1) Chicken Tender Concept CityBird Ready to Accelerate Franchise Growth

CityBird, a chicken tender concept created by a multi-brand restaurant group in Cincinnati, is preparing to step up its franchise growth. The brand’s leadership brings experience with such development, having founded the 24-unit franchise Currito.

Nearly three years after establishing its franchise system and achieving modest growth in the Midwest, emerging chicken tender concept CityBird is poised for broader expansion.

Launched in 2018, CityBird has nine locations with five in Ohio and the rest in Kentucky, Illinois, Indiana and North Carolina. Since CityBird’s beginning, co-founder Joe Lanni said the brand’s strategy for development has been a methodical one, with expansion centered in the Midwest from its headquarters in Cincinnati.

2) Barrio Burrito Bar Celebrates a Milestone With the Signing of Multiple New Master Franchise Agreements

BurritoBar USA Inc. is thrilled to announce that it has awarded the Master Franchise rights for the state of North Carolina; the state of Pennsylvania; Western New York state; and the state of Alabama.

Barrio Burrito Bar prides itself on serving fresh Tex Mex cuisine using high-quality ingredient; daily-prepared meats; homemade salsas; and unique menu offerings such as Bang-Bang Shrimp, Crunchy Chicken, and “Extreme Fries,” providing craveable meal options that appeals to a wide consumer base. Founder and CEO Alex Shtein added, “We congratulate all of our Barrio Burrito Bar Franchise Partners, here in North America and overseas and welcome them for joining us on this exciting journey.”

3) Golden Chick Unveils New Restaurant Prototype with Latest Dallas Opening

Golden Chick is welcoming its new location to the Dallas-Fort Worth market with a new restaurant prototype, giving guests the flexibility to enjoy their favorite chicken restaurant any time of day. The restaurant is situated perfectly between Interstates 45 and 35 on East Ledbetter Drive at Bonnie View Road, making for a quick and delicious meal for commuters and residents alike. This location is the first ever Golden Chick to be open 24/7.

The new restaurant, which offers both walk-in and drive-thru options for guests to order, features an all-new restaurant design created for picking up Golden Chick’s full menu, including breakfast from 3 a.m. to 10 a.m., anytime while on the go. The new prototype restaurant specifically meets the needs of customers on the go with a new digital drive thru menu, quick pick-up lobby and a kitchen designed to expedite third party orders.

EXTRA SAUCE 💥

More Closures Hit Hooters Amid Bankruptcy Proceedings: Hooters, which since the beginning of 2024 closed 48 underperforming company restaurants, added another 30 to the list this week. It now has about 200 corporate and franchised locations in the United States; franchisees operate an additional 60 international units.

The casual dining chain that helped popularize the “breastaurant” concept is working to emerge from bankruptcy after filing for Chapter 11 protection in late March. The closures, which came across 12 states mainly in the Eastern half of the country, are meant to help “optimize” the business, the company said.

“By optimizing our business in support of our long-term goals, Hooters will be well-positioned to continue our iconic legacy under a pure franchise business model,” it said. Private equity firms Nord Bay Capital and TriArtisan Capital Advisors bought Hooters in 2019. Now more than $370 million in debt, Hooters in court filings saidinflation and resulting consumer spending shifts led to a “tight liquidity crunch” and the need to restructure.

Minnesota Culver’s Franchisee to Pay $261K for Harassment on Basis of Gender, Sexuality and Race: A Minneapolis area Culver’s franchisee settled a harassment case with the United States Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

R&G Endeavors, the franchisee of Culver’s Restaurants of Cottage Grove, Minnesota, agreed to pay $261,000 for reported harassment on the basis of an employee’s race and sexual orientation and other offenses. The EEOC filed two lawsuits against the franchisee in May 2023 in the U.S. District Court for the District of Minnesota.

One complaint claims since 2020, staff members including two managers used racial and homophobic slurs against a gay Black employee repeatedly. One of the managers reportedly referred to the employee as the store’s “adopted African child.” Other employees also made inappropriate comments about the employee’s sexuality.

Chicken Salad Chick Announces Expansion in Minneapolis with Prominent Basketball Family: Chicken Salad Chick is expanding its presence with the addition of ten new restaurants in Minneapolis area. 

Behind the signed agreement is a family with a name that is widely-recognized in the state, thanks to their basketball legacy. The Coffey family – Richard and Sheba, and their children Sydney, Nia, and Amir – have each contributed to state championship teams and received national accolades, in addition to their recognized philanthropic efforts.

Richard and Amir both played at the University of Minnesota, with Richard suiting up for the Minnesota Timberwolves and Amir currently competing at the professional level. Sydney and Nia also have impressive basketball résumés, having played collegiately and professionally. Nia is entering her ninth season in the WNBA.

Fazoli’s Debuts First International Location in Canada: Fazoli’s has officially reached a new milestone, the opening of its first international location in Canada in Calgary, Alberta. 

“For over 35 years, we have experienced growth domestically, and look forward to this new global chapter,” said Gregg Nettleton, President of Fazoli’s. “Our partner, Briwin Restaurants Inc., has also seen great success within this market as a multi-unit Fatburger franchisee, which is a great precursor of the potential we anticipate with our Canadian Fazolis’ locations.”

Papa Johns Announces Caroline Miller Oyler as Chief Administrative Officer: Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) (“Papa Johns®”) today announced the promotion of Caroline Miller Oyler to Chief Administrative Officer, effective immediately. Ms. Oyler has served as the company’s Chief Legal and Risk Officer since 2018 and will continue in her role as Corporate Secretary.

In her expanded role, Ms. Oyler will now oversee human resources and culture (People Experience), legal, risk, safety and security, internal audit and facilities. The consolidation of these key business support functions is designed to enable efficiency and closer collaboration across teams.

MilkShake Factory Introduces Dubai-Style Chocolate Bar: MilkShake Factory is expanding its signature chocolate lineup with a decadent new addition: the Dubai-Style Chocolate Bar. Inspired by the viral dessert sensation that’s taken over TikTok and dessert counters worldwide, this indulgent bar features silky pistachio crème and crispy toasted kataifi wrapped in rich milk chocolate, a flavor-forward nod to the confections of Dubai, made in true MilkShake Factory fashion.

With over 100 years of chocolate-making experience, MilkShake Factory has created a version that’s built on a legacy of heritage and crafted in-house, blending tradition with modern flavor in every bite. The Dubai-Style Chocolate Bar is now available at all MilkShake Factory locations for $5.95. It joins the brand’s lineup of chocolate bars, each made with high-quality ingredients and a dedication to flavor that’s been passed down for generations.

Port of Subs Inks 40-Unit Deal Across Denver & the Dallas-Fort Worth Regions: Port of Subs® inks regional development agreement for 40 new locations across the Denver and Dallas-Fort Worth metropolitan areas.  The expansion is being led by seasoned entrepreneurs Jagpal Pandher and Kunal Suri.

Together, Jagpal and Kunal—along with their experienced team—will oversee the development and operations across both Colorado and Texas.  Pandher brings over 15 years of success operating multi-unit 7-Eleven franchises, while Suri brings expertise as a former enterprise product strategist and franchise development leader. With deep backgrounds in franchising, technology, and business strategy, the team plans to open 20 units in each region, with initial locations expected to launch within the year.

American Family Care Announces New Chief Financial Officer: American Family Care (AFC), the nation’s leading provider of urgent care with nearly 400 walk-in clinics across the United States, is pleased to announce the appointment of Dan Olivier as Chief Financial Officer. Olivier joins AFC with more than two decades of financial leadership experience in a variety of industries including healthcare, consumer services, and manufacturing industries.

“Dan joins AFC with a long history of overseeing financial planning, operations, and profitability strategies of fast-growing companies,” explains Jeremy Morgan, CEO of American Family Care. “Dan’s experience in all aspects of financial leadership will play a pivotal role in strengthening AFC’s business model to support its ongoing growth, profitability, and franchise partners in our communities across the United States.

Saladworks Signs 10-Unit Franchise Agreement in North Carolina: Saladworks has signed a 10-unit development agreement that will bring its fresh, customizable menu and signature health-forward dining experience to several communities in North Carolina.

Driving this growth is local restaurateur and CEO of Mixon Foods, Zack Mixon. After a 20-year career as a commercial general contractor, Mixon transitioned into restaurant ownership in 2018 with the acquisition of King Chicken Drive-In, a late 1950’s drive-in restaurant, and Boss Hog’s Chicken & BBQ, a long-term Eastern NC barbecue smokehouse, both located in Washington, NC. While his portfolio has historically focused on fried fare, Mixon has long held a personal interest in healthy eating – a passion that intensified when his teenage daughter had a serious health scare.

Smoothie King Launches New Run-Thru Concept to Celebrate Global Running Day and New Distinction as Official Smoothie of the TCS New York City Marathon: In celebration of Global Running Day on June 4th, Smoothie King—the world’s leading purpose-driven smoothie brand, on a mission to inspire healthy and active lifestyles—is going the extra mile, quite literally. With the unveiling of a multi-faceted initiative featuring a blend of hydration, innovation, and new partnerships, Smoothie King is showing its dedication to holistic health and wellness — and more specifically, the running community, through new strategic partnerships. Smoothie King is now the first-ever Official Smoothie of the legendary TCS New York City Marathon, and is working with Strava, the app for active people, to bring the partnership to life. The brand is also testing a first-of-its kind Run-Thru concept, making it easier than ever for runners to refuel post-run or workout while on the go. To celebrate, Smoothie King guests can enjoy a free Watermelon Hydration Smoothie nationwide on June 4, perfect for recharging.