QSR Web

Krispy Kreme will enter the Netherlands under a franchisee agreement with Jafa Holding BV. The country's first shop is slated to open in late 2026, according to a press release. The company expects approximately 30 locations to open over the next five years. "We're thrilled to bring Krispy Kreme's delicious, fresh doughnuts to the Netherlands.

Little Caesars has launched a feature that allows customers to order pizza through ChatGPT by integrating the AI's conversational abilities with the company's digital infrastructure, according to a press release. The tool, which is rolling out across the United States and select locations in Mexico and Canada, is designed to assist with group meal planning and personalized ordering.

Be featured: Help us build the ultimate resource for prospective franchise operators Get your franchise brand in front of qualified leads—on us. We're embarking on a new franchise industry initiative and want your input. The project, titled "Fresh Off the Grill: New Franchise Opportunities for 2026," seeks to move beyond surface-level marketing by analyzing hard financial performance, technology integration and support infrastructure.

ConverseNow, a Gen-AI voice solution for restaurants, and Deliverect, a digital ordering restaurant tech company, have announced a strategic partnership to integrate voice artificial intelligence technology into restaurant order management systems, according to a press release. The integration allows restaurants to connect ConverseNow's automated Voice AI ordering platform directly into Deliverect's management ecosystem.

Graeter's Ice Cream has released a limited-edition flavor, Backstretch Bourbon Cherry, as an officially licensed ice cream of the Kentucky Derby, according to a press release. The flavor, a collaboration between the Cincinnati-based ice cream maker and Churchill Downs, features bourbon-infused ice cream mixed with black cherries and pralines.

Golden Chick is expanding its partnership with the Texas Rangers by incorporating the club's 2026 City Connect primary logo into its employee uniforms, according to a press release. The chicken franchise, which recently signed a five-year extension with the team, is currently the only sponsor to feature City Connect branding on its crew gear. The 2026 jersey design focuses on Mexican influence within Texas and reimagines elements of past Rangers uniforms.

HTeaO reports Q1 growth with new stores in 4 states, leadership hires Iced tea franchise HTeaO opened 2026 with a strong first quarter. The brand opened seven locations across Texas, Florida, Oklahoma and Tennessee, according to a press release. The brand expanded its footprint with new stores in the following locations: The company also named Chris Phillips as chief financial officer, Jerry McClain as vice president of store development and Brian Aga as senior vice president of operations.

The real cost of a broken customer experience (CX): Revenue loss, operational drag, and brand damage The true cost of a broken CX extends far beyond a single transaction. It compounds over time, affecting revenue, operational efficiency, employee engagement, and brand equity. Many leaders focus on satisfaction scores and isolated incidents. Few fully account for the long-term financial and organizational drag created by poor CX. A customer reaches out with a simple issue. The response is delayed.

Flavor sheriffs wanted: Carl’s Jr. to trade free sandwiches for photos of bland food Carl's Jr. is launching a new campaign to target what it calls criminally bland chicken sandwiches by offering a reward for those who help round up the usual flavorless suspects, according to a press release. From April 14 through April 30, the restaurant chain is asking customers to serve as flavor sheriffs.

Built to Breakthrough Playbook: How to go from stuck to scale To help founders overcome the "Stuck Zone" where business complexity stalls momentum, this playbook introduces the Power of One System and its Six Factors of Greatness as a structured framework for shifting from individual hustle to scalable organizational growth. At the Founderology Growth Summit this year, my keynote was titled Built to Breakthrough: The Playbook for Accelerating Growth.