Monday, December 15, 2025
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Clear Path Forward

by Katie Lee

— By Jeff Kiesel — Serving up fresh, automated oil solutions to replace stale, deep-fried thinking. Oil management has historically been a struggle for restaurants and commercial kitchens. While oil plays a crucial role in food preparation, traditional oil handling can result in unsafe and dirty kitchens, frustrated staff, lower food quality and unnecessary waste. Now, new automated cooking oil management tools are allowing restaurants to embrace digital transformation and provide improved control of kitchen chaos. For those who get JIBs (joint interest billing) of oil delivered and grease removal …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsremodelsrestaurants

Marco’s Pizza Launches New Store Design

by Katie Lee

Boise, Idaho — Marco’s Pizza, one of the nation’s fastest-growing pizza brands, recently debuted its new store design near Boise in Meridian, Idaho. The new look features aesthetic updates in addition to operational enhancements. The prototype is set to fuel the brand’s continued nationwide growth and performance, while enhancing the guest experience. The Meridian corporate-owned store opened on July 23, 2024. Earlier this year, Marco’s announced its development plan to bring four new locations to the Boise market, using it as a test bed for forward-thinking innovations. Updates include: • …

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Cousins Maine Lobster Food Truck
franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Cousins Maine Lobster Launches Food Truck Tour in the Midwest

by Hayden Spiess

South Portland, Maine — South Portland-based lobster roll concept Cousins Maine Lobster has announced plans for a multi-state food truck tour throughout the Midwest to introduce the brand to new markets. Franchisee Chris Papp — whose portfolio includes two restaurants and four food trucks — will lead the tour. Scheduled for Aug. 7-16, the tour will stop at breweries and festivals in South Dakota, Nebraska, Iowa and Missouri. 

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Smoothie-Factory-Kitchen
franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

BRIX Holdings Enters Four-Unit Franchise Agreement in Arizona, Missouri

by Hayden Spiess

Dallas — Dallas-based food-and-beverage franchising company BRIX Holdings LLC has entered into an agreement with franchise owner Richard Stassi to open four new units in Arizona and Missouri. Stassi will open three Smoothie Factory + Kitchen and Red Mango co-branded shops within the next three years in metro Phoenix and Scottsdale, Arizona. The first of the units is scheduled to open in early 2025. Franchisee Gary Patel signed the fourth deal with Stassi and will open a Red Mango store in Kansas City, Missouri, in early 2025, marking the first entry …

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Darden Restaurants Agrees to Acquire Tex-Mex Chain Chuy’s for $605 Million

by Hayden Spiess

Austin, Texas and Orlando, Fla. — Darden Restaurants (NYSE: DRI) has agreed to acquire Chuy’s Holdings (NASDAQ: CHUY) for $605 million in an all-cash transaction.  The Tex-Mex restaurant chain — which owns and operates 101 full-service restaurants across 15 states — will join Darden’s existing restaurant portfolio, which includes Olive Garden, LongHorn Steakhouse and Ruth’s Chris Steak House, among others.  Under terms of the merger agreement, Orlando-based Darden will acquire all outstanding shares of Chuy’s at $37.50 per share. The purchase price represents a 40 percent premium to the Austin-based company’s …

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Layne’s Chicken Fingers to Open 18 Restaurants in Georgia

by Hayden Spiess

Roswell, Ga. — Fast-casual food-and-beverage concept Layne’s Chicken Fingers has signed a franchise deal to open 18 restaurants in Georgia. The first of the new units is scheduled to open this October in Roswell, roughly 20 miles outside Atlanta, marking the brand’s first entrance into the state. Franchisees Alvin Shah, Shahid Panjwani and Seth Bickle will own and operate the restaurants. 

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Rusty Taco to Add 14 New Locations by Year End

by Katie Lee

Dallas — Rusty Taco, a street-style taco restaurant, plans to open a total of 14 new units by year end. Recent openings in both streetside settings and non-traditional venues have marked significant milestones for Rusty Taco, integral to the brand’s strategic growth plans. With more than 30 locations currently open, the addition of 14 new units signifies a 40% increase in growth and a monumental achievement for the brand. “There’s no better way to spend time with your loved ones than to relax and eat tacos,” says Denise Fenton, co-founder …

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franchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Dave’s Hot Chicken on Track to Have 300 Units Open by Year End

by Katie Lee

Pasadena, Calif. — Founded in 2017 in East Hollywood, Dave’s Hot Chicken is on track to reach a milestone of 300 units open by the end of 2024 after rounding the 200-unit milestone in the first quarter. The brand now has over 206 locations in the United States, Canada and the Middle East — with more than 990 units signed to date (including its recently signed agreement with Azzurri Group to open 60 locations in the UK and Ireland, with the first location planned to open in London by first …

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Newspeoplerestaurants

Hard Rock International Hires President of Hard Rock Cafe & Retail Division

by Katie Lee

Hollywood, Fla. — Hard Rock International has appointed long-time restaurant and hospitality leader Eric Martino as president of the Hard Rock Cafe Division, overseeing operations of the company’s nearly 200 eateries around the world. Additionally, Martino will oversee Hard Rock’s retail division on a global scale. He reports to Jim Allen, chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming. “We’re excited to welcome Eric, whose extensive background in culinary arts, marketing and operations will further elevate the already outstanding Hard Rock dining and retail experience,” says Allen. Martino …

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construction and designfranchise developmentNewsrestaurants

Jack in the Box to Return to Chicago for the First Time in 40 Years

by Katie Lee

San Diego — Jack in the Box Inc., a leading franchisor in the quick-service restaurant industry, is making a highly anticipated return to the Chicagoland market — for the first time in more than 40 years. The development plan includes eight company-operated units and, as part of the brand’s strategic market plan, Jack in the Box has identified more than 125 potential trade area opportunities for future corporate and franchise development in the area. The first wave of Jack in the Box locations is slated to open throughout 2025, bringing …

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