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Articles by M. Morris
Aurify Kingstar To Develop 40 Tropical Smoothie Cafe Units
Franchisee Aurify Kingstar agreed to a 40-unit franchise development deal to expand Tropical Smoothie Cafe across New York and Connecticut. Andy Stern, John Rigos, and Jeremy Tannenbaum spearhead Aurify Kingstar's development efforts, bringing more than 25 years of experience building and operating restaurant concepts.
Built Different Brands Bringing Mike's Red Tacos to Florida
Built Different Brands has agreed to a 36-unit deal to bring Mike's Red Tacos to the greater Tampa and Orlando regions and Florida's East Coast. Kal Gullapalli, CEO of Built Different Brands, is expected to bring Mike's Red Tacos' signature birria and famous red tacos to Florida over the next several years. The first location is planned for 2027. Gullapalli has spent his career building Built Different Brands into a multi-brand, multi-unit franchise platform.
Siblings To Debut Swig in New Mexico
Experienced multi-unit franchisees Heather Berry and Brock Stokes signed a 14-unit deal to bring Swig to New Mexico, with locations planned for Albuquerque, El Paso, and Santa Fe. They plan to open their first location by summer 2027. The sibling duo brings nearly a decade of franchise experience to Swig, pairing an established track record as multi-unit operators with a longstanding connection to the brand as customers.
Southern Rock Restaurants Signs 52-Unit Hawaiian Bros Deal
Southern Rock Restaurants/Southern Rock Hawaii signed a 52-unit development agreement with Hawaiian Bros Island Grill to develop Florida locations across Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa, and Orlando over the next six years. The operator plans to develop 24 restaurants over the next three years.
Franchisees Launch 3rd Capriotti's Sandwich Shop Location
Jennifer and Kenny Ashcraft recently opened their third Capriotti's Sandwich Shop in North Alabama. The latest location is at 143 Stadium Way, Suite 350 (by I-565), Madison. It's in the Town Madison district. The husband-and-wife duo also owns and operates the Huntsville shop as well as another Madison location on John Henry Way.
Survey: Detroit Tops List of Cities With Expensive Groceries
According to WalletHub's recent report, Cities Where People Spend the Most & Least on Groceries, Detroit citizens pay a higher percentage of their household income on groceries than other cities across the country. "People in Detroit spend the most on groceries, which have an average cost of over 4% of the median household income, the highest percentage in the country," said Chris Lupo, WalletHub analyst.
Areas USA Opens 1st of 5 Zaxbys Units
Areas USA, the nation's largest privately held travel hospitality company, signed a deal with Zaxbys to develop five restaurants at Florida Turnpike service plazas. The team recently opened the first unit on Sept. 29 at the Turkey Lake Service Plaza in Orlando. The restaurant at 263 Florida's Turnpike will introduce millions of travelers each year to the chicken brand along a high-traffic Florida travel corridor.
MRCO To Open Hawaiian Bros Unit in Georgia
MRCO, a seasoned multi-unit franchise group, is leading Hawaiian Bros' growth across North Carolina, West Central Georgia, and North Alabama following a recently signed 34-unit development agreement. The first restaurant is expected to open in early 2027 and will be located at 112 Courtland St NE adjacent to Georgia State University. "Bringing Hawaiian Bros' first physical location to Georgia comes with tremendous pride for us.
Pathway Session: Omnichannel Success Starts With Customer Needs
Customers don’t worry about channels. They think about solving a problem, booking a service, finding information, or getting help, and they expect the experience to be seamless.
Roknipour Investment Group To Develop 15 Gold's Gym Units
Roknipour Investment Group signed a 15-unit development agreement to expand Gold's Gym's presence across Los Angeles and Orange County, marking a new chapter of brand growth in Southern California. "Gold's Gym is recognized and respected around the world, but it was born in Southern California, and it means so much to us that our journey together begins here," said Matt Roknipour, Roknipour Investment Group owner and CEO.
Bliss Bites To Open 5 TGI Fridays Locations
Bliss Bites agreed to open five new TGI Fridays restaurants across New York State. The agreement marks the company's first domestic development agreement in more than a decade. Vinod Chand, owner and managing director for Bliss Bites, brings more than 35 years of hospitality experience to Fridays.
Brand Case Study: A Data Dream Becomes a Real-Time Tool
In a session titled “Brand Case Study Featuring Head to Toe Brands: Harnessing the Power of Data for Franchisee Action,” Kristin Kidd, COO of Head to Toe Brands, and Taylor Hulyksmith, vice president of brand strategy and design, shared a candid look at the journey to deliver actionable, real-time insights to franchisees. Eight years ago, Hulyksmith presented the vision to leadership and followed up with an email outlining the plan. “Then, crickets,” Hulyksmith said.
Keynote: Hyperlocal Intelligence Starts With Better Data
Michael Koch, HubKonnect co-founder and CEO, used his FGMC keynote to challenge franchise leaders to look beyond the hype and focus on the foundation that makes AI valuable in the first place: data. “AI is just a model that drives the decision processes in the way that you want. It’s truly about the data,” he said.
Mehta Investment Group Plans 17 Starbird Chicken Units
Mehta Investment Group signed an agreement to develop 17 Starbird Chicken locations across Washington state. The new franchise venture will be led by Vin Mehta and his son, Rohit, through Mehta Investment Group, a family-owned enterprise with experience across multiple industries and a strong track record of building successful operations.
Franchisee To Expand Arthur Murray Florida Footprint
Franchisee Alex Camargo has signed a multi-unit development agreement to open four new Arthur Murray Dance Studio locations across Palm Beach County and Florida's Treasure Coast. Camargo currently owns and operates an Arthur Murray studio in Melbourne. "Running my studio has been one of the most rewarding things I've ever done," Camargo said.
Fast Food Prices Outpace Inflation
Fast food prices have risen by 3.2% over the past year, outpacing inflation and making quick meals increasingly expensive. To highlight where these purchases take the biggest bite out of Americans' wallets, the personal-finance company WalletHub released its report on the Cities Where People Spend the Most & Least on Fast Food. "Fast food has grown more and more expensive in recent years, outpacing inflation," said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst.
Longtime Franchisee Signs 15-unit TCBY, Mrs. Fields Deal
Longtime franchisee and area developer Samuel Batt of Batt Enterprises signed a new agreement with Famous Brands International to develop 15 Mrs. Fields and TCBY locations across three states. The agreement adds Georgia to Batt's existing North Carolina and South Carolina territories. Batt currently operates 15 TCBY and two Mrs.
Veteran Operator Signs 6-Unit Deal With HB Protein Smoothies
Bob Morris, a franchise investor with a multi-unit track record in Planet Fitness and 7 Brew Coffee, signed a six-unit development agreement to open six HB Protein Smoothies units in South Florida. Morris will develop five locations in Broward County and one in Martin County.
Hyperion Brands Signs 17-Unit Deal With Qdoba Mexican Eats
Hyperion Brands, a San Diego-based multi-unit operator, signed a 17-unit development agreement to bring Qdoba Mexican Eats locations to San Diego County. "We see real opportunity for Qdoba to stand apart with its fresh, customizable menu and signature offering of free guacamole and queso with any create-your-own entrée," said Cesar Shih, CEO and co-founder of Hyperion Brands, who is also a franchise owner and multi-unit operator of Habit Burger & Grill.
Franchisees Take Over Grimaldi's Pizzeria Location
UNIV Hospitality of Fort Myers, led by principals Gary Patel and Anil Harkhani, bought a Grimaldi's Pizzeria location in Fort Myers, Florida. The franchisees plan to open five additional restaurants across Sarasota, Lee, and Collier counties, expanding the brand's presence throughout Southwest Florida.
Veteran Franchisee Signs 15-Unit Deal with Mike's Red Tacos
Michael Khalil, a franchisee with Little Caesars and Jersey Mike's Subs, signed an agreement to develop 15 units of Mike's Red Tacos in Michigan. Khalil's background combines both franchising and restaurant finance, beginning with a career in accounting before founding his own restaurant accounting firm. He later transitioned into franchise ownership and currently owns and operates 11 Little Caesars locations and 14 Jersey Mike's Subs restaurants across Michigan, Indiana, and California.
Father and Son Open New Potbelly Unit
As part of a 15-shop development agreement, father-son duo Barry and Remington Burke of Burke Restaurant Group recently opened their new Potbelly shop in the Eldorado Neighborhood Shops near the intersection of Eldorado Parkway and Stonebridge Drive in McKinney, Texas. The pair have decades of combined experience in multi-unit restaurant operations, franchising, and entrepreneurship. The Burkes plan to bring Potbelly to additional neighborhoods across North and East Texas.
Couple Opens Their Third Pancheros Mexican Grill
Longtime franchisees, Shelly and Tyson Robinson, opened their third Pancheros Mexican Grill in Waukee, Iowa. After assuming ownership of the West Des Moines and Johnston locations from Shelly's father nearly a decade ago, the Robinsons will now expand their footprint with a new location. In addition, their existing locations recently celebrated more than 20 years in business. The Robinsons' continued partnership demonstrates the local family's investment in the brand.
Mooyah Burgers Franchisees Sign Up for More
Established franchisees Art and Nick Depole signed an additional six-unit deal to grow their Mooyah Burgers, Fries & Shakes portfolio with locations in Salt Lake, Davis, and Utah counties, along with St. George, Utah, in Washington County. The next location is projected to open by summer 2027. The Depoles currently own and operate four Mooyah locations in Utah, including the recently opened restaurants in Provo and Riverton, as well as their established locations in Sandy and South Jordan.
InnJoy Hospitality To Develop Twin Peaks Units
Peaks and Pints LLC, an affiliate of InnJoy Hospitality, signed an area development agreement to expand Twin Peaks Restaurants into Cameron and Webb counties in South Texas. Potential sites include Brownsville, South Padre Island, and Laredo. InnJoy Hospitality is a family-owned hospitality group operating a diversified portfolio of hotels, restaurants, mixed-use developments, and retail assets across Texas and the Caribbean.
Diners Revise Their Thoughts About AI
Par Technology Corporation's "2026 Industry Report: AI on the Diner's Terms" analyzes findings from 1,000 surveyed consumers on AI's expanding role in the restaurant experience, revealing a meaningful shift from 2025. In 2025, 41% of surveyed consumers said they'd choose a restaurant that avoided AI altogether. One year later, average discomfort with restaurant AI has fallen to 27%.
Group To Develop 4 Bojangles Units
Faber, Coe & Gregg of Florida, an experienced operator group that owns restaurants, bars and retail businesses across more than 60 locations, has signed an agreement with Bojangles to bring two restaurants to Norfolk, Virginia, as part of a four-location nontraditional development deal planned over the next six years. The group had units in nontraditional venues such as airports, transit locations, and train stations.
Veteran QSR Operator Diversifies with Retro Fitness
Multi-brand franchisee Laddi Singh, who currently operates more than 50 Popeyes, Burger King and Arby's restaurants across New York, Connecticut, and Pennsylvania, plans to open his first Retro Fitness club this year. During his franchise career, Singh has earned numerous industry honors, including Popeyes Franchisee of the Year in 2020, the Popeyes Gold Plate Award in 2024, and the Arby's Inspiring Smiles Award in 2020.
Franchisee Opens Firehouse Subs' 1,500th Restaurant
Firehouse Subs franchisee Chad Fulkerson, an Air Force veteran who transitioned into the restaurant industry following his military service, recently opened his third unit at 2608 Enterprise Drive in Abilene, Texas. "Opening the 1,500th Firehouse Subs restaurant is an extraordinary honor," Fulkerson said. "I'm incredibly proud of my team and grateful for the support I've received from the Firehouse Subs leadership team throughout this journey.
Inflation-Adjusted Household Debt Falls in Q2
WalletHub's inflation-adjusted analysis revealed that while U.S. households owed nearly a record amount in absolute terms at the end of Q2 2026 ($18.77 trillion), the total is still around $1.4 trillion below the record from 2008 when adjusted for inflation. "It seems like we've seen household debt hit record high after record high with only adjustments for inflation saving us from setting an overall record.
Partners Become Twisted Egg Shack Area Developers
Joey Eguia and Collins Orr, through their company 1836 Brands, have signed an exclusive area development agreement to spearhead Twisted Egg Shack's growth throughout Texas. Under the agreement, 1836 Brands will oversee the development of more than 60 Twisted Egg Shack restaurants across Texas, making it one of the largest area development commitments in the young brand's history.
Velocity Auto Care opens 50th Valvoline Instant Oil Change Unit
Franchise Equity Partners (FEP), a private investment firm on a mission to create long-term partnerships with quality franchisees and franchisors, announced that its portfolio company, Velocity Auto Care, has reached a milestone of 50 Valvoline Instant Oil Change service centers with the latest located at 2930 W Trenton Road in Edinburg, Texas.
Franchisees To Bring Flying Biscuit Café to St. Louis Area
Franchisees Latrell Hayes, Kennon "Kip" Barber, and Randy Barnes have chosen the site for the first of three The Flying Biscuit Café locations in the St. Louis area. It will be located at 1016 S 5th St, St. Charles, Mo. While their signed agreement covers three cafés to start, the partners have a longer-term goal of growing to as many as 10 Flying Biscuit locations across the metro over time. "This is a part of town we already know well, and it just fit," Hayes said.
Seasoned Franchisee Signs 50-Unit Gong cha Deal
Bakers Acres & Cattle Company (BACC), a seasoned franchise operator, signed a 50-unit exclusive area development agreement to develop Gong cha locations in Texas. BACC is a Houston-based, multi-generational family business with a strong track record of scaling premium franchise concepts. Since entering franchising in 2015 with Nothing Bundt Cakes, BACC has built a successful bakery operation across Greater Houston and is actively expanding toward a 12-bakery platform.
Hungry Howie's Franchisees To Develop Jeff's Bagel Run
Jennifer Yanakiev and Brian Edelen signed a three-unit agreement to develop Jeff's Bagel Run units in South Carolina. The first unit is planned for 4112 River Oaks Drive in Myrtle Beach, and additional locations are planned throughout the Myrtle Beach area. "Myrtle Beach is a market we've had our eye on for a long time," said Jeff Perera, co-founder of Jeff's Bagel Run. "The area has incredible year-round growth, strong local community support, and a thriving tourism economy.
Partners to Debut Birdcall in Indianapolis
Nikunj Patel and his partners signed a five-unit franchise agreement to bring Birdcall, a fast-casual chicken concept, to Indianapolis. "Our team has developed and operated restaurants for years, and we've learned to be selective about the brands we invest in," Patel said. "Birdcall stood out because it delivers on both sides of the equation. Guests love the food and experience, and the business model is backed by a leadership team with a clear vision for sustainable growth.
Operator Acquires 2 Boardroom Salon for Men Locations
Franchisee Guy Gonzales has acquired Boardroom Salon for Men's existing Tennessee salon locations in Brentwood and Nashville's West End. He also plans to open two additional Boardroom Salon locations across the Greater Nashville market over the next 24 months. Gonzales is one of Boardroom's top-performing franchisees and has been part of the system since 2010. He currently co-owns two Boardroom Salon locations in the Dallas-Fort Worth area and two locations in Houston.
Partners To Open Their 3rd Chicken Salad Chick
Mike Saccone and John Schuster will open their latest Chicken Salad Chick unit in Durham, North Carolina, on Aug. 4. The duo opened their first Chicken Salad Chick in Cary in 2020 and have since opened another location in Raleigh. Durham will mark their third restaurant. The partners bring more than 55 years of foodservice experience to the brand. Both previously worked at The Coca-Cola Company, where they managed partnerships with restaurant concepts.
Subway Franchisee Diversifies With Minnie Bird
DiPasqua Brands, the largest Subway franchisee in Central Florida, signed a 200-unit franchise development agreement with Minnie Bird, a fast-casual chicken concept co-founded by Venture Kitchen and Sean Thomas. Under the agreement, the DiPasqua organization will develop 20 Minnie Bird restaurants across the Orlando and Tampa markets with the first locations to open in 2027. "We've been building restaurants in Florida for more than four decades, and we're selective about what we take on.
Operator Acquires 10 Checkers & Rally's Units
Multi-unit operator Spencer Marks has acquired 10 Checkers & Rally's units on the Gulf Coast. The deal involves six restaurants in Mobile, Alabama, and four in Biloxi, Mississippi, with plans for future new development. Marks brings nearly two decades of restaurant ownership and operations experience to the brand.
Couple Signs 13-Unit Swig Agreement
Experienced franchise operators Derek and Michelle Hincks signed a 13-unit agreement to expand Swig, the beverage brand, across Chicago's southwest suburbs. The development agreement will introduce Swig's customizable drink experience to new communities, including Naperville, Crest Hill, Joliet, and Bolingbrook, with the first location scheduled to open in August.
Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings Operator Grows to 12 Units
Longtime Charleys Cheesesteaks & Wings franchisee Chanel Li has expanded her portfolio with the opening of her 12th restaurant, which debuted July 9 in Fort Washington, Maryland. The 1,100-square-foot restaurant is located in Olde Forte Village along the Indian Head Highway corridor and is managed by Sean Zhu. "Fort Washington is a strong community, and Olde Forte Village gives us a convenient location where people already shop, work, and spend time," Li said.
Franchisee Expands Layne's Chicken Fingers in Texas
Taylor Thomas, a seasoned veteran in the Texas fast-food scene, has opened his fourth Lanyne's Chicken Fingers location. The new restaurant is in Mount Pleasant, Texas, and follows openings in Nacogdoches, Tyler, and Palestine. Thomas grew up in the Whataburger system, eventually operating 23 locations and managing more than 2,000 employees. Now, he's spearheading a massive 25-unit development deal to bring the chicken brand to East Texas and Oklahoma.
Veteran Operator Opens 8th Buffalo Wild Wings
Amit Patel, head of development and acquisitions with AMPAL Group, recently opened his eighth Buffalo Wild Wings location. Located at 1315 Centennial Avenue in the Centennial Square Shopping Center in Piscataway, New Jersey, the full-service restaurant will offer a menu packed with game-day favorites.
Operator Inks South Carolina Penn Station Sandwiches Deal
Eric Fairbanks, an experienced operator who owns nine Penn Station Sandwiches restaurants primarily in the Charlotte, North Carolina, market, plans to open two locations in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Fairbanks has been franchising with the brand for eight years and is expanding his footprint in partnership with Sait Perez through Penn Station's Managing Owner Program. "We're incredibly excited to officially bring Penn Station to Myrtle Beach," Fairbanks said.
A Guiding Hand: Coaches help Franchisees Make Better, Faster Decisions
Every two weeks, Caitlin Heidrick logs on to a video call with her business coach to review scorecards, staffing, and whatever challenges have surfaced since their last conversation. The meetings last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour. For Heidrick, who operates three Drybar locations across three states, they’re a constant. “I look forward to that call heading into it,” Heidrick says.
From Multi-Unit to Multi-Brand: Avoiding the "Death Zone"
MUFC 2026, Day 2: General Breakout Session Making the transition from a multi-unit to a multi-brand portfolio requires a fundamental shift in how franchisees think about their business.
Veteran Operators Sign With HB Protein Smoothies
Jim and Brandon Lovelace, Ed Holmes, and Chris Phillips signed a deal with HB Protein Smoothies to open stores in Boise, Idaho, Phoenix, Arizona, and Portland, Oregon. They are seasoned multi-unit, multi-brand operators with 120-plus locations across multiple brands, including Papa Murphy's and Crumbl Cookies. The signing adds three new territories to a fast-growing map that already includes Gilbert, Arizona, California, Florida, and British Columbia, Canada.
Club Pilates Franchisee Signs 70-Unit Development Deal
Entrepreneur Saber Ammori signed a 70-unit development agreement with Club Pilates. Currently, Ammori owns and operates 14 Club Pilates units in the New York City area. As part of the deal, Ammori and Cohere Capital have formed Renew Fitness to operate and develop the existing and future locations. The franchisee group's total number of potential studios will jump to 84, making Renew Fitness one of Club Pilates' largest multi-unit franchisees.
Study Finds Widespread AI Complaints
Over the past three years, BBB has received more than 100,000 complaints, reviews, and Scam Tracker reports mentioning artificial intelligence (AI) and automation. While reporting categories encompass different types of issues, there is one clear concern across all types of consumer sentiment data: Customers often feel unheard or dissatisfied when dealing with automated and AI services.
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