Franchise-Info ’s Post

@WINGSTOPUK All about Wingstop🍗🔥 Wingstop Inc. is an American international chain of restaurants that primarily sells buffalo wings. Wingstop locations are decorated with a 1930s and 1940s pre-jet aviation theme. The restaurant chain was founded in 1994 in Garland, Texas, and began offering franchises in 1997. As of 2022, Wingstop had over 1,400 restaurants. The chain is headquartered in Addison, Texas. In 2003, the chain was acquired by Gemini Investors, which sold it to Roark Capital Group in 2010. Wingstop went public in 2015. The first franchised location opened in 1997, and by 2002, the brand claimed to have served two million wings.In 2005, Wingstop began serving lunch, and in 2009 it began selling a boneless product. Wingstop opened its first international restaurant in Mexico in 2010. Between 2014 and 2016, Wingstop was the third-fastest-growing restaurant chain in the US as measured by both system-wide sales and unit growth, according to Nation's Restaurant News.In 2015, Wingstop went public at an initial public offering price of $19 per share.That year, their profits more than doubled. In 2019, Wingstop began using the tagline Where Flavor Gets Its Wings.The next year, Wingstop became available for delivery in Dallas, Texas through DoorDash As of 2019, the Wingstop Team Member Foundation acted as an employee-funded nonprofit that gave money to other employees experiencing financial hardship due to an emergency. On June 21, 2021, WingStop announced a digital-only restaurant called ThighStop, which sells chicken thighs instead of wings. The company cited cost-saving measures as the reason for the change. Where can you find wingstop? Wing has done so well and now has more than 1,413 braches all over the world! You can find them in these countries; Canada-France-Indonesia-Philippines-Mexico-Saudi Arabia-Singapore-Spain-United Arab Emirates-United Kingdom-United States

Big news in the fast-food world! Restaurant Brands International, the parent company of Burger King, just acquired its largest U.S. franchisee, Carrols Restaurant Group, for a cool $1.1 billion. What does this mean? More renovations for Burger King locations: Restaurant Brands plans to invest $500 million to remodel about 600 of the acquired Carrols restaurants. This could mean a fresher look and feel for your favorite Whopper joint! Shifting ownership: Carrols operated over 1,000 Burger King restaurants across 23 states, representing 15% of all U.S. locations. These will now be directly owned by Restaurant Brands, giving them more control over the brand's image and operations. Potential shakeup in the franchise system: Some experts believe this move could lead to Restaurant Brands buying up more franchisees in the future, creating a more streamlined and consistent Burger King experience nationwide. Overall, this acquisition is a major shakeup for the Burger King brand and could have significant implications for the future of fast food in the U.S. https://lnkd.in/dcKug3JU

BRADENTON, Fla., April 15, 2024 (GlobeNewswire) -- First Watch Restaurants (Nasdaq: FWRG) (together with its subsidiaries “First Watch” or the “Company”), the leading Daytime Dining concept serving breakfast, brunch and lunch, today announced the completion of its previously-announced acquisition of 21 of its franchise-owned restaurants and corresponding development rights in North Carolina for an aggregate purchase price of $75 million on a cash-free, debt-free basis. This acquisition, which represents our largest First Watch franchise acquisition to date, is an important part of our long-term growth and value creation strategy,” said Chris Tomasso, First Watch CEO & President. “These 21 restaurants are expected to generate average unit volumes and restaurant level operating profit margins in line with our Company-owned restaurants, and the associated development rights represent white space in this key market area for us to grow organically for years to come. Further, this acquisition fortifies our organization and strengthens our ranks as we welcome more than 600 new employees into our corporate-owned system and You First culture–a responsibility that’s very important to us.” First Watch is an award-winning Daytime Dining concept serving made-to-order breakfast, brunch and lunch using fresh ingredients across its network of neighborhood restaurants. A recipient of hundreds of local “Best Breakfast” and “Best Brunch” accolades, First Watch's chef-driven menu includes elevated executions of classic favorites along with specialties such as the Quinoa Power Bowl®, Farm Stand Breakfast Tacos, Avocado Toast, Chickichanga, Morning Meditation, Spiked Lavender Lemonade and its signature Million Dollar Bacon. In 2023, First Watch was recognized as the top restaurant brand in Yelp’s inaugural list of the top 50 most-loved brands in the U.S. In 2023 and 2022, First Watch was named a Top 100 Most Loved Workplace® in Newsweek by the Best Practice Institute. In 2022, First Watch was awarded a sought-after MenuMasters honor by Nation's Restaurant News for its seasonal Braised Short Rib Omelet and recognized with ADP's coveted Culture at Work Award. First Watch...click-thru to read more." First Watch has acquired 44 total franchised restaurants in 17 DMAs across six acquisitions since May 2023. https://lnkd.in/e3EK-j-F #QSR #Entrepreneur #Restaurants #Franchise #Franchising #FranchiseChat Chainformation Altir Industries, Inc. Franchise Pipeline Franchise Development Outsource Ned Lyerly Joe Caruso Michael (Mike) Webster PhD Anders Hall Jonathan Martin Michael Scherr  

Burger King Acquires Carrols Franchisee for Rapid Restaurant Remodeling Whopper of a Deal Burger King, owned by Restaurant Brands International Inc., revealed a strategic move on Tuesday with the acquisition of its largest U.S. franchisee, Carrols Restaurant Group Inc., in a noteworthy deal valued at $1 billion. Accelerating the 'Reclaim the Flame' Plan Tom Curtis, President of Burger King U.S. and Canada, expressed enthusiasm about the acquisition, stating, "This move is a pivotal accelerator to our 'Reclaim the Flame' plan, dedicated to relentlessly enhancing the guest experience. Over the next five years, we will swiftly remodel these restaurants, placing them in the hands of motivated local franchisees to create exceptional experiences for our guests." Financial Impact and Stock Movements In premarket trading, Carrols' stock surged by 12.7%, poised to open at its highest level since August 1, 2019. In contrast, Restaurant Brands shares experienced a 1.1% dip, following a close just shy of its January 10 record. Under the terms of the agreement, Carrols shareholders will receive $9.55 in cash for each share, reflecting a 13.4% premium over Friday's closing price of $8.42. Scope of Operations Carrols currently operates 1,022 Burger ... https://lnkd.in/e5cD6-sT

Lisa Jennings at Restaurant Business Online talking with CEO Denise Nelsen on how she is taking a hard look at Smashburger and plans to reignite new unit growth. A very candid discussion follows... "Denise Nelsen wants to shift Smashburger back into growth mode. How exactly the Denver-based fast-casual chain will do that is yet to be determined. But Nelsen, who was named CEO last week (though she actually started in January), sees a lot of opportunity for growth, both domestically and internationally. She replaced Carl Bachmann who left last year to helm BurgerFi after six years with the brand. Nelsen knows a thing or two about growing brands after 25 years at Starbucks, which had about 500 locations when she joined that company and thousands around the world when she left last year. (The coffeehouse brand is now the second largest restaurant chain in the world.) Most recently spending five years as senior vice president of U.S. operations, Nelsen’s time at Starbucks gave her plenty of experience with all aspects of growth. And that’s a good thing, because Smashburger has been shrinking since parent company Jollibee Foods Corp. (JFC) first invested in 2015. At the time, Smashburger had 335 units globally. Now the chain has 243-“ish,” said Nelsen, about half of which are company owned. Nelsen, in an interview with Restaurant Business, blamed that shrinkage in part on the impact of COVID, along with franchisee agreements and leases that ended. Now it’s time to rethink things, she said. “It’s a really good time to look at markets we want to be in and make sure we’re building for the future,” she said. “Things change a lot across the life of a lease or an agreement and you want to make sure you’re positioning the brand for future growth.” Smashburger currently has only 15 units internationally, for example, with a number in airports. One of the most recent openings was at an airport in Panama. Perhaps the biggest opportunity is in Asia, despite the huge presence of parent company Jollibee there, she noted. JFC operates and franchises some 1,300 restaurants around the world across 18 brands, including the namesake Jollibee Group of Companies, and franchised units of Burger King, Panda Restaurant Group and The Coffee Bean & Tea Leaf®. “We have essentially no presence in Asia, but we have a real opportunity to explore that,” she said...read more" #QSR #Restaurants #Franchise #Franchising #FranchiseChat Chainformation Altir Industries, Inc. Franchise Pipeline Franchise Development Outsource Ned Lyerly Joe Caruso Michael (Mike) Webster PhD Anders Hall Jonathan Martin Michael Scherr Reeve Axelgard Tom Ryan https://lnkd.in/e5UXsniT

Jonathan Maze Restaurant Business Online tells us about Tasty Restaurant Group - "The multibrand franchisee, which also operates Pizza Hut, Burger King, Dunkin'’ and Taco Bell, acquired the locations in the central and Southeast U.S." Multibrand franchisee Tasty Restaurant Group has acquired 64 KFC restaurants in the central and Southeast U.S., owner Triton Pacific Capital Partners, LLC said this week. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. But the deal marks a “significant expansion” for Tasty’s KFC brands, which operate under the name Tasty Chick’n. But the deal gives Tasty Restaurant Group 470 restaurants in several brands, including Pizza Hut, Burger King, Dunkin’, Baskin-Robbins and Taco Bell, in addition to KFC. They operate in multiple states. Craig Faggen, CEO of Triton Pacific, a private equity group, called the deal “transformative” for the Tasty Chick’n business. “With a historical track record of strong cash flow and above brand average unit volumes, we are confident in the growth prospects alongside our current portfolio,” he said in a statement. The company called the acquisition an “excellent investment opportunity” that could fuel new development opportunities. That would be good news for KFC, which has run into some challenges over the past year and a half. The brand closed a net of 127 locations last year as its sales and unit volumes slowed. Triton is based in Los Angeles and focuses on quick-service restaurants in addition to specialty finance companies and healthcare. https://lnkd.in/eC56PBse #QSR #Entrepreneur #Restaurants #Franchise #Franchising #FranchiseChat Chainformation Altir Industries, Inc. Franchise Pipeline Franchise Development Outsource Ned Lyerly Joe Caruso Michael (Mike) Webster PhD Anders Hall Jonathan Martin Michael Scherr Robert Rodriguez, MBA Steven Abigail Don Hensley Adam Greenway Neil Thomson Tasos Douglas    

Joe Guszkowski Restaurant Business Online tells us Buffalo Wild Wings "the full-service chicken wing chain this week opened its 100th Go location and has franchisee commitments to open nearly 600 more of the takeout-focused restaurants. Buffalo Wild Wings has big plans for @BWW Go. Since making its debut in 2020, the full-service chicken wing chain’s takeout and delivery spinoff has quietly expanded to 100 locations with plans to hit 150 this year. Go is also available as a to-go option for Buffalo Wild Wings’ more than 1,300 traditional stores as parent company Inspire Brands ramps up plans to grow the concept. Created in response to demand for off-premise options during the pandemic, Go offers chicken wings and tenders with a full complement of 26 sauces, as well as burgers, wraps, fried sides and desserts. Its restaurants are much smaller than its counterpart's sprawling sports bars, which speeds up development times and allows Go to get closer to at-home customers. Locations average about 1,500 square feet, according to franchise disclosure documents, and many are in in-line sites in suburban shopping centers. Though Go offers counter service and limited seating, 65% of its sales are digital, and it is heavily geared toward the takeout crowd. “We’ve taken all the innovation and flavor that keeps Buffalo Wild Wings the largest sports bar brand in America and packed it into a convenient way for our guests to get their favorites on the go,” said John Bowie, brand president of Buffalo Wild Wings, in a statement. The smaller format has been a hit with franchisees, who have committed to opening nearly 600 more Go units. Eighty-five percent of those deals are with existing operators of parent company Inspire, which also owns Arby's, Jimmy John's and SONIC Drive-In. New Jersey-based The Munson Restaurant Group is one of them. The operator of Buffalo Wild Wings, BWW Go and Sonic restaurants opened the 100th Go location this week in New York City. It’s the operator's fourth Go unit. “Operational efficiencies, streamlined marketing resources, and tremendous brand awareness are just some of the factors that make BWW Go appealing,” said Munson President Jack Litman in a statement. “Add to that the flexibility of the footprint and the speed to market, and you have a very desirable concept.” BWW Go is not the first scaled-down offshoot of a full-service chain, but it may be the largest. Others, such as P.F. Chang's To-Go, Flip'd by IHOP and Aussie Grill by Outback...click-thru to read more" https://lnkd.in/eHAGPtFJ #QSR #Entrepreneur #Restaurants #Franchise #Franchising #FranchiseChat Chainformation Altir Industries, Inc. Franchise Pipeline Franchise Development Outsource Ned Lyerly Joe Caruso Michael (Mike) Webster PhD Anders Hall Jonathan Martin Michael Scherr Technomic, Inc. NCAA Wingstop Restaurants Inc. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen

No comparison Wing Snob will win

Jonathan Maze Restaurant Business Online tells us what happening with The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Consumer trends are on Great Greek Mediterranean Grill's side The fast-casual Mediterranean chain says it is getting customers who want a good in-restaurant experience as well as those who want a family-style meal at home. After years of unfulfilled promise, Mediterranean cuisine appears to be having a moment, thanks in no small part to the success of chains like CAVA. And think about why it works today. Mediterranean food is healthy. It holds well, so that makes it portable. But consumers can also enjoy it inside the restaurants. All of which has helped Great Greek Mediterranean Grill thrive enough to land at No. 14 on this year’s Future 50 ranking of up-and-coming restaurant chains. The franchise is the fastest-growing Mediterranean concept in the U.S., and last year grew sales by 48%. The chain added 23 new locations in 2023 and finished the year with 51 restaurants. Company President Robert Andersen said the chain’s same-store sales growth has been strong over the past couple of years and most of its locations this year are enjoying improved traffic. “There are a lot of consumers struggling out there, and they’re maybe shifting down,” Andersen said. “But we’re seeing folks who still want a really great meal. They want a really great experience. They want to eat healthy. They want a great food experience. But they also want to have a great service experience.” Great Greek was founded in Henderson, Nevada, in 2011. The brand thrived and started franchising in 2018 and is now affiliated with the franchise company United Franchise Group. The company was able to grow through the pandemic by selling franchises. Andersen said that the service inside the restaurant, featuring real plates and a cooked-to-order menu, provides customers with more of a full-service experience. “It’s really an elevated experience,” he said. But, Andersen added, “We’re also seeing people take their food home.” Catering, in particular, is growing. It was 2.5% last year. That’s on pace to double in 2024, Andersen said. It’s very communal, very easy to share, holds well,” Andersen said. There’s “just so many opportunities to grow in that fashion.” https://lnkd.in/ekauaxKW

Holly Petre Nation's Restaurant News tells us "How this emerging wing restaurant thinks it can be the one to rise in the segment" During the pandemic, there were two clear winners in the food space: pizza and wings. The largest wing brand, Wingstop, has managed to turn that success into even more in the years since lockdown. With the popularity of wings came the emergence of both growing and new wing-focused restaurant chains capitalizing on the momentum through growth. Wing Snob, based in Detroit, was founded in 2017 and began franchising in 2018, but didn’t see exponential growth until the past two years. It ended 2023 with 41 locations and began 2024 with over 100 units in the pipeline. Co-founders Jack Mashini and Brian S. saw an open restaurant space and instantly knew they wanted to cook wings. “I really believe there’s a need for more competition,” said Mashini. “When you talk specifically QSR chicken wings, the behemoth is Wingstop Restaurants Inc.… no one [else is] really doing what they’re doing on a big level.” Wingstop finished 2023 with 1,926 units — 11.9% growth year-over-year — and $3.2 billion in sales — a 27.0% increase year-over-year, according to Technomic Ignite data. Chicken chains with comparable numbers have a broader focus than just wings, proving that there is still a strong desire amongst consumers for wings, and only one restaurant in the mix. “When you look at the burger space or the sub sandwich space or any other space in general, there are 500 different players in the game, and quite a few of them are quite large,” Mashini said. “We don’t have that in the chicken-wing concept space on the QSR side of things.” While dozens of emerging chicken-wing brands have started to grow, it’s not nearly as competitive as other segments at the top level. Wing Snob is standing out from the pack and growing because of its franchising strategy. The chain is only partnering with multi-unit franchisees who are looking for a wing concept in their portfolio, and Mashini thinks the brand has seen such an increase in franchisees because the wing space is so small but pays off with large returns. Wing Snob’s proprietary training portal, Wing Snob University, helps new franchisees learn the ropes of operating the brand since wings may be a new product to them. “We give..Click-Thru to read more. https://lnkd.in/e3nMUYwt #QSR #Entrepreneur #Restaurants #Franchise #Franchising #FranchiseChat Chainformation Altir Industries, Inc. Franchise Pipeline Franchise Development Outsource Ned Lyerly Joe Caruso Michael (Mike) Webster PhD Anders Hall Jonathan Martin Michael Scherr