1) TruGolf Links Tees Up 40-Unit Agreement in Tennessee

A Knoxville-based CPA plans to start his TruGolf development with 5,000-square-foot flagship store that will include full-service bar, dining area, club cleaning station and pro shop. The brand, a subsidiary of publicly traded TruGolf Holdings, is among an increasing number of virtual golf franchises competing for owners and customers.

Even before John Young signed his 40-unit development agreement with TruGolf Links and became one of the brand’s first regional development franchisees, he was already imagining the possibilities.

“One of the great things about TruGolf and their simulators is that you can play a lot of different of games and activities on them other than just virtual golf. There is something like 14 or 15 total video games like virtual bowling, cornhole and dodgeball that you can set up on the simulators,” said Young.

2) Healthy Food Concept Konala Debuts Franchise System

The husband-wife team of Trace and Jammie Miller came up with the concept, which simplifies the food preparation of protein bowls and salads. 

The company signed a pair off multi-unit deals in Washington and Utah. At 27, Tyson Adams has already accumulated a substantial amount of restaurant experience after owning and operating a food truck and then managing Jersey Mike’s Subs stores in Washington.

The young and enthusiastic restaurateur is ready to take the next step as one of the first franchisees for Konala, a healthy fast food brand founded by the husband-wife team of Trace and Jammie Miller. Adams, who plans to open five locations in Utah starting in Salt Lake City this winter, is prepping for restaurant ownership by managing Konala’s first franchise location in Spokane, Washington.

3) Papa Johns and Google Cloud Team Up to Deliver AI-Powered Pizza Experiences

Google Cloud today announced an expanded multi-year partnership with Papa Johns to revolutionize the pizza maker’s ordering and delivery experience using the power of artificial intelligence (AI). Through the partnership Papa Johns has created an innovation team, named PJX, that will leverage Google Cloud’s AI, data analytics and machine learning (ML) capabilities to provide a more frictionless and consistent experience for customers both inside its restaurants and throughout its digital channels.

Through its partnership with Google Cloud, Papa Johns expects to drive success through increased order frequency, higher-value orders, reduced customer service costs, improved customer satisfaction (via a chatbot powered by Google Cloud’s technology) – and ultimately, more joyful pizza experiences.

EXTRA SAUCE 💥

Record Sales at Chick-fil-A Even as Growth Slows: Chick-fil-A outdid itself again in 2024.After reporting a record $21.6 billion in total U.S. sales in 2023, the quick-service purveyor of chicken sandwiches generated more than $22.7 billion in systemwide sales last year.  That’s up more than 60 percent from 2020, when the company did $14.1 billion.

Overall sales growth, however, slowed from 2023 to 2024, coming in at 5.4 percent. According to Franchise Times Top 400 data, that’s the first time growth was less than 10 percent since 2017, when it was 9.6 percent.

The slowdown comes as consumers across the country pull back on restaurant visits, largely in response to higher prices. Average restaurant menu prices increased 27.2 percent between February 2020 and June 2024, according to data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Jack in the Box Franchisees Sue Franchisor Over Wrongful Termination: Two Jack in the Box franchisees in Washington allege the franchisor wants to eliminate them without justification, saying JIB’s plan to terminate the franchises is about “economic coercion rather than system integrity.”

AJP Enterprises and NHG Enterprises, both owned by Steve Wazny, sued Jack in the Box March 27 in a Washington state court seeking to prevent the franchisor from terminating 39 locations in Seattle and the surrounding metro. In the lawsuit, Wazny accuses Jack in the Box of trying to use his closure of eight other underperforming restaurants as a reason to terminate all of his remaining stores and force a sale.

“JIB’s attempted termination has nothing to do with brand protection and everything to do with financial leverage,” the lawsuit said. “JIB’s strategy is clear: weaponize the cross-default provision to force plaintiffs into an involuntary sale at a distressed valuation.”

Hand & Stone to Expand Dallas Footprint With Multi-Unit Deal: Massage brand Hand & Stone is adding to its 27-unit presence in the Dallas market with the signing of a deal for three locations.

Joining the brand is a group new to franchising but with a mix of business experience.

Hand & Stone, a concept providing both massage and skincare services, established a strong presence in the Dallas-Fort Worth area with 27 open spas.

There’s plenty of potential for more, though, as brand leadership sees an opportunity to double the number of locations in the market. It’s on its way, signing a three-unit agreement with a group of first-time franchisees.

Executive Home Care Expands with 40 New Franchise Agreements: Executive Home Care signing of 40 new franchise agreements in the past six months. This growth reflects the increasing demand for high-quality home care as more seniors choose to age in place.

Executive Home Care’s new franchises include multiple territories in 10 states including California, Utah, Nebraska, Texas, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, and Florida.

H&R Block Announces Richard A. Johnson as Board Chairman: H&R Block today announced that the company’s Board of Directors has unanimously elected Richard A. Johnson as the new Chairman of the Board, effective April 1, 2025. Johnson joined the H&R Block Board of Directors in 2015 and is a member of the Audit and Compensation Committees. He succeeds Robert A. Gerard, who has served as Chairman since 2011.

In announcing the change, Gerard said, “Consistent with our commitment to Board refreshment and succession planning, the time has come for Dick to take over Board leadership as we transition to our next 5-year strategy for growth and transformation. Dick has been a great partner for the last 10 years and I’m delighted that he will continue to serve all of us at H&R Block as Chairman of the Board.”

Ziggi’s Coffee Expands Horizons with Dirty Sodas and Executive Hires, Signaling Bold Growth and Innovation: Ziggi’s Coffee, a fast-growing specialty coffee franchise rooted in community and quality, is making major moves in 2025—both behind the counter and on the franchisor business. Consistent with the brand’s constant innovation in the coffee and beverage space, Ziggi’s has officially launched a creative and robust line of “Dirty Soda” while continuing its rapid national expansion and strengthening its leadership team to fuel long-term growth. For investors and entrepreneurs eyeing the food and beverage industry, Ziggi’s continues to be one of the most exciting franchise opportunities in the game.

To support this growth, Ziggi’s has bolstered its leadership team with two strategic executive hires: Stacey Kane as fractional Chief Marketing Officer and Tom Seeker as fractional Chief Technology Officer. Kane brings more than 25 years of experience in multi-unit marketing, known for her data-driven strategies and impactful brand storytelling. “It’s hard not to fall in love with this brand,” Kane said. “The foundation is solid, and the opportunity to scale is huge.”

Brewing a Bold Future: Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii Appoints Iain Douglas as Chief Brand Officer: Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, a leading coffee franchise renowned for its premium sourcing of Hawaiian coffees and memorable cafés, has named Iain Douglas as Chief Brand Officer. With extensive experience in brand development, and brand building activation, Douglas is set to accelerate the brand’s growth, drive franchisee success, and enhance its community engagement.

Douglas brings an impressive track record of transformative brand development to Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii. He has held executive leadership roles at globally recognized brands, including The Procter & Gamble Company, where he led global beauty care innovation and helped redefine the Olay brand. As Vice President of E&J Gallo Winery, he played a pivotal role in the delivering the premium and popular wine categories, including such brands as Barefoot, Bella Sera, Whitehaven and Louis M. Martini, driving triple-digit growth and significantly expanding the winery’s revenue. As Senior Vice President at Mark Anthony Group, Douglas successfully repositioned brands and drove double-digit profit growth, and as VP of Global Strategy and Brand Development at VF Corporation, he was instrumental in expanding iconic brands such as The North Face, Vans, Timberland, and Wrangler, contributing to the near doubling of revenue. Most recently, as Chief Marketing Officer at Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits, he spearheaded the further explosive growth of Josh Cellars, turning it into the #1 premium wine brand in the U.S. Additionally, Douglas has worked as a partner at ArchPoint Group Consulting, leading brand strategy and innovation initiatives. His recent consulting work with Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii helped shape the brand’s evolved DNA and accelerate both franchisee and brand expansion.

Smalls Sliders® Taps Restaurant Powerhouse Charles Watson as CEO: Smalls Sliders has appointed seasoned restaurant and hospitality executive Charles Watson as its new Chief Executive Officer. In his new role, Watson will prioritize franchisee success while accelerating the brand’s impressive expansion.

Watson brings nearly three decades of experience driving substantial growth, most recently as Chief Executive Officer for Tropical Smoothie Cafe, where he expanded the brand to over 1,500 locations nationwide and tripled system-wide revenue to $1.42B. Prior to his CEO role, Watson led franchise growth and brand development strategies for multiple brands at Wyndham Hotels and IHG Hotels and Resorts.

JETSET Pilates Adds Seasoned Leadership: ETSET Pilates is strengthening its leadership team with four key hires. The brand welcomes Alex Lyons as Vice President of Product and Talent, Christa Dellebovi as Director of New Studio Openings and Business Management, Uri Kenig as Head of Franchise Operations and Ricardo Quesada as Vice President of Marketing.

“As we expand, we don’t just build teams, we cultivate leaders who drive long-term success,” said Bert Albertse, CEO of JETSET Pilates. “We’re thrilled to have Alex, Christa, Uri, and Ricardo join the JETSET family.”