to rise, savvy investments are shifting toward the smaller-footprint, drive-thru-only coffee model,” says Drew French, co-owner of Jittery Joe’s Franchising. “Our new drive-thru concept is poised to capitalize on these …
— By Tim Conn — 8 tips to appeal to Gen Z and future franchisees. Franchising has long been a successful business model, offering entrepreneurs the opportunity to own a business with an established brand and built-in support system. As the economic landscape evolves, the demographic that franchise owners must appeal to is also shifting. Generation Z, those born between 1997 and 2012, is emerging as a powerful consumer group and a growing pool of future franchisees. It’s imperative that current franchise owners understand and adapt to the values, preferences …
Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., a leading global franchising company and parent company of 18 brands including Twin Peaks, has opened the first converted Smokey Bones location to Twin Peaks in Lakeland, Fla. Since acquiring Smokey Bones last year, FAT Brands has identified a select number of Smokey Bones locations to convert to its fastest-growing brand, Twin Peaks. The global restaurant franchising company has identified this strategy as a key growth pillar for the brand and currently has a pipeline of approximately 30 Smokey Bones locations …
Omaha, Neb. — Scooter’s Coffee, LLC, the Midwest-based drive-thru coffee franchise experiencing record-breaking growth, plans to open five new coffee kiosks in four different states — the result of new franchise agreements signed in August — including its first location in the state of West Virginia. The new signings in West Virginia, Alabama, Minnesota and Wisconsin are the latest boost to the Scooter’s Coffee‘s network of more than 800 stores in 30 states as the brand strives to become the #1 drive-thru specialty coffee franchise system in the nation. …
Dublin, Ohio — The Wendy’s Company has appointed John Min as its chief legal officer and secretary and Mary Greenlee as senior vice president, U.S. operations. Min will report to Wendy’s president and chief executive officer, Kirk Tanner; and Greenlee will report to the president, U.S., Abigail Pringle. Min succeeds E.J. Wunsch, who was appointed as Wendy’s president, international in June 2024. “I’m pleased to welcome John and Mary to the Wendy’s team,” says Tanner. “John’s proven track record of managing complex commercial transactions, his extensive background in legal strategy …