Dallas — Dickey’s Barbecue Pit is expanding its franchise opportunities to feature another non-traditional franchise model: virtual kitchens. The barbecue franchise has executed area development agreements to bring more of Dickey’s slow-smoked, Texas-style barbecue to Chicago, Houston and Orlando, as well as make its debut in Providence, R.I. All locations will serve guests via delivery through a virtual kitchen facility. The virtual kitchen model allows restaurants to maximize delivery coverage without the upfront investment that a traditional brick-and-mortar location requires. Because the facility includes a kitchen for restaurants to prepare …
franchise development
Charlotte, N.C. — Clean Juice®, the first and most prolific USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise, has added nine new stores across the nation since July 1, 2020, continuing its rapid expansion despite the headwinds of the global COVID-19 pandemic. Clean Juice’s continued growth in a surging, health-conscious environment is attributed to the strength of its development system, its franchise support structure and the power of its brand, which is built on USDA-certified organic food and beverage offerings. Three of the newly awarded units were expansions by existing franchise partners in …
Atlanta — Edible®, a leading gift and treat destination, is reflecting on a record-breaking 6 months. A resilient and essential business, the brand has signed a total of 37 new franchise agreements since January. Now, with a larger franchise development team in place, Edible is aiming for its next ambitious growth goal: to sign 80 to 100 new franchise agreements in the U.S. and to find new franchisees for five international countries between now and the end of the year. “We have an entrepreneurial and experienced management team in place …
Auburn, Ala. — Chicken Salad Chick, a Southern-inspired, fast-casual chicken salad restaurant concept, has promoted five existing brand leaders amid the company’s ongoing growth and success. The brand has promoted three executives to its C-suite, including Jim Thompson as chief operating officer, Terry McKee as chief development officer and Tom Carr as chief marketing officer. Additionally, the company has appointed Mary Lou Atkins as vice president of human resources and Carrie Evans as vice president of franchise development. Chicken Salad Chick has grown exponentially in recent years, more than quadrupling …
Dallas — Slim Chickens, a leading fast-casual franchise which features dine-in and drive-thru in the “better chicken” segment, has signed a multi-unit deal with franchisee Ray Johnson to develop 10 restaurants across Texas’s Collin and Denton counties. The first location is slated to open in 2021. Johnson is pursuing sites in lively towns like Highland Village, Flower Mound and Bartonville, to name a few. There are seven thriving Slim Chickens restaurants open today in the Dallas-Fort Worth market. An experienced restaurant operator, Johnson formerly owned over half-a-dozen units of the …
Coralville, Iowa — As Pancheros continues to see increased month-over-month sales, loyalty program growth and three new restaurant openings, the brand has hired two new executives to lead its operations strategy as it ramps up for growth and expansion. Erik Ivey has been appointed as vice president of operations and Saúl Muñiz has been named director of operations. “Pancheros is focused on bringing the right group of people to the table,” says Rodney Anderson, president at Pancheros Mexican Grill. “Erik and Saúl have shown great integrity and will bring a …
Detroit — Little Caesars Pizza, one of the largest pizza chains in the world, is continuing its international expansion with its first restaurants in Colombia. The global brand, which currently operates in 27 countries and territories, including in Peru and Chile in South America, will open two stores in Bogotá this month. The restaurants in Colombia are owned and operated by LCPZ Colombia S.A.S., which is part of the Pequeño Caesarmex family of companies, which also owns and operates Little Caesars locations in Mexico, Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. …
— By Katie Lee — How Slim Chickens is not only surviving — but thriving — during COVID-19. During the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, Slim Chickens was able to turn on a dime: transforming its parking lots into dining rooms, boosting digital channels, investing in marketing and operations, as well as new safety protocols, and continuing to sell franchise locations — tallying almost 50 new units so far this year. While the Fayetteville, Arkansas-based fast-casual brand had to scale back its original 2020 development plans to open 30 …
Lexington, Ky. — Same-store sales at A&W Restaurants’ franchised gas and convenience store locations jumped by double digits in June, although Americans were driving fewer miles and buying less gas than usual. Sales at A&W’s more than 90 C-store locations were up 10.5%, following an 8.3% increase in May. They were an average of 11% higher during the January-February period before falling off in March and April, the result of the coronavirus pandemic. The strong performance comes as the iconic brand prepares to expand its convenience store and travel center …
Denver — Slater’s 50/50, the nationally recognized burger concept known for inventing the 50/50 burger patty made with 50% ground bacon and 50% ground beef, celebrated the grand opening of its first Denver restaurant on July 24, 2020. The new location is opening in the RiNo Arts District’s The Hub, a mixed-use building featuring office, retail and restaurant tenants, located at 3600 Blake St. “After a 30+ year career in the investment industry, I decided to do something completely different — open a restaurant,” says Charles Murray, owner of Slater’s …