Guthrie’s Chicken Names New CEO, and ‘The Rock’ Partners With Wingstop

FT’s Picks of the Week highlight notable C-suite moves, brand milestones, tech tidbits and other franchise news, sourced by the Franchise Times editorial team.

Longtime fast-food executive Tom Carr is the new president and CEO of Guthrie’s Chicken, replacing Joe Kelly Guthrie, who will remain involved in the company as a co-owner and founding family member. Carr makes the move from Chicken Salad Chick, where he was chief marketing officer for the last 10 years.

Prior to joining Chicken Salad Chick, Carr held senior marketing leadership roles at Discovery Networks, which is now Warner Brothers; Spanx; Nike and Turner Broadcasting. Earlier in his career he managed advertising for Coca-Cola and helped originate the famed "Pizza! Pizza!" campaign for Little Caesars in 1979.

Guthrie's was founded in Haleyville, Alabama, in 1965, and has more than 70 locations across 12 states. The brand is credited with creating the first-ever chicken finger-only restaurant in 1982.

Related story: Where Are They Now? Guthrie’s Builds On 20 Years of Franchising

Noteworthy

Commercial services platform EverSmith Brands named Justin Ghadery as CEO. Ghadery succeeds Ken Hutcheson, who will remain a board adviser to EverSmith, which has seven companies comprising more than 700 territories and 300-plus franchise owners. Ghadery held leadership roles as a franchisor, franchisee and executive within private equity-backed platforms and has served as president and chief operating officer of EverSmith since late 2024. Ghadery also serves as vice chair of VetFran, an International Franchise Association-sponsored program dedicated to helping veterans pursue franchise ownership. EverSmith, owned by The Riverside Company, has a portfolio consisting of Clintar, KitchenGuard, 1-Tom-Plumber, the SEALS, Prism Specialties, MilliCare and U.S. Lawns.

Milestones

CR Fitness Holdings, which with 93 locations is the largest Crunch Fitness franchisee in the country, announced today it surpassed 1 million members. That means its gyms account for roughly one third of the Crunch system's entire membership base, which sits at more than 3 million. CR Fitness, led by CEO Tony Scrimale, operates gyms across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, with expansion coming in Arizona. North Castle Partners is the group's majority shareholder, and last fall CR Fitness attracted a $350 million minority investment from Sixth Street. 

Steak and Ale and Bennigan’s, both casual dining concepts that are part of the Legendary Restaurant Brands platform, are celebrating milestone anniversaries this year. Steak and Ale turns 60, and American-Irish pub chain Bennigan’s turns 50 in 2026. Dallas-based Bennigan's shut down 150 corporate locations after filing for bankruptcy in 2008, while Steak and Ale closed its remaining 58 units at the time of the filing. Paul Mangiamele acquired the brands in 2015 and has been working on their resurrection ever since. Bennigan’s is back in growth mode with about a dozen locations open that include its “On the Fly” virtual kitchen formats designed for takeout and delivery. At its peak the chain had over 300 restaurants. Steak and Ale, meanwhile, has one location in Burnsville, Minnesota, that opened in 2024. Both brands have newly signed international development deals for markets such as India and Panama.

Just for Fun

Wingstop partnered with actor and former professional wrestler Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and his small batch Teremana Tequila brand for a “Fans of Flavor” promotion. Up until the Super Bowl on February 8, Wingstop guests can choose from a number of food and tequila pairings including Wingstop’s Original Hot Wings with Teremana's People's Margarita, spicy Korean Q wings with a spicy margarita and garlic parmesan wings paired with a strawberry margarita.

Customers can also enter a nationwide sweepstakes for a chance to win the Ultimate Game Day Flavor Fest, featuring Wingstop gift cards, game day drink funds, a 75-inch TV and support for a private bartender and party essentials. In addition, 60 winners will each receive Teremana drink cash prizes and a Wingstop gift card in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the Super Bowl.  

Grammy Award-winning entertainer Megan Thee Stallion opened her first Popeyes franchise location in Miami Beach on December 31. The restaurant’s debut comes more than four years after she signed a franchise development agreement to open up to five Popeyes locations. She also launched her own hot sauce with the chicken chain and has an exclusive “Thee Megan Meal” at her location, which includes a chicken sandwich, tenders, wings and sides. The popular rapper, whose real name is Megan Pete, told a local TV station in Miami that proceeds from the store will help philanthropic programs in the area. She also confirmed that she plans to open additional Popeyes restaurants across the country.

Dunkin’ is also tapping into the musician’s popularity. Starting today, customers can get a limited-edition Megan Thee Stallion “Hot Girls Run on Dunkin’” reusable cup with the purchase of any new Dunkin’ Protein Refresher. The cup’s release comes as Dunkin’—like so many restaurant and coffee chains—is getting in on the protein craze with its protein milk, which adds 15 grams of protein into any beverage that allows for a milk or non-dairy base, including coffees, lattes, matcha and refreshers.