1) American Family Care Franchisee Acquires Five Clinics to Broaden Boston Services

As a military veteran, Dave Adams is driven to serve his community as an entrepreneur and found a way to do so as an American Family Care franchisee. Now, he’s doubling down on that effort.

A few weeks ago, Adams’ company, Freedom Health Holdings, which owns and operates five AFC units in Boston, closed on a deal to acquire five clinics from a different brand. The process is now underway to transition five PhysicianOne Urgent Care facilities to AFC clinics, each offering walk-in urgent care, occupational medicine and more.

“We were looking at opportunities out there to acquire existing urgent care walk-in medical units and we came across PhysicianOne,” Adams said. “They held themselves to very high clinical standards, and that was really helpful for us in determining to acquire them as an entity.”

2) With $15M in Series C Funding, Daisy Accelerates Smart Home Franchise Growth

After three lucrative rounds of venture capital fundraising, home and small business technology installation company Daisy reached $35 million in investment money and increased its valuation by 115 percent, said its founder and CEO.

More importantly, the Costa Mesa, California startup secured the capital to build out its technology stack and provide operators the back-end support needed to grow their businesses, she said.

“The new fundraising money is really exciting and we’re well on a way now to becoming the leading player in this rapidly growing space,” said Hagan Kappler after her company secured an additional $15 million in a Series C funding round from Massachusetts-based Fifth Down Capital. It follows a $7 million Series B funding round in September and an $11 million Series A funding round in June.

3) Home Helpers® Home Care Promotes Bobby Kelley, Clay Mckee to Vice Presidents of Franchise Development

Home Helpers® Home Care promoted Bobby Kelley and Clay McKee to vice presidents of franchise development in recognition to grow and strengthen the home care franchise.

In their new roles, the duo’s expanded leadership responsibilities include leading the franchise development team and continuing to serve as brand ambassadors by representing Home Helpers® Home Care at franchise industry and consulting events. 

“Bobby and Clay have been instrumental in broadening our ability to deliver exceptional in-home care to seniors,” said Home Helpers® Home Care President and CEO Emma Dickison. “Their well-deserved promotions are a reflection of their commitment to our mission and the continued success of our franchise community.”

EXTRA SAUCE 💥

In Debt More Than $25M, Tex-Mex Chain On the Border Files for Bankruptcy: Citing more than 10,000 creditors and with upwards of $25 million in debt, Texas-based restaurant chain On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection March 4. It engaged Hilco Corporate Finance to manage a sale process and wants to finalize a buyer by May.

The filing by OTB Holding, parent company of On the Border, comes after the chain in recent weeks closed at least 77 locations in 24 states that were deemed underperforming or were expected to drive losses. The company continues to operate 60 restaurants—all of them leased—and franchisees in the United States and South Korea operate 20 units.

In documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in the Northern District of Georgia, Jonathan Tibus, OTB’s chief restructuring officer, listed “a difficult macroeconomic environment, labor shortages, an underperforming restaurant footprint and creditor enforcement actions” as factors in the bankruptcy.

Score the Ultimate Meal Trick Shot! MOOYAH and Dude Perfect Launch the Burger Battle Box: MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes (MOOYAH) has teamed up with Dude Perfect to launch the Dude ‘Burger Battle Box,’ an unforgettable meal experience that blends mouthwatering flavor with action-packed fun. Set to debut on March 8, the limited-time offering will be available at all participating MOOYAH locations.

Fans can grab the limited-time Dude Perfect ‘Burger Battle Box,’ featuring four fully customizable MOOYAH cheeseburgers with fixings and toppings on the side, a shareable family-sized portion of hand-cut fries and two handspun Little MOO shakes—all for just $39.99. The Burger Battle Box, presented in an eye-catching box designed in Dude Perfect’s signature shade of blue, is loaded with exclusive trick shot tutorials and fun family challenges.

Huddle House Announces Stephanie Mattingly as Vice President of Marketing: Huddle House announced today that it has named Stephanie Mattingly as Vice President of Marketing. In this role, Mattingly will be responsible for overseeing Huddle House’s marketing efforts, including brand strategy, digital marketing operations, and customer engagement initiatives.

“Huddle House is committed to cultivating a high-performing leadership team, and the addition of Stephanie as our Vice President of Marketing will be invaluable to enhancing our marketing strategy,” said Blain Shortreed, Huddle House Brand President. “We’re pleased to welcome her to our team. The team looks forward to her leadership as we further strengthen the connections to our guests.”

BrightStar Care Announces Acquisition by Peak Rock Capital Affiliate, Ushering in a New Era of Growth: BrightStar Care has been acquired by an affiliate of Peak Rock Capital. The acquisition is a strategic move for the category-leading BrightStar Care as the company continues its national expansion and increases investment in its industry leading capabilities.

BrightStar Care sought a partner that aligned with its mission, vision and values. Peak Rock Capital not only shares an enthusiasm for BrightStar Care’s clinical excellence but also brings expertise and investment to accelerate innovation, enhancing BrightStar Care’s ability to support franchisees in serving families nationwide. This partnership provides the resources to drive growth, support the franchise system, and uphold the brand’s commitment to excellence for generations to come.

Chipotle’s Highly Anticipated Chipotle Honey Chicken Has Arrived: Chipotle Mexican Grill today announced Chipotle Honey Chicken will be available across restaurants in North America and Europe for a limited time. Chipotle Rewards members can get exclusive early access to the brand’s latest menu innovation today, March 6. Beginning tomorrow, March 7, guests in the U.S., Canada, U.K., France, and Germany can order Chipotle Honey Chicken for all in-restaurant and digital orders. Chipotle’s latest culinary innovation is a bold, new menu item that perfectly balances unique heat from chipotle peppers and a touch of sweet from pure wildflower honey.

Slim Chickens Names Patrick Noone as Chief Marketing Officer: Slim Chickens has named Patrick Noone as its new Chief Marketing Officer (CMO). With 25 years of experience in brand strategy and data-driven marketing, Noone will lead initiatives to strengthen brand positioning, enhance guest engagement and reinforce brand loyalty.

Noone previously led a brand transformation at Checkers & Rally’s, implementing menu and media strategies that resulted in record profit growth. His extensive background also includes consulting for emerging and established restaurant brands, as well as leadership roles at Domino’s Pizza, Krispy Kreme, and Noodles & Company, where his marketing strategy played a key role in the company’s initial public offering (IPO).

Gotcha Covered to open new center in Twin Lakes, Wisconsin: Gotcha Covered has announced the opening of Gotcha Covered of Twin Lakes. The new location is owned and operated by Alanna DelRios.

With an emphasis on end-to-end consultations, the new center provides soft and hard window treatments to property owners by offering a variety of blinds, draperies, smart solutions and much more.

“Alanna is an asset to the Gotcha Covered family, and we’re looking forward to the unique perspective she will bring the residents in the Twin Lakes area,” said David Dunsmuir, president of Gotcha Covered. “There are fantastic opportunities for growth in that area, and we know that Alanna is the person to help Gotcha Covered expand in southern Wisconsin.”

Famous Dave’s Unveils Exciting New Prototype Model for 2025: Famous Dave’s is proud to announce the opening of its new, innovative prototype model in February 2025. After years of development, this new format reimagines the classic barbecue experience while embracing consumer trends and offering a streamlined, cost-effective solution for both franchise partners and guests. Initially tested in Arizona, the new model is designed to expand Famous Dave’s footprint in spaces previously not accessible, featuring an updated menu, enhanced technology and a focus on convenience-driven services like takeout, catering and online ordering.

“We’re excited to introduce this next evolution of the Famous Dave’s brand, which will not only allow us to expand, but also provide our guests with the barbecue they love, in a more convenient and affordable format,” said Al Hank, chief operating officer at Famous Dave’s parent company, BBQ Holdings. “We’re thrilled to see how it will revolutionize the brand and meet the needs of today’s consumers.”

The design brings the brand back to its roots, embracing the barbecue shack model that started it all. Customers will order at the counter and either pick up their food or have it brought out to them, rather than the traditional table service. This model is inspired by Famous Dave’s original locations, many of which have been operating for over 20 years.

A&W Restaurants Names Betsy Schmandt Chief Executive Officer and President: A&W Restaurants announced today, Betsy Schmandt, as chief executive officer and president of A&W Restaurants. Previously serving as the chief operating officer and president for the all-American brand, Schmandt will inherit the responsibility from former CEO, Kevin Bazner who will continue his tenure as chairman.

“It is an honor to lead this iconic brand. A&W Restaurants has a rich history that has brought a smile to so many people throughout its 105 year history. I’m deeply inspired by our franchise partners and their commitment to A&W’s legacy,” said Schmandt. “I’m determined to elevate and enhance the A&W experience, while continuing to build on our value proposition and provide quality that “floats” above the rest.”