Irvine, Calif. — Juice It Up!, a leading handcrafted smoothie, açaí bowl and raw juice franchise, has experienced strong growth in same store sales (SSS) and average unit volumes (AUVs) in 2020. Despite the challenges presented by the pandemic, through October 2020, SSS for the year have increased by 13%, with SSS for the third quarter just ended September 2020 up 19%. Most significantly, the brand’s top 50% of franchised locations now have an AUV approaching $600,000 while the brand’s top 25% of franchised locations have seen their AUV expand …
franchise development
Plano, Texas — Former restaurant and entertainment executive, Ted Beaman, along with his 20-year business partners, Sean McCullough and Greg Stevens, are shifting careers from the entertainment industry to open 10 MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes, a Plano, Texas-based “better burger” concept, across the Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan area. Eight of the 10 locations will be new, whereas the other two locations — in Flower Mound and Frisco, Texas — are being acquired and remodeled. All 10 of these locations will feature the brand’s new prototype with new dining zones, digital …
Athens, Ga. — Zaxby’s Operating Company L.P. (Zaxby’s) and its subsidiaries have announced that investment funds managed by the Goldman Sachs Merchant Banking Division (Goldman Sachs) will acquire a significant stake in the company. The partnership will support accelerated growth for Zaxby’s as well as expansion into new sales channels with a guest-focused strategy. The deal is expected to be finalized by year end 2020. Zaxby’s, the fast-casual chain known for its chicken fingers, wings and signature sauces, operates primarily in the Southeastern United States, with more than 900 restaurants …
Atlanta — The Hummus & Pita Co., a leading Mediterranean fast-casual concept, opened its first location in the South — near Perimeter Mall in Atlanta — on Nov. 21. This is the first of three franchised locations opening in the Southeast before year’s end, and as part of a five-location deal with franchise group Premier Kings, Inc., one of the largest Burger King franchisees in the country. Additional locations in Huntsville and Montgomery, Ala., are set to open in the coming weeks. “We saw a great opportunity in The Hummus …
Wichita, Kan. — Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, a leading national fast-casual restaurant concept known for its cooked-to-order Steakburgers and freshly churned frozen custard treats, has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement to develop 50 new restaurants over the next several years across the Southeast. As part of this agreement, Freddy’s will grow its footprint throughout the Florida West Coast and Panhandle, with locations currently under development and slated to open next year in Pensacola and Tampa. These new restaurants will be owned by experienced multi-unit operators RSolution Holdings, who signed …
Atlanta — Tropical Smoothie Cafe, a leading national fast-casual cafe franchise, has opened its 900th cafe, which is located on the Fort Benning military base in Georgia. This milestone opening comes on the heels of a momentous year for the brand, which has signed 214 new franchise agreements, opened 87 new cafes across the U.S. and achieved double digit same-store sales for the past 5 months, bringing same-store sales to +6.3% year to date. “It’s inspiring to be part of the growth that Tropical Smoothie Cafe has accomplished this year …
Nashville, Tenn. — Captain D’s has launched a new restaurant prototype called Express, featuring a significantly smaller footprint than its traditional models. Over the past several years, Captain D’s has developed a robust lineup of restaurant prototypes — ranging from a 22-seater to a 62-seater — all intentionally designed to adapt to the increasingly competitive real estate market, as well as provide franchisees with flexibility and substantial cost savings. The first Captain D’s Express is slated to open in the Atlanta metro area in second quarter 2021. Captain D’s Express …
New York City — Fransmart, the industry-leading franchise development company, will officially represent Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, the soon-to-open, 24/7 quick-service restaurant serving creative, flavor-packed dumplings with hands-free technology, in its global franchising endeavors. The restaurant’s flagship location is opening in Manhattan’s East Village this December. Fransmart was drawn to Brooklyn Dumpling Shop’s unique concept, which reimagines dumplings in 32 unique varieties along with the latest in restaurant tech innovation. “This is all about disruption,” says Stratis Morfogen, co-founder of Brooklyn Dumpling Shop. “Disrupting the QSR industry, disrupting traditional kitchen operations, …
San Diego — QDOBA Mexican Eats®, the largest franchise opportunity in the fast-casual Mexican segment, continues to grow its non-traditional footprint across universities, airports and other venues. Since August, the brand has opened eight locations on college campuses across the country — including University of Cincinnati, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Purdue University, University of Pittsburgh-Bradford, ASU Polytechnic, North Carolina A&T University, Kentucky State University and Northern Illinois University. An additional two non-traditional locations are slated to open by the end of the year. This year’s non-traditional openings add to a collection …
Dallas — MUTTS Canine Cantina®, a fast-growing pet eatertainment brand that provides a unique urban oasis for dogs and their owners, has signed a multi-unit franchise deal to bring locations to El Paso, Texas, and Tucson, Ariz. New franchisee April Mendoza of Pups and Pals, LLC, plans to open multiple MUTTS® locations, with a focus on the Southwest I-10 corridor. “It is an exciting time to join the MUTTS Canine Cantina family. While 2020 has been a year filled with unexpected challenges, one thing is certain — people have been …