“All the people that called the time of death on casual dining were wrong,” says Ray Blanchette, the CEO of TGI Fridays. The company this week unveiled a turnaround strategy as it looks to restart growth and improve the financial health of franchisees.
Texas-based chicken concept Layne's Chicken Fingers has found its footing with substantial growth, more than doubling its unit count last year and expecting to do the same in 2026. As the brand grows, Vice President of Culture Operations Cuyler Esposito is ensuring culture doesn't get left behind.
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.
A few months after signing its first franchisee to expand into Idaho, Denver-based chicken brand Birdcall is growing closer to home. The concept’s latest deal will add five locations to the state’s largest metropolitan area.
FAT Brands is trying to renegotiate with lenders to resolve its debt, which the company announced was “due immediately” in November. Months later, it received a delisting notice from Nasdaq because its stock price isn’t meeting the requirements for public listing.
Yogesh Patel already operates three locations for the growing health-focused brand in the Chicago suburbsHe is also part of a partnership group that owns more than 100 Wingstops
This article is part of "Where Are They Now?"—an ongoing series in which Franchise Times managing editor Emilee Wentland and Reporter Alyssa Huglen catch up with emerging brands.
Sapphire Foods India plans to merge with Devyani International, a move that is expected to consolidate the two largest Indian franchisee operations of Yum Brands-owned chains KFC and Pizza Hut. Under the proposed merger, Devyani International will issue 177 shares for every 100 shares held i…
Mediterranean fast-casual concept Crazy Pita launched its franchise system in 2019, but the pandemic a year later halted plans for growth. After a few years of improving the brand, CEO Mehdi Zarhoul said expansion is again underway.
The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission claims that Wendy’s needs to “correct unlawful employment practices” after the company allegedly discriminated against an employee due to his disability and age, according to a lawsuit filed in Ohio.
A report by Oxford Economics, commissioned by the International Franchise Association, found the franchise model…
Will Coyne is all in on scaling systems—and now he has the opportunity to showcase this as the chief operating o…
Rahman Hashimi plans to open two Popeyes locations this year, starting in Brookline and Brighton, Massachusetts.…
• The two pet care brands are now their own entity, separate from Franchise Group. FRG announced plans to offloa…
FT’s Picks of the Week highlight notable C-suite moves, brand milestones, tech tidbits and other franchise news,…
Fitness has been a pillar in Dawn Lee’s career.
As the CEO of Wild Bill’s Craft Beverage, Michael Quilty made it a personal mission to create jobs for military …
Don Smith compared running a large network of top-performing Valvoline Instant Oil Change centers to excelling a…
Gary Edwards didn’t plan to get into dancing.