1) The French Workshop Bakery Ready To Scale With Franchising

For nearly a decade, The French Workshop has brought the taste of Paris to New York City, with several cafes open. Now, the bakery brand is ready to expand beyond the Big Apple, and will use franchising to do so. Last month, The French Workshop announced the launch of its franchise system, which has long been part of the company’s plan.

The brand, founded in 2015, has four locations, with a fifth opening soon. Christophorou said once the brand established itself in the New York market and fine-tuned operations, it started developing its franchise plan in 2019.

2) Playa Bowls to Expand Into New Markets Under Sycamore Partners

Private equity firm Sycamore Partners bought Playa Bowls, an acai bowl franchise with 250-plus units. The firm typically specializes in retail brands—its portfolio includes mall staples such as Hot Topic, Ann Taylor Loft and Express—but Playa Bowls CEO Dan Harmon said its customer-focused approach makes for a great fit.

“What we’re excited about with Sycamore Partners is our next step in our growth journey,” Harmon said. “They have a ton of support, a ton of knowledge. … I think, more importantly, they have an expertise in multi-unit franchising, which is really good for us based on where we are in our life cycle.”

3) Painting with a Twist Owner Buys Competitor Pinot’s Palette

Twist Brands made another addition to its do-it-yourself craft-focused portfolio, acquiring paint-and-sip franchise Pinot’s Palette.

The purchase gives Twist Brands, the parent company of similar concept Painting with a Twist, its third franchise concept. The company formed in 2020 after Painting with a Twist bought paint-your-own pottery franchise Color Me Mine. It also owns suppliers Chesapeake Ceramics and TD Art Supply.   

EXTRA SAUCE 💥

BurgerFi Joins List of Restaurant Bankruptcy Filings: BurgerFi International, the fast-casual burger chain and parent to casual dining chain Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza & Wings, became the latest restaurant company to file for bankruptcy this year when it filed for Chapter 11 protection September 11.

The company joined a growing list of restaurant chains that have resorted to bankruptcy protection as a means to salvage or reorganize their businesses as the industry struggles with declining traffic, high interest rates and rising food and labor costs. 

IFA to Acquire Multi-Unit Franchising Conference Owner Franchise Update Media: The International Franchise Association will expand its events and media holdings with the acquisition of Franchise Update Media.

In a deal set to close by the end of the year, the purchase will put the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference and Multi-Unit Franchisee Magazine, along with numerous franchise education, franchise opportunity and market resource products, under the IFA umbrella.

Gameday Men’s Health Reaches 100-Unit Threshold: Boosted by the veteran sales team of Franchise FastLane, Gameday Men’s Health celebrates the opening of its 100th location, a Naples, Fla., clinic owned by multi-unit investors. The rapidly growing Gameday Men’s Health franchise offers services ranging from testosterone replacement therapy and erectile dysfunction treatment to weight loss and vitamin therapy programs. Patient safety is top priority for each Gameday clinic, which conducts extensive laboratory testing and a thorough medical evaluation to verify testosterone deficiency before approving any client’s treatment for that condition. 

Ben & Jerry’s Founders Create Coconut Flavor for Kamala: In May 2023, Vice President Kamala Harris appeared in what became a viral video when she quoting her mother as saying, “Do you think you just fell out of a coconut tree?” Then Harris followed with an interpretation of her mom’s remark: “You exist within the context of all in which you live and what came before.” 

Now the coconut has evolved into a symbol of support for Harris’ current presidential campaign. And ultimately it inspired Ben & Jerry’s co-founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield to create their limited-edition ice cream flavor “Kamala’s Coconut Jubilee,” which will play a role in their political activism during the presidential campaign. 

The Wendy’s Company Announces Executive Leadership Appointments: The Wendy’s Company (“Wendy’s” or the “Company”) announced today the appointment of John Min as the Company’s Chief Legal Officer and Secretary and Mary Greenlee as Senior Vice President, U.S. Operations, effective today. These appointments represent the continued evolution of the Company’s leadership structure to drive accountability. Min will report to President and Chief Executive Officer, Kirk Tanner, and Greenlee will report to President, U.S., Abigail Pringle. Min succeeds E.J. Wunsch, who was appointed as Wendy’s President, International in June 2024.

Domino’s® to Launch 5-cheese and Spicy Buffalo 5-cheese Mac & Cheese, Just in Time for the Fall: Domino’s Pizza Inc. is cooking up something warm, cheesy and delicious, and it’s launching just in time for fall. The pizza company is adding Mac & Cheese to its menu, beginning Sept. 23.

Domino’s Mac & Cheese will be available in two mouthwatering varieties: 5-Cheese Mac & Cheese and Spicy Buffalo 5-Cheese Mac & Cheese. Domino’s 5-Cheese Mac & Cheese features penne pasta combined with a blend of cheddar, American, Parmesan-Asiago, mozzarella blend, and Alfredo sauce – all oven-baked to creamy, bubbly perfection. Domino’s Spicy Buffalo 5-Cheese Mac & Cheese adds a flavorful twist to the classic dish, as it is drizzled with hot buffalo sauce.

Build-A-Bear Workshop Names David Henderson Chief Revenue Officer: Build-A-Bear Workshop, Inc. today announced the appointment of David Henderson to the position of Chief Revenue Officer, effective September 16, 2024.

As a part of his responsibilities, he will also oversee the warehouse operations and play a key part in the strategic management of the organization. Dave will report directly to Sharon Price John, President and Chief Executive Officer, as a member of the executive team.

Pearle Vision Announces Return of Dr. Pearle Scholarship Program: Pearle Vision is pleased to announce that it will once again honor Dr. Stanley Pearle’s legacy and his commitment to education, leadership, and community service through an optometry scholarship fund in his name. Each scholarship, valued at $5,000, will be awarded to one third-year student and one fourth-year student, providing a total of $10,000 in financial support for the academic year.

The Dr. Pearle scholarship program is part of the organization’s ongoing efforts to support optometrists of the future — easing the financial burden of optometry school and making education more accessible. The scholarships are designed to support students who demonstrate excellence in their academic pursuits and commitment to the optical community.

Ford’s Garage Names Billy Downs as Its New President:  Ford’s Garage, the burgers and craft beer restaurant inspired by the heritage of The Ford Motor Company, has named restaurant veteran and the first Ford’s Garage franchisee as its new president. Billy “B.D.” Downs will lead the company as it continues to expand with new franchise locations throughout the country.

Downs joined the company in 2015, a few years after the brand was founded, and then became a franchise owner in the Detroit Metro Area. He will continue managing the Detroit franchise while serving as president.

Yogurtland Builds Out Leadership Team: Yogurtland announces today the addition of Charles (Chuck) Ballard as the Director of Development. A seasoned veteran in franchise development with over four decades of experience in the food service industry, Ballard brings a wealth of expertise in building successful franchise systems and expanding market presence. Yogurtland also welcomes its new Sales Manager, Shae Schultz. With more than twenty-five years of franchise experience, including several leadership roles, Schultz joins Yogurtland with a proven track record of success.

Spherion Appoints Marnie Walker as Senior Vice President of Franchise Business Operations: pherion Staffing and Recruiting (Spherion) recently announced the appointment of Marnie Walker, a staffing operations veteran and business enablement professional, to the new leadership role of senior vice president of franchise business operations. In her role, Walker will focus on driving business enablement excellence within the organization to provide continued support and develop consistency, scalability and efficiency for franchisees nationwide.

“In my new role, I’m excited to deepen our relationships with our franchise business owners, further explore the nuances of their local markets, and build upon the strong community support our offices already provide,” said Walker. “With Spherion’s ongoing growth and expansion, it’s crucial to regularly assess what is effective and what isn’t at the local level to ensure that both candidates and clients feel empowered through their experience with our team.”