1) Legacy Restaurant Chain Huddle House Gets Brand Revamp

Huddle House, the full-service and 24-hour dining chain, is ready to start the next chapter with new prototype restaurants and menu enhancements designed to attract younger customers and to grow its footprint in non-traditional markets.

The legacy brand, acquired by Ascent Hospitality Management, a multi-brand holding company created by Elysium Management, in 2018, also unveiled a redesigned logo that modernizes the company’s “HH” visual nod and is paired with a new tagline, “Bring it in.”

Ascent Hospitality CEO James O’Reilly referred to the Huddle House changes as “revamps” and “enhancements,” and said they were necessary as the company looks to cultivate the next generation of customers while retaining its core audience.

2) Port of Subs® Expands California Footprint in Modesto with 10 Unit Agreement

Port of Subs® proudly announces its latest development deal. Detailing 10 units across the Central California Valley, the agreement is in partnership with entrepreneurial couple, Loveleen and Talwinder Baghri.

Both individuals bring strong backgrounds to this venture, holding various roles at a high-profile technology company. Loveleen has held several positions focused on marketing and logistics, while Talwinder’s expertise is within operations management. As they establish their initial restaurants, the duo will focus on strategic development in target markets such as Clovis, Fresno, and Modesto, with the first location on track to open in Modesto by the end of 2025.

“We knew Port of Subs was the right fit for us from the very beginning,” said Loveleen. “I’ve considered the San Joaquin Valley my home for decades and have spent my whole life contributing to these cities, so after meeting the Port of Subs team, Talwinder and I knew we wanted to join the brand. Our goal is to create an environment employees love, neighbors gather, and an establishment each community can rely on.”

3) Moe’s Southwest Grill® Marks 25th Anniversary with Four Straight Years of Growth

Moe’s Southwest Grill®, one of the seven iconic brands within the GoTo Foods platform company, proudly announces a record-breaking average unit volume (AUV) of $1,235,422* in 2024, showcasing four consecutive years of growth. Celebrating the brand’s 25th anniversary with serious momentum, Moe’s success is driven by strategic initiatives in franchise development, culinary innovation and expanded loyalty programs. Under the recent leadership of Chief Brand Officer Mike Smith, appointed in October 2024, Moe’s continues to revolutionize the fast-casual Mexican dining space with bold flavors and a rebellious spirit.

“As we celebrate 25 years in the fast casual business, we are leading Moe’s into a new era of growth,” said Smith. “By harnessing our rebel spirit brand positioning and strategically investing in culinary innovation, guest experience and franchise development, we are positioning Moe’s for sustained success. Our unwavering commitment to unparalleled flavor, a welcoming atmosphere, and continuous improvement will drive our brand forward and create lasting value for our franchisees and customers alike.”

EXTRA SAUCE 💥

Epcon Adds Vice President of Public Affairs: Epcon Communities is proud to announce Nanette Pfister as its first Vice President of Public Affairs.

Pfister will be responsible for engaging with local and state home building associations, advocating with state and local political and regulatory groups that affect the home building industry and leading Epcon’s philanthropic activities. She will also be a spokesperson for public relations opportunities.

“It’s always been important to Epcon to be forward thinking, and adding this new position is a great example of how we are thinking of the future,” said Epcon CEO Joel Rhoades. “With our current and planned growth, we want to be sure we are proactively preparing to meet any upcoming challenges and becoming more responsible and involved corporate citizens in each of our regions.”

Celebree School Accelerates National Expansion with Surge of Q1 Franchise Signings, Eyes 30 Agreements in 2025: Celebree School, a leader in early childhood education offering infant and toddler care, preschool, before and aftercare, and summer camp programs, builds strong momentum in Q1 with eight new signed franchise agreements. These new agreements represent a total of 13 schools planned across key growth markets nationwide including Chicago, Atlanta, Boston, Houston, Tampa, Clover, SC, and East Hanover, NJ.

With franchise output projected to exceed $936.4 billion in 2025, marking a 4.4% increase from $896.9 billion in 2024, and franchise GDP set to grow by 5% to reach $578 billion, the surge in growth highlights the entrepreneurial spirit driving the industry.

Workout Anytime Welcomes Larry Brayman as Chief Marketing Officer: Workout Anytime proudly announces the appointment of Larry Brayman as Chief Marketing Officer. This key leadership addition follows the recent naming of Jerry Pugh as CEO.

Brayman joins Workout Anytime with more than 30 years of marketing and franchise leadership experience across the fitness, retail and restaurant industries. He brings a powerful track record of brand-building, strategic marketing and franchise success. Most recently, he served as North American franchise director for Luxottica Retail, which owns globally recognized brands like Ray-Ban, Oakley and LensCrafters. Prior to that, Brayman was vice president of marketing for the Gold’s Gym Midwest franchise and vice president of corporate affairs for CKE Restaurants, overseeing powerhouse brands such as Hardee’s and Carl’s Jr.

GYMGUYZ Launches GG Team App: GYMGUYZ introduces the GG Team app, now available on iOS and Android devices exclusively for franchisees and GYMGUYZ certified personal trainers. This proprietary app is designed to elevate both the franchisee and client experience by integrating with existing GYMGUYZ systems, providing access to cloud-based data directly from the field.

With the GG Team app, team members can easily conduct in-home and on-site fitness assessments, complete liability waivers and training agreements, and present assessment results to prospective clients in a clear and professional format. The GYMGUYZ assessment serves as a foundational step in the client journey, enabling trainers to fully understand a client’s baseline fitness metrics, goals, needs, and areas for improvement, ensuring a personalized and effective training experience.

“Launching this app is a significant milestone for GYMGUYZ,” said Josh York, Founder & CEO of GYMGUYZ. “As a data-driven company, we recognize the crucial role that metrics play in each client’s health and wellness journey.”