Costa Mesa, Calif. — California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), the creator of California-style pizza, has opened a new franchise location at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The opening marks the brand’s second location within the airport as CPK continues to expand across U.S. markets. Located within Terminal 6 at LAX, the new restaurant is owned and operated by Greg Plummer, CEO and managing partner of Concord Collective, a minority-owned airport concession operator. “We are thrilled to partner with Concord Collective to provide a fresh, healthy, alternative dining option for the most …
franchise development
Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc. has opened its first co-branded Johnny Rockets and Hurricane Wings. Located in the heart of Washington, D.C., at the Holiday Inn Washington-Central/White House, the restaurant combines Johnny Rockets’ classic menu with the all-new co-branded model of sister wing brand Hurricane Grill & Wings, Hurricane Wings. “Burgers and wings pair perfectly together, which we have witnessed firsthand at FAT Brands with the co-branding of Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express,” says Jake Berchtold, COO of FAT Brands’ fast-casual division. “The demand for that co-branded …
Cincinnati — Wings and Rings, an 85-unit sports restaurant and bar franchise, continues to open new stores around the country; is implementing a new remodel program, the first of which was in Crestview Hills, Ky.; and is leveraging technology to streamline operational and back-of-house needs. The brand has also extended its development incentive program, with no franchise fee and no royalties for the first 6 months of operation. Recently the brand opened a new-generation unit in Campbellsville, Ky. Additional openings are in the works in Ohio, Georgia, Texas, Kentucky and …
Charlotte, N.C. — Krispy Kreme, Inc. has formed a joint venture between Krispy Kreme and Columbus Café through its holding company, Wagram Finances, Inc. to bring one of the world’s most loved sweet treats to France in the summer of 2023. Opening in Paris, Krispy Kreme will bring fresh doughnuts and an array of beverages, leveraging Krispy Kreme’s legendary doughnuts and Wagram’s market expertise. Over the next 5 years, the company expects to create 500 fresh points of access in France, with a long term goal of more than 2,000. …
Burleson, Texas — Pokemoto, Muscle Maker, Inc.’s expanding Hawaiian poke bowl restaurant concept, is opening a new Pokemoto Hawaiian poke eatery in Gallatin, Tenn., one of the fast-growing cities in the state. Located at 1025 Nashville Pike in Gallatin, this Pokemoto location offers dine-in, takeout and third-party online ordering. Gallatin is a suburb 30 miles north of Nashville, Tenn. Gallatin boasts high-paying jobs and low taxes, economic health, a thriving arts scene, and a vibrant retail environment making Gallatin a hub for family life. The new Pokemoto features the brand’s …
Golden, Colo. — Salad Collective, a Golden, Colo.-based operating company of better-for-you brands MAD Greens and Snappy Salads, has acquired Tokyo Joe’s, adding to its portfolio another Colorado-grown fast casual concept with strong regional consumer appeal. The acquisition of the Japanese-Asian fast casual brand that operates under the mantra, “Eat Good, Feel Good,” is a strategic purchase for Salad Collective. It creates another healthier-centric brand in Salad Collective’s portfolio within markets also served by MAD Greens. The synergies with both the proximity of the two leadership teams and the locations …
Modern Market Eatery Inks First Franchise Agreement; Will Open 41 Units in 11 New Markets
Denver — Modern Market Eatery, a made-from-scratch fast-casual concept, has signed a 41-unit development deal with its first franchise partner, Thrive Restaurant Group. The agreement will expand the brand to 11 new markets, including Wichita and Kansas City, Kan.; Austin, San Antonio and Waco, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Charlotte and Raleigh, N.C.; and northwest Arkansas. Based in Wichita, Kan., Thrive Restaurant Group is a generational, multi-brand restaurant enterprise with deeply rooted values centered on guest-centric hospitality and a passion for scratch-made food. Founded by Darrel and David Rolph and led by Jon Rolph since …
Seattle — MOD Super Fast Pizza Holdings, LLC, a fast-casual pizza pioneer, has promoted Becky Mulligan to the newly-created position of chief restaurant officer and Stephen Blum as its first chief development officer. The company also has made three executive-level hires, with a focus on enhancing MOD’s strength in franchising, culinary innovation and operational excellence as it continues to expand its store footprint of more than 520 locations system-wide. Mulligan’s elevation to chief restaurant officer comes as she celebrates a year with the company during which she has led the …
Dallas — TGI Fridays plans the development of 75 new restaurants throughout South and Southeast Asia over the next 10 years in partnership with Master Franchisor Universal Success Enterprises. The deal, which is expected to drive over $500 million in revenue for the U.S.-based company over 10 years, is the most significant development agreement to date for the brand. This latest development deal is core to TGI Fridays’ strategic global expansion strategy — as growth of the casual restaurant category internationally continues to thrive. The brand currently has 385 franchised …
Seattle — At Starbucks’ recent biennial Investor Day in Seattle, interim CEO Howard Schultz, CFO Rachel Ruggeri and other Starbucks leaders showcased the company’s Reinvention plan, which aims to invest in partners, customers and stores. The plan is expected to accelerate the company’s long term growth, progressively expand operating margin and drive high-teens non-GAAP EPS growth annually through fiscal 2025. “As we execute on our Reinvention plan, we are building on our 51-year history of market leading innovation to position our business and our brand for the next chapter of …