FROM THE WOLF DEN

1) Habit Burger Becomes Habit Burger & Grill to Highlight Menu Diversity

The new name highlights the brand’s dedication to variety, innovation, and the warm, Southern California hospitality that has been its hallmark since 1969. It also underscores the company’s focus on creating meaningful experiences that go beyond just serving great food.

The rebrand will be rolled out across the brand’s marketing materials, packaging and digital platforms starting August 28, 2024. Customers can expect the same fresh, made-to-order food and service they’ve always enjoyed, now with a name that better represents the full Habit Burger & Grill experience.

2) Replay Sports Cards: The First-ever Sports Cards Franchise

“Our shops attract everyone from the serious collector to the neighborhood kid who’s just starting out and collects cards as a fun hobby,” said Mike Weinberger who exhibited at the Fanatics Fest in New York City in August to help drum up interest in franchising opportunities. “We’re really focused on teaching kids the value of the dollar, teaching them how to respect their property and understanding how to trade cards.”

Weinberger also said that collectibles and sports cards market are growing at a 15 percent to 20 percent annual growth rate. He shared an industry report from Yahoo Finance that showed the global sports trading cards market is projected to grow from $12.9 million in 2023 to $27.6 million by 2033.

EXTRA SAUCE 💥

Multi-Brand Franchisee Closes Several KFC Units in 3 States: KFC franchisee EYM Chicken closed more than two dozen of its restaurants in cities across Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin, the latest in a string of closures for EYM-owned restaurants.

KFC confirmed EYM Chicken closed the locations it owns in those three states but did not provide the total number of units the franchisee shut down. Local news reports show at least two dozen KFC restaurants owned by EYM Chicken ceased operations. EYM Chicken had 47 KFC stores at the end of 2023, according to KFC’s franchise disclosure document filed in March.

Replay Sports Cards on Deck to Franchise: Throughout his two-decade career in franchising, Mike Weinberger developed a passion for growing and scaling emerging brands.

Weinberger and his team at Denver-based Community Franchise Group believe their latest venture, the franchise launch of Replay Sports Cards, is ready to take the lead in an industry that’s experiencing a resurgence.

“The sports card industry has been on the upswing ever since the pandemic and it continues to grow at a pretty good clip. We are ready to get in the market with the first-ever sports card franchise,” said Weinberger, the founder and managing partner of Replay Sports Cards. He anticipates filing its franchise disclosure document within the next two months.

Paris Baguette Names Norm Ginsberg New VP of Operations: Paris Baguette has welcomed Norm Ginsberg to the team as their new vice president of operations. After an impressive 17 years spent with Bowlero, working his way up to key leadership positions, Ginsberg has developed a keen sense of what it means to always deliver the best possible experience through proper recruiting, training and operational systems. When the opportunity arose to do the same with Paris Baguette, he was excited to take it on.

Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., Names Chris Tebben President & CEO: Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc., parent company of Checkers & Rally’s drive-thru restaurants, today announced that Chris Tebben has been named President and Chief Executive Officer, effective September 4, 2024. Mr. Tebben succeeds Frances Allen, who announced in April that she was stepping down as President and CEO of the company in order to focus on board work.

Mr. Tebben joins Checkers & Rally’s with a robust career spent in the restaurants and consumer packaged goods sectors, serving in leadership roles with such powerhouse brands as Mars, Starbucks, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, and Pizza Hut, among others. His considerable experience includes leading strategic planning, operations, restaurant development, multi-unit franchise, retail marketing, and category management in both turnaround and growth environments across Fortune 100 and private equity-owned organizations.

Habit Burger Celebrates Menu Variety with New Name: Habit Burger & Grill: Habit Burger today announces a significant brand evolution. The fast-casual restaurant chain is officially changing its name from The Habit Burger Grill to Habit Burger & Grill, embracing the ampersand that has always been at the heart of its identity.

This change reflects the brand’s commitment to offering more than just burgers. From hand-spun milkshakes and crispy tempura green beans to innovative salads and chef-inspired sandwiches, Habit Burger & Grill has always been about the “&” – the extras that make the dining experience special.

NEXT Brands and Beef-a-Roo Announce Expansions for Second Half of 2024: NEXT Brands is thrilled to announce the awarding of eight new Beef-a-Roo locations throughout Kansas, Illinois, Arizona, Michigan, and Tennessee.

Excited to bring the signature Beef-a-Roo midwestern charm to new regions, NEXT Brands proudly reveals the signing of franchise locations in Phoenix, AZ, Royal Oak, MI, and Spring Hill, TN. In addition, Beef-a-Roo is expanding its reach with ten new corporate store locations in southwest Missouri and Kansas.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers to Expand South Carolina Footprint with 10-Unit Development Agreement: Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers®, announced today the signing of a multi-unit development agreement to bring 10 new locations to Greenville and Spartanburg Counties in South Carolina. NFL offensive lineman Ben Powers, along with GVL Hospitality Group, will spearhead this expansion.

GVL Hospitality, which includes business partners Brett Rickert and Brian Stevens, has already begun the search for suitable sites in each county. The first property is expected to be purchased by the end of this year, with the initial restaurant slated to open in 2025.

Code Ninjas Bolsters Executive Team with Franchise & Marketing Veterans Mike Rodrigues and Julie Longino: Code Ninjas recently welcomed Mike Rodrigues as Vice President of Franchise Development and Julie Longino as the brand’s new Chief Marketing and Product Officer. Rodrigues and Longino will continue to elevate the Code Ninjas brand through new growth strategies, innovative campaigns, and fresh perspectives backed by their respective experiences.

Rodrigues, who holds a bachelor’s degree in Entrepreneurial Studies from Johnson & Wales University, is rejoining the Code Ninjas team after a brief sabbatical. He first became involved with the brand in 2018, when he applied to open a local dojo and subsequently joined the operations team. Over the years, Rodrigues has excelled in various roles, ultimately rising to the position of Senior Director of Company Operations and Development, where he played a key role in managing and optimizing dojo operations and the franchise candidate selection process. Before his tenure with Code Ninjas, Rodrigues launched an electronics store in 2009 and later operated a financial services company in 2014, which he successfully exited before transitioning to Code Ninjas.

iSmash Announces Record-Breaking Growth: 21 Franchise Units Sold in the Last 60 Days!: iSmash, the first and only Rage Room franchise in the United States, is thrilled to announce the sale of 21 new franchise units in the last 60 days, marking an unprecedented period of growth for the brand. This accelerated expansion underscores iSmash’s position as the hottest-growing franchise in the entertainment sector.

iSmash has captivated the market by offering a unique and exhilarating experience where customers can release stress in a controlled environment by smashing various items, including electronics and glassware. This innovative concept has resonated with a wide audience, leading to a surge in demand from aspiring entrepreneurs eager to join the iSmash family.

KFC® U.S. Names Catherine Tan-Gillespie Chief Marketing Officer & Chief Development Officer: KFC® announced today that it has named Catherine Tan-Gillespie Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Development Officer for KFC U.S., effective immediately. She will report to Tarun Lal, president of KFC U.S.

In this role, Tan-Gillespie will develop and implement innovative marketing strategies to return the business to growth in the U.S. This includes oversight of all integrated marketing, advertising, public relations, media and consumer insights, as well as the brand’s digital initiatives. She will also oversee food innovation and commercialization, aligning new product innovation efforts across the organization, new restaurant development, existing restaurant redevelopment and asset design for the U.S.

DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen Named a Most Profitable Franchise of 2024 by Franchise Business Review: DreamMaker Bath and Kitchen was recognized by Franchise Business Review as one of the franchise brands to be named an award-winning franchise in its 2024 report on the Most Profitable Franchises. Franchise Business Review provides the only rankings of franchises based solely on actual franchisee satisfaction and performance.

To identify the award-winning companies on this year’s Most Profitable Franchises list, Franchise Business Review analyzed data from franchise owners representing brands, evaluating their overall satisfaction with their brand and their likelihood of recommending it to others. Other factors considered include the annual income of franchise owners and the minimum startup capital requirement.

Paris Baguette Promotes Industry Veteran Brian Egan to VP of Development: Paris Baguette has promoted Brian Egan to vice president of development. Formerly director of new store construction, Egan brings a rich background of bakery café industry experience and deep knowledge of Paris Baguette’s development process. Now, Egan will lead a team of experts who provide support for new Paris Baguette franchise owners from day one through the opening of their new cafés.

“The high-level view of what my team and I do is to take a franchisee from when they sign the franchise agreement to when they open their café,” Egan said. “In this role, I’m responsible for everything that happens in between those two points. We make sure that construction gets done in a timely and successful fashion, and we make sure the franchisee is set up for success in terms of operations – anything from hiring and training to setting up the café and making sure franchisees have access to the marketing materials they’ll need.”

IFA Commends Passage of California’s Franchise Seller Bill: The International Franchise Association has praised California legislators’ passage of California Senate Bill 919, which expands the disclosure requirements for third-party sellers of franchises. The bill, taking effect Jan. 1, 2026, amends the California Franchise Investment Law to add annual registration and presale disclosure requirements for third-party sellers including franchise brokers, broker networks and franchise sales organizations.

Third-party sellers will have a hand in the launch of many new franchises this year, with the number of franchise businesses expected to increase by more than 15,000 units in the United States, according to the IFA’s 2024 Economic Outlook report for 2024. Assuming that the report’s projection pans out, the total of U.S. franchises will reach approximately 821,000 this year, the IFA report said, reflecting an increase of 1.9% over 2023.