— By Dan Hyman — Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies invests in staff with bold new software. For more than four decades, Davanni’s Pizza & Hot Hoagies has been a fixture in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. And now, with 20 locations, it has firmly cemented its role as not only a local mainstay but also a direct competitor to many of the national chains in its market. It’s why when tasked with the challenge of how to better train its employees and, more importantly, retain such employees and …
Dallas — Slim Chickens has inked a deal to bring 10 locations to cities throughout greater Dallas. Farouk Jamal and Ali Poonja of Slim Brothers will be bringing the restaurants to Collin and Denton counties in fourth quarter 2022. “After connecting with franchise owners in the system and learning about their experience owning Slims, we knew we had to be a part of the chicken segment,” says Jamal. “We’re excited to join an emerging brand that is growing rapidly, and we’re ready to hit the ground running.” Jamal and Poonja …
Scottsdale, Ariz. — Savory Fund has invested in the popular brunch concept, Hash Kitchen. The Scottsdale, Ariz.-based chain creatively designed around a social dining experience is the latest brand to attract growth capital from Mercato Partners’ $200 million Savory Restaurant Fund, which was formed to back promising emerging restaurant concepts. Founded in 2015 by celebrity chef Joey Maggiore, his wife Cristina and partner Flora Tersigni of The Maggiore Group, Hash Kitchen’s menu features high-quality and next-level breakfast and boozy brunch offerings. Its chef-driven, curated menu is distinctively paired with an …
Charlotte, N.C. — Clean Juice, the first and only national USDA-certified organic juice bar franchise and quick-service restaurant, has demonstrated another quarter of impressive guest count and sales growth. “Despite these record-breaking successes and forward-moving gains, we still feel as if we are just getting started, and we’re certainly not stopping,” says Landon Eckles, CEO, Clean Juice. “As cold weather and early sunsets encroach, and we spend more time celebrating the holiday season with our family and friends — and that typically revolves around food — Clean Juice remains focused …
Wichita, Kan. — Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers has signed four new multi-unit agreements with new and existing operators to bring more than a dozen new restaurants to New Jersey, Texas, Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee and South Dakota. Year-to-date, Freddy’s has executed a total of 13 multi-unit agreements adding nearly 70 new restaurants to the brand’s overall development pipeline. With additional openings slated to take place through the end of fourth quarter, the brand is on track to open over 35 locations this year. “Freddy’s commitment to the success of our …
— By Manik Suri — Food waste is a major issue. Here’s what you can do about it. What do Dutch Bro’s, Eggs Up Grill, and Domino’s have in common? They are creating more sustainable businesses by replacing manual temperature checks with automated systems. Project Drawdown found that about a third of food produced is never eaten, which means that the resources used to grow that food is wasted. This waste of resources is ultimately accountable for 8% of global carbon emissions. But food waste isn’t just a climate …
Orlando, Fla. — Another Broken Egg Cafe, a full-service breakfast, brunch and lunch franchise that specializes in Southern-inspired menu options and creative cocktails, has now opened over 20 new cafes with its New South design prototype and completed 13 remodels of existing restaurants. The new and remodeled cafes are outperforming the system, and plans are underway for more company and franchise remodels throughout next year and beyond. First introduced in spring 2019, Another Broken Egg Cafe’s new design significantly highlights the brand’s full bar and doubles bar seating by providing …
Los Angeles — FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., parent company of Fatburger, Buffalo’s Express and 13 other restaurant concepts, is heading to Illinois with a newly inked deal in partnership with A.D.T.J. Development LLC to open 25 Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express stores throughout the state of Illinois — in particular, in Chicago and the surrounding area. The locations are slated to open over the next 8 years. Both the Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express brands have been populating the West Coast, East Coast and regions in the South. This will …
Longmont, Colo. — Ziggi’s Coffee has opened its landmark 40th location. The new coffee shop is located in Loveland, Colo. Founded on the corner of Main Street in Longmont, Colo., by Brandon and Camrin Knudsen in 2004, Ziggi’s Coffee now has 40 locations and more than 100 stores in development across 25 states. “We are humbled by the continued growth of the Ziggi’s Coffee brand. When we started this company over 15 years ago, we could only dream of this success. Our value of creating meaningful, community-focused relationships is what …
Nashville, Tenn. — Captain D’s, the nation’s leading fast-casual seafood restaurant, has experienced a surge in franchise development throughout 2021, reporting 18 new agreements signed to develop 43 locations in key markets nationwide over the next several years. Half of those agreements are with existing franchisees. Motivated by impressive AUVs and strong sales comps system-wide, Captain D’s franchisees continue to invest in the brand and expand its footprint in their markets, reflecting the viability of its franchise model and attracting new operators to the system. “Captain D’s momentum has been …
