Franchise Blog

Mexican Quick-Service Restaurant Continues Aggressive Expansion

DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Taco Bueno Restaurants announced today that it has awarded development rights for 16 new units throughout the state of Louisiana to three franchise partners. These agreements bring the total number of Taco Bueno franchise commitments to 112. The brand is on track to have nearly 200 total restaurants open by the end of 2007, including 23 franchised units.

The largest agreement is with Dan Perry and Green, Herrington, & Howell, Inc., an Arkansas development corporation. The group plans to open nine restaurants in the Monroe and Baton Rouge markets in Louisiana. The company also operates a number of Huddle House and Sonic restaurants.

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Company Included in Prestigious Ranking 18 of Past 20 Years

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla., Feb. 27/ — Spherion Corporation, a leading provider of recruiting, staffing and workforce solutions, has been ranked in the first third of the 500 top franchises in the United States. For the 18th year since 1986, Spherion has been named a top franchise company and is #159 on Entrepreneur Magazine’s 2007 Franchise 500® list. Published in the January 2007 issue, the Franchise 500 list is the 28th annual and “world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking,” according to Entrepreneur Magazine.

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WSI is without question a real franchising success story. In little more than 10 years in business, they have continued to grow dramatically as a global leader in the Internet Industry.

Mississauga, Canada, February 28, 2007 –(PR.COM)– Being a global leader and the #1 Rated Computer Technology and Internet – Based Franchise is definitely a major achievement in a mass of other technology – based franchises. But when Entrepreneur Magazine hands out the distinction of #1 Franchise in Canada—people really take notice.

WSI, an Internet consulting service for small to medium sized businesses, has recently been given the honour of #1 Franchise in Canada by Entrepreneur Magazine. As Entrepreneur Magazine states, “WSI is without question a real franchising success story. In little more than 10 years in business, they have continued to grow dramatically as a global leader in the Internet Industry. Entrepreneur Magazine (January 2007) has recognized WSI as the #1 Internet and Technology Franchise and an independent assessment of the Franchise 500 reveals that WSI is also the #1 Canadian Franchise overall.”

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AFC Enterprises Inc. on Wednesday filed a lawsuit against Church’s Chicken and a former Popeyes franchise group in connection with Church’s recent purchase of 10 Popeyes’ franchised restaurants in the Rio Grande Valley, Texas and conversion of most of the units to the Church’s Chicken brand.

Atlanta-based AFC Enterprises (NASDAQ: AFCE), the franchisor and operator of Popeyes Chicken & Biscuits and former owner of Church’s, is seeking more than $20 million in damages.

In the suit, AFC alleges Church’s, which is owned by Atlanta private equity firm Arcapita Inc., “tortiously induced and colluded with Popeyes’ former franchise group, CVI Company Ltd. of McAllen, Texas, and its principals, to breach their binding franchise, development and guaranty agreements with Popeyes and sell their franchised restaurants to Church’s for cash with the intent to harm Popeyes.”

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A trend setting franchise concept in weight loss and wellness, Beverly Hills Weight Loss & Wellness offers more than 20 years of proven success in the $100 billion per year industry. The regional company is now taking its successful track record and cutting-edge concept nationwide and offering an affordable franchise opportunity with projections of opening more than 100 locations by 2009.

With a team of leading wellness specialists and dietician supporting the weight loss program and new product developments that positions the company as a market leader, Beverly Hills Weight Loss & Wellness is poised to expand and become a dominant force in the franchise industry through its commitment to add significant presence across the country.

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NEWINGTON — The golden arches have returned to the site of what was once the oldest surviving McDonald’s restaurant in Connecticut, but they’re soaring a lot higher than they did in 1959.

A $2 million redevelopment of the McDonald’s on the Berlin Turnpike, near the intersection of Route 287, now dwarfs the original restaurant, which had opened with only walk-up counter service.

Although the new restaurant’s exterior has the same look of the 1950s shop, with its familiar bookend-style arches, the similarities end there.

Inside, the restaurant is pure 21st century. It includes the state’s only “McCafe,” which borrows a page from Starbucks by offering baked goods and a place where parents can get cappuccinos while their kids munch on Happy Meals. There are some retro touches, such as the Rock Ola jukebox and a 1950s-vintage mural, but the restaurant also plans to feature the latest in Wi-Fi accessibility.

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Sports nutrition retailer Max Muscle plans to muscle its way into the Bay Area, opening 30 more retail outlets here in the next five years. Much of that responsibility will fall on the well-sculpted shoulders of Mark Sarale, a Max Muscle franchisee and regional director.

“I’m looking to put stores in Oakland, Antioch, Fairfield, Santa Rosa, Hayward, San Leandro, Livermore, Vacaville and Concord,” said Sarale, whose muscular physique appears monthly in the magazine Max Sport & Fitness, given to Max Muscle shoppers.

Sarale has been a Max Muscle franchisee for 11 years with one store each in Stockton, Modesto and Turlock. As regional director for the Anaheim-based franchise operation, he has control over franchises in the counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, San Joaquin, Sacramento, Solano, Yolo, Calaveras and Amador.

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February 26, 2007 – ST. LOUIS – In a move that will position Rug Decor as the leading nationwide franchise system in its market, CCA Global Partners has announced an aggressive national expansion plan, calling for a total of 60 stores by 2008.

The company’s development strategy is capitalizing on the U.S. hard surface flooring trend—forecasted to reach nine billion square feet in 2007—by rolling out 13 new locations in pre-qualified markets this year. Currently 34 Rug Decor locations are operating in North America.

A quickly growing system of retail stores that sell branded, fashion-oriented area rugs, Rug Decor is looking for a select group of qualified entrepreneurs to take advantage of the exploding home decor market through a proven business model. Interested franchise candidates should contact Mark Jameson at 800-466-6984, ext. 1136. Signed deals have already been confirmed for locations in Atlanta, Chicago and Phoenix, slated to open in early 2007.

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February 27, 2007 – Candy Bouquet Franchise Store #4755 has announced a one year renewable agreement with the U.S. Army in Kuwait. According to the agreement, the store will be placing a wire service ordering booth at the Army & Air Force Exchange Service (AAFES) located on Camp Arifjan in Kuwait, where there are currently 70,000 American troops stationed. The wire service will work in conjunction with Candy Bouquet’s 815 franchise stores worldwide to insure timely delivery of bouquets. “Our booth will provide an excellent service to all American troops stationed in Kuwait to allow them to send Candy Bouquets to their loved ones back home,” said Bader Al-Othman owner of Candy Bouquet Franchise Store #4755. The booth will feature Candy Bouquets “All Occasion” line of bouquets at the suggested retail price for U.S. stores and will inquire with international stores about pricing. The booth will start taking orders on Wednesday, February 28th, 2007, and will maintain hours from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Kuwait time.

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February 27, 2007 – Ontario, February 27, 2007— Mr. Greek has aggressive plans to expand via franchising in Colorado this year. The Canadian born, Greek chain is currently looking for multi-unit investors to develop the popular restaurant concept.

“We feel like Mr. Greek is a perfect match for Colorado and its residents,” said George Raios, Mr. Greek president. “Locals in the state live healthy lifestyles and enjoy great food. Right now they are missing out by not having a Mr. Greek near them.”

Voted “Best Greek Restaurant” by the Toronto Sun and “Best Greek Restaurant Chain” by Eye Weekly; Mr. Greek serves authentic Greek and Mediterranean cuisine in both casual dining and fast casual restaurants.

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Domineca Neal, president of One CW LLC, a Cartridge World franchise in the suburb of Lenox, has a theory about those with a true entrepreneurial spirit.

“When I hear people say that they want to go into business but can’t find one to go into, then I know that you don’t really want to go into business,” Neal told the Defender Wednesday. “There is always an opportunity to do some type of business as long as you are willing the put in the work and learn the skills it takes to operate that business.”

Such are words of wisdom from a woman who once worked in corporate America as an accountant, served as a co-owner of a Wendy’s restaurant franchise and who’s now in a partnership with an undergraduate classmate in the booming business of refurbishing and selling printer ink cartridges. Their company is One CW LLC, a Cartridge World franchise.

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Mumbai: Global fast food chain McDonald’s is considering a franchise model for its North India operations by 2008 for a deeper penetration into the country’s growing food and beverages market.

“We are studying the franchising sector in India to identify the right kind of people and opportunities suitable for a business model like McDonald’s and hope to launch franchise programme by 2008,” Vikram Bakshi, managing director of Connaught Plaza Restaurants, said.

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MEDFORD, Ore.–Specialty coffee retailer The Human Bean, based here, has development agreements for another 110 drive-thrus in the United States.

Franchisee Sam Wray has signed an area development agreement to open 50 The Human Bean drive-thrus across Colorado. His company has opened five stores in the past two years and plans to open another 10 stores in the next 12-18 months, according to a prepared statement.

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