News

Las Vegas — Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop and Wing Zone have signed 16 area development agreements in the third quarter, which will bring an additional 39 new stores to communities across the U.S. The 39 units sold — 25 Capriotti’s shops and 14 Wing Zone locations — follow the signing of 89 units in the first two quarters of the year, bringing the total new shop count to 128 for the year. Third quarter signings for Capriotti’s include: Austin/Houston, Texas N. Dallas, Texas Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas Fresno, Calif. Louisville, Ky. Maryland …

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Grand Rapids, Mich. — Meijer has been recognized by the Environmental Protection Agency’s GreenChill Program for having the lowest corporate-wide refrigerant emissions rate out of all GreenChill Partners over the past year. The Grand Rapids, Mich.-based grocer has focused on reducing its refrigerant leak rate for at least 12 years and is now 18.2% below the industry average. “Refrigeration plays a vital role in ensuring foods are stored at the proper temperature before they’re purchased by our customers, but many people don’t realize it makes an impact on the environment,” …

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New York City — Brooklyn Dumpling Shop, the nation’s fastest growing dumpling automat concept, has a signed multi-unit franchise deal to make the brand’s first appearance in Florida. Florida-based franchisee Marc Silverstone closed on a deal with Brooklyn Dumpling Shop to bring at least five units to Orlando, Miami and surrounding areas. “From the moment I entered the East Village location, I knew this was the right fit for me and for Florida. I’m so excited to be part of the Brooklyn Dumpling Shop family and make this amazing concept …

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Earth City, Mo. — Interface Security Systems, a leading managed service provider delivering business security, managed network, UCaaS and business intelligence solutions to distributed enterprises, has partnered with WKS Restaurant Group, one of the fastest-growing multi-brand restaurant franchisees in the U.S. WKS is relying on Interface’s managed video verified intrusion alarm monitoring to eliminate false alarm costs and standardize security operations across over 380 restaurants. WKS  is a licensed franchisee of El Pollo Loco, Wendy’s, Denny’s, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Blaze Pizza and Corner Bakery Cafe. Before Interface, WKS was incurring about …

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Lewisville, Texas — JCPenney has unveiled additional details on the retail strategy and product offerings for JCPenney Beauty. The retailer’s new, inclusive in-store and online experience will open at 10 JCPenney store locations across the country beginning in mid-October, and on jcp.com starting Oct. 15. Featuring 170+ beauty brands, the assortment will span makeup, skincare, haircare, styling tools, fragrance, nailcare, and bath and body products at varying price points. “Rooted in inclusivity, JCPenney Beauty grew out of direct feedback from our customers,” says Michelle Wlazlo, executive vice president and chief …

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Louisville, Ky., and Dallas — Papa John’s International, Inc. has signed its largest domestic franchisee development agreement in the company’s history with top U.S. franchisee operator Sun Holdings, Inc. Under the terms of the deal, Sun Holdings will oversee the opening of 100 new stores in high-growth markets across Texas by 2029. Founded by Guillermo Perales, Dallas-based Sun Holdings supports more than 1,000 locations across 12 states. “Papa John’s development flywheel has started to take off,” says Amanda Clark, Papa John’s chief development officer. “With industry-leading paybacks and our key …

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Ankeny, Iowa — Casey’s General Stores, Inc., a leading convenience store chain in the United States, has agreed to acquire 40 Pilot convenience stores from Pilot Corporation in an all-cash transaction for $220 million. The 40 Pilot stores will extend Casey’s presence in Tennessee and Kentucky with well-established locations primarily in the Knoxville, Tenn., market. “These stores have a track record of strong performance, and are high quality assets that will be a great fit for Casey’s fresh food program, especially our handmade pizza,” says Darren Rebelez, president and chief …

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Arlington, Texas — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express, has opened the 100th U.S. location of Fatburger, which is now open in Arlington, Texas. Co-branded with Buffalo’s Express, the restaurant will host a ribbon-cutting ceremony on October 7 to celebrate the milestone. The new location is under the helm of franchisee Maisha Bankhead, who also owns a Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express in North Richland Hills that opened in June 2020. “Expanding Fatburger & Buffalo’s Express’s domestic presence has been a key focus for …

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Pearland, Texas — Buff City Soap, a rapidly expanding handmade retail franchise known for its plant-based soap and body products made in-store daily, recently opened its first Houston-area location in Pearland, Texas. The new store opened on September 23 in Pearland Town Center. “Bringing Buff City Soap to Houston is an amazing milestone for both us here locally and the brand in general,” says operating partner Brad Reece. “We can’t wait to begin offering an interactive retail experience for our guests and provide them with the very best soap and …

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Charleston, S.C. — Chef Anthony Marini’s new restaurant, “The Pass,” creates an atmosphere like no other. Living a double-life as a unique sandwich shop by day, the 700-square-foot restaurant boasts just one table and transforms into a speakeasy-style dinner at night. Only one reservation is made each night, allowing 6-10 people to have an intimate dining experience. The Pass’ Chef’s Table menu changes seasonally, about every 6-8 weeks supporting local and sustainable practices whenever possible. Unlike any other restaurant environment, the Chef’s Table experience begins at 7pm with a multi-course …

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