Las Vegas — Focus Brands®, the parent company of Auntie Anne’s®, Carvel®, Cinnabon®, Jamba®, McAlister’s Deli®, Moe’s Southwest Grill® and Schlotzsky’s®, is capitalizing on franchise growth in the non-traditional sector, now boasting more than 2,000 non-traditional units across the country. Building on this momentum are two newly signed agreements in the Las Vegas market. Mother-daughter entrepreneurial team Vicki Richardson and Leila Day, of JV Ventures, recently opened an Auntie Anne’s location inside of Allegiant Stadium. This location adds to their non-traditional portfolio including two Auntie Anne’s at the Las Vegas …
restaurants
Austin, Texas — Sprinkles Bakeries and Picnik Restaurants has promoted Justin Murakami to chief operating officer, recognizing his exemplary contributions and leadership in steering operational growth and innovation. His promotion signals a pivotal phase in executing Sprinkles’ growth strategies domestically and internationally. “Justin’s strategic foresight and operational expertise have been instrumental in our company’s success, especially in expanding Sprinkles’ global footprint and Picnik’s domestic expansion,” says Dan Mesches, president and CEO of Sprinkles Bakeries and Picnik Restaurants. “We’re confident that under Justin’s leadership, we’ll continue to exceed expectations, scale efficiently …
Kansas City, Mo. — Hawaiian Bros, an island-inspired, award-winning, quick-service restaurant concept, has signed its fifth multi-unit development agreement with Rock Hawaiian LLC since launching its franchise program in late 2022. Rock Hawaiian LLC is set to develop 18 Hawaiian Bros locations in the San Antonio, Texas, area in the coming years, starting with the acquisition of the Live Oak store this year. Rock Hawaiian owners Chris Aslam and Edith Diaz have a strong track record of developing successful multi-unit franchises. Since 2007, their restaurant group has been operating quick-service …
— By Sean-Paul Ferrera — The promise of energy efficiency for restaurant franchises. Today’s restaurant operators face a whole host of challenges, from increased competition and a tight labor market to rising commodity (i.e. food, packaging or cutlery) and energy prices. As a result of constantly juggling these contending pressures, owners have to carefully evaluate where they spend their time and money to ensure both happy customers and profitable margins. For restaurant owners, sustainability has traditionally taken a backseat to these more tangible day-to-day concerns, but ultimately, this amounts to …
San Diego — Jack in the Box Inc. signed 123 new restaurant commitments during its 2023 fiscal year. The brand also announced the signing of 138 new restaurant commitments for Del Taco. The news comes as the company announced its Q4 and fiscal year 2023 financial results. During 2023, Jack in the Box also entered four new states: Arkansas, Florida, Montana and Wyoming. The brand also signed a 22-unit commitment to enter Mexico. In mid-2023, Jack in the Box set a record for a restaurant opening in a new market, …
Johns Creek, Ga. — Shawarma Press, the first authentic Shawarma franchise in the U.S., continues its expansion with the opening of a flagship restaurant in Georgia. Located in the Atlanta suburb of Johns Creek, the popular Mediterranean spot is the first of several franchise units planned throughout the state. The expansion to The Peach State follows seven well-established Texas locations in Irving, Plano, Georgetown, Arlington, Frisco, San Antonio and a recently opened flagship restaurant in the Dallas Arts District. Sawsan Abublan, CEO and co-founder, says expansion in Georgia is significant …
Atlanta — Huddle House Franchise is driving expansion across Southern markets through its existing franchise network. In recent months, Huddle House announced new store openings in Lynchburg, Va., Owensboro, Ky., Nahunta, Ga., as well as a 10-year renewal agreement in Lady Island, S.C. All of these announcements have come from existing franchise owners. Christopher and Stephanie Wilson, the husband-and-wife business duo, are the operators of Huddle House of Lady’s Island, and have been serving the community since 2018. The Wilsons recently renewed their agreement with a 10-year commitment, ensuring that …
Nashville, Tenn. — Fogo de Chão has signed a lease agreement to open its first location in the state of Tennessee. The new 8,500-square-foot restaurant is scheduled to open in 2025 at Nashville Yards, a 19-acre mixed-use development in Nashville that is being developed by Southwest Value Partners and AEG. 2023 has proven to be another strong year for Fogo with 22 new domestic and international leases signed and recent openings in key markets including Paramus, N.J., Providence, R.I., Huntington Beach, Calif., Thousand Oaks, Calif., Irving, Texas, and Emeryville, Calif., …
Miami — Subway has appointed Jeff Shepherd as chief financial officer (CFO). He will report directly to CEO John Chidsey and oversee Subway’s global finance organization. Formerly with Advance Auto Parts, Shepherd succeeds Ben Wells who will retire at the end of the year after a 46-year career. “Jeff has a well-earned reputation for driving strong financial results for global brands, bringing nearly 30 years of financial and accounting experience to our organization,” says Chidsey. “As we welcome Jeff to Subway, we also thank Ben for his significant contributions. Since …
— By Jessy Perone — Filta takes care of fryer oil management for more than 50 Dairy Queens — personalizing plans and service for each franchise owner to meet specific needs. More than 50 Dairy Queen restaurants nationwide rely on Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions for fryer oil management so their restaurants can consistently produce delicious, golden brown fries and chicken tenders for customers while keeping employees safe, keeping restaurants clean and sustainable, and boosting profitability. From Connecticut to Georgia and South Carolina to New Mexico, the majority of these 50 …