1) Clean Eatz Brings On ‘Bachelor’ Host Jesse Palmer as Spokesperson

Clean Eatz was on the lookout for a spokesperson to best represent the brand’s mission of healthy eating and lifestyle habits. It found its person in television personality Jesse Palmer.

Palmer is best known for his hosting duties on “The Bachelor” franchise and his time as an NFL quarterback for the New York Giants in the early 2000s. Varady said Palmer’s career range fits well with the brand’s diverse customer profile across age and gender demographics.

Social media content is at the partnership’s core, with Palmer posting to his 375,000-plus followers across all social media platforms over the next year. Cross-promotion for Clean Eatz’s We Change Livez Challenge is slated for the near future, and additional marketing and promotional ideas are in the pipeline as the brand launches a new app and rewards program in the second quarter of this year.

2) Doner Shack Expands U.S. Presence with Multi-Unit Agreement in Las Vegas

Doner Shack, the internationally recognized fast-casual brand specializing in high-quality Mediterranean street food, continues its expansion across the U.S. with a newly awarded multi-unit franchise agreement in Las Vegas.

Franchisee Sumeet Kainth, who relocated to Las Vegas from the UK three years ago, saw an opportunity to introduce a much-needed culinary experience to the region. “Coming from the UK and being a longtime customer of Doner Shack, I’ve been eagerly waiting for them to franchise in the U.S.,” said Kainth. “The business model, and most importantly, the product Doner Shack offers, is going to become a household name here. I knew I couldn’t miss the opportunity to be part of it.”

With a vision to bring authentic and high-quality doner meat to the American market, Doner Shack is poised to become a go-to destination for Mediterranean cuisine lovers.

3) UFC GYM® Sets the Stage for Expansion

UFC GYM will open more than 45 locations this year, making its debut in Pakistan and Indonesia. The expansion will introduce UFC GYM to some of the most vibrant and rapidly evolving fitness markets.

UFC GYM is on a mission to deliver cutting-edge facilities, top-tier equipment and expert-led classes. Among the highly anticipated new locations are: Be’er Sheva, Bat Yam and Gedera, Israel; Del Valle, Mexico; Centria Mall, Saudi Arabia; Manama, Bahrain; Berlin, Germany; Ajman, United Arab Emirates; Casablanca, Morocco; Guwahati, India; Almaty, Kazakhstan; and Voronezh, Russia.

“We’re witnessing a powerful shift, as more and more people are drawn to our “Train Different” philosophy,” said Adam Sedlack, CEO of UFC GYM. “Our facilities are not just places to work out – they’re transformative spaces where individuals challenge their limits, build their confidence, and reinvent their approach to health and fitness.

EXTRA SAUCE 💥

Shipley Do-nuts Inks Agreement to Expand Into New Mexico, South Florida: Fast-growing Shipley Do-Nuts, one of the nation’s largest donut and kolache brands, will expand its national footprint with a 30-unit development deal that will bring the brand to New Mexico and the Miami-Dade area of Florida, both new markets for Shipley. 

The agreement with existing Shipley franchisee Vik Agrawal will bring 10 shops to Sandoval, Santa Fe, Bernalillo, Valencia, Torrance, Socorro, Lincoln, De Baca, Guadalupe and San Miguel counties in New Mexico and 20 shops to the Miami-Dade area. One shop is expected to open in each state in the next 12 months.

Pvolve enters into Three U.S. Markets with New Franchise Deals: Pvolve’s newly signed franchise agreements in three dynamic markets: Chicago, Seattle and Tysons. These developments are bringing its signature low-impact, high-results method to more communities.

The newest franchise partners include Chicago, Illinois, Seattle, Washington, and Tysons, Virginia. Each new studio is expected to create 10 to 15 local jobs, foster economic development, and introduce more people to Pvolve’s approach to fitness, which focuses on strength, longevity, and overall well-being.

Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery Open New Co-Branded Location in Ohio: FAT (Fresh. Authentic. Tasty.) Brands Inc., announces the opening of a new co-branded Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery location in Huber Heights, OH. The new store is the first co-branded Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery location to open in the Buckeye State, with additional Great American Cookies’ locations in Columbus and Dublin. The Huber Heights location brings both sister brands together in one delicious destination, offering fan-favorite items such as Cookie Cakes, homemade Ice Cream with unlimited Mix-Ins and more.

“We are pleased to introduce locals to the integrated experience of having the two sweet treat concepts combined,” said Allison Lauenstein, President of Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery. “Fans can now enjoy Marble Slab Creamery’s delicious, homemade ice cream in addition to the ultimate combination of cookies and ice cream paired together such as Create Your Own Cookie Shakes and Ice Cream Sandwiches.”

Phenix Salon Suites Celebrates Five New Openings: Phenix Salon Suites, the world’s leading salon suite franchise, announced today several recent openings that happened within the first month of 2025, solidifying a promising year of growth ahead.

The brand opened its 400th facility in New Jersey a few months ago and is now building off this momentum with continued expansion in new and existing markets across the nation alongside numerous new and experienced franchisees. In 2025, Phenix celebrated  new location openings in Vancouver, Wash. by Ralph Pryor, Bronx, N.Y. by Ramphe Gomez, East Harlem, NY by Gabriel Abrams, Schererville, Ind. by Brian Johnson, Long Beach, Calif. by Nathan & Stacy Mays and Cedar Hill, Texas by Gregoire Demory.

The Dog Stop Welcomes New Leadership: The Dog Stop is proud to announce the addition of several crucial leaders to its corporate team. The brand has welcomed Jeff Farnell as VP of Operations, John Henning as Director of Franchise Development, Megan Allen as Director of Real Estate and Construction, and Nancy Purvis as Franchise Support Manager, and looks forward to benefiting from their decades of experience in franchising, operations, and pet care.

With over 20 years of experience in the franchising and dog care industries, Jeff Farnell has a proven track record of supporting operational growth and franchise success, having previously led an operations team responsible for scaling another dog care brand to over 250 units nationwide. As a dog parent himself, Farnell’s passion for delivering an exceptional experience for dogs and their owners aligns perfectly with The Dog Stop’s mission to provide a one-stop solution for all dog care needs. As Vice President of Operations, he’s thrilled to join a standout team as they work to optimize and scale operations to drive superior results for franchisees.

STRONG Pilates Unveils 50-Studio UK Expansion with English Cricket Legend Stuart Broad at the helm: STRONG Pilates has announced a strategic restructure of its operations to support the opening of 50 new locations over the next three years.

Co-founders of STRONG Pilates, Mark Armstrong and Michael Ramsey said: “We’re intensifying our focus on this key market to provide the UK community with a fitness format which, according to the latest ClassPass data, combines in-demand genres including Pilates, Strength Training, Cycling and Rowing.”

STRONG Pilates currently operates three sites across London and one in Dublin, with STRONG Wimbledon launched in early 2025, marking the first of 50 planned locations under the new operational framework.  Its offering combines low-impact reformer Pilates with high-intensity cardio training via the globally exclusive Rowformer and Bikeformer machines (a reformer bed with a rower or bike on the end).

Patrick Doyle Honored with IFA Hall of Fame Award: 

RBI’s Executive Chairman is Celebrated for Elevating Franchisee-Franchisor Relationships.

The franchisor-franchisee relationship is the backbone of any successful brand, and few leaders understand this better than Patrick Doyle, Executive Chairman of Restaurant Brands International (RBI). With decades of experience in the restaurant industry, Doyle built his reputation at Domino’s Pizza, where he held multiple leadership roles before becoming CEO. During his tenure, he led one of the most remarkable turnarounds in restaurant history, revamping the menu, embracing digital innovation, and driving the company’s stock price up by more than 2,000%. His strategic vision and commitment to franchisee success helped transform Domino’s into the global pizza powerhouse it is today.

In recognition of his impact on franchising, Doyle was recently honored with the prestigious IFA Hall of Fame Award at the International Franchise Association’s (IFA) Annual Convention in mid-February. As IFA’s highest distinction, the award celebrates individuals who have made a lasting mark on franchising.