Dunkin’ Donuts will saturate the central Indiana market with 80 franchise locations over the next six years.
The New England-based chain also is scouting for franchisees to open sites in Fort Wayne, South Bend and other Indiana cities, said Lynette McKee, vice president of franchising.

Dunkin’ Donuts currently operates 33 stores in Indiana, mostly outside Chicago. (more…)

Fantastic Sams, a full service hair salon brand with nearly 1400 salons in the US and Canada , announced it has signed 72 new franchise agreements with 31 new franchisees across 15 states year to date through May 31, 2007. (more…)

Over the last three years, BLACK DAWG SEALCOAT LLC, based in Nashua, NH, has spent just as much time repairing the public’s perception of the asphalt maintenance industry as mending worn-out, cracked driveways and giving them a black-as-night new coating. With the awarding of the Merrimack Valley franchise to Pete Christman, BLACK DAWG will have reinforcements in its efforts to show southern New Hampshire and now Massachusetts residents how a superior asphalt maintenance company operates. (more…)

Eola Wine Company announces that it is franchising and has partnered with The Franchise Edge (TFE), a Tampa, Fla.-based franchise development company, to market, publicize and franchise Eola Wine Company throughout the Southeast.

Eola Wine Company, located in Downtown Orlando and Winter Park, offers a relaxing atmosphere where friends and family can gather, share stories, laughs and good wine. With more than 70 wines by the glass; 11 wine flights; more than 30 boutique/micro-brewed bottled beers; tapas; appetizers; and desserts, Eola Wine Company offers a place to unwind after work or on the weekends. (more…)

The Floor Trader, the next generation of floor retailing with more than 3,000 flooring products from around the world, has signed area agreements to open a total of 12 stores in the Seattle, Cleveland, Mobile and Denver markets, keeping the franchise on schedule for fast growth throughout the U.S.

The signed agreements are part of a nationwide expansion plan which calls for around 30 franchise locations across the nation in the next two years. Growth plans are well underway, with recent store openings in Denver and Oklahoma City. (more…)

Jackson Hewitt Tax Service Inc.® has awarded its annual “Franchise of the Year” honor to Texas- based Centax, Inc. Led by partners Kim Bledsoe and Mark Munson, Centax Inc. took home the top honor for the most successful franchise in recognition of its strong growth, community involvement and quality service. Mr. Bledsoe and Mr. Munson were presented with the award during the company’s annual Convention, held earlier this month in Nashville. Centax was chosen for Jackson Hewitt’s highest prize from nearly 800 franchisees, who along with company-owned locations, operated over 6,500 offices during the most recent tax year. (more…)

Denny’s Corporation today announced the launch of its Franchise Growth Initiative, a development program designed to accelerate franchise growth in key markets across the country that have untapped consumer demand. The first successful multi-unit transactions have included the sale of 34 company restaurants to both new and existing Denny’s franchisees and commitments by those franchisees to develop 26 new restaurants.

“Our Franchise Growth Initiative is already proving successful in helping to attract restaurateurs that bring significant experience to the Denny’s system and providing current franchisees an opportunity for expansion,” said Nelson Marchioli, Denny’s CEO. “With this program launch, Denny’s is taking an unprecedented step toward strengthening the brand and positioning the company for long-term success.” (more…)

Today GNC celebrates the opening of its 1,000th international franchise store in Sofia, Bulgaria - marking yet another milestone for the company’s international franchising division this year.

In February, Entrepreneur magazine named GNC Franchising, Inc. the world’s #1 franchise in the vitamins category for the 18th year in a row, and ranked the company #32 overall in its elite list of first-rate franchising opportunities. (more…)

Play N Trade Franchise, Inc., one of the fastest-growing franchises worldwide, today announced that David Briers has been named the first Play N Trade National Guitar Hero II™ Champion, posting the top score of 584,024 points played on Free Bird at the “expert” level. Driving 150 miles from Richmond, Ind. to the Lexington, Ky. Play N Trade, Brier competed with gamers from across the U.S. and Canada to win the championship title and grand prizes of a $1,000 in-store gift card and an Xbox 360 Guitar Hero multiplayer bundle. (more…)

zpizza, the Southern California based gourmet pizza chain, recently signed a multi-unit franchise agreement with NYZ Pizza LLC to bring three zpizza restaurants to Manhattan. NYZ Pizza LLC is currently looking at the Chelsea area for their first location and is expected to open by the end of 2007.

“zpizza fits into the Manhattan area perfectly because it attracts the young, health conscious, upwardly mobile crowd,” says a representative from NYZ Pizza. “Locals in the city live healthy lifestyles and enjoy great food. They have been missing out by not having a zpizza near them.” (more…)

Childhood obesity has become a worldwide epidemic, affecting an estimated 22 million children under age 5! In the United States, one-third of children are either obese or at risk of becoming obese, according to a 2006 federal report, “Progress in Preventing Childhood Obesity: How Do We Measure Up?” (more…)

The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers (AAFD) announced a new program for new and emerging franchise systems to earn AAFD Accredited Contract status. The new initiative provides accreditation to franchise systems that do not have an established track record of great franchise relationships, but whose franchise agreements substantially conform to AAFD’s Fair Franchising Standards. This new program provides a great tool for prospective franchisees to identify franchise opportunities that respect the rights of franchise owners.

Upon request by a franchisor, the AAFD will conduct a review of the franchise agreement and identify areas in which the franchise agreement needs to be amended to conform to AAFD’s rigid Fair Franchising Standards. Franchise agreements that conform earn AAFD Accredited Contract Certification. (more…)

Seekonk residents under the influence of a Big Mac attack are going to have to cross the border into East Providence to satisfy their needs, at least for a little while, as the McDonald’s on Fall River Avenue undergoes renovations that will keep the restaurant closed for some time. According to signs on the fence now surrounding the restaurant, McDonald’s will re-open in late summer. Dixon General Contracting Inc. out of Shrewsbury will be handling the project, which includes demolishing the restaurant and building a brand new one in its place. (more…)

Hollywood Tans founder Ralph Venuto, Sr. is expanding his franchise portfolio and going after a slice of the pizza category with the launch of Venuto’s Old World Pizza, Inc. Venuto recently opened his first location in West Deptford, N.J., a suburb of Philadelphia.

Venuto opened Hollywood Tans in 1994 and, by 2007, he grew the chain to include more than 300 locations, becoming the nation’s largest chain of professional tanning salons. Now, he’s bringing his franchising expertise to a new industry and is building Venuto’s Old World Pizza from the ground up, complete with original chef-crafted recipes and curbside pick-up. Venuto revolutionized the tanning industry, making quality and speed a priority for the Hollywood Tans franchise. Quality and speed also will be the cornerstones of Venuto’s Old World Pizza. The pizza franchises will serve high-quality, gourmet-style thin crust pies that bake in just six minutes. (more…)

In a strategic move to centralize ordering for the franchise system, Saladworks, the nation’s first and fastest growing fresh-tossed 84-unit salad franchise, has announced a partnership with the Merrill Corporation to launch an online e-store on the MySaladworks site – the intranet Web site for the franchise system. Saladworks will utilize Merrill Corporation to supply the franchise system with consistent materials, from menu boards and front of house marketing materials to staff shirts and event balloons. (more…)

DirectBuy, the leading members-only showroom and home design center that offers merchandise at manufacturer-direct prices, announced today that it is celebrating the 35th anniversary of its first franchise. DirectBuy has grown to become the largest direct to consumer membership club of its kind, with thousands of members across the United States and Canada.

“We have always believed that consumers should have an alternative, lower-cost channel to buy products for their home and family, and that belief was the foundation for DirectBuy,” said Scott Powell, president of DirectBuy. “For the past 35 years, we have allowed our members to take a calculated approach to savings and purchase brand-name merchandise for their homes and family at manufacturer-direct prices. The growth of our business is a testament to the savings, selection and service we provide to our members across North America.” (more…)

Bob McQuillan runs a tight ship at his Hollywood Tans franchise in Arlington, Va. He knows precisely when workers clock in and out, who each of his daily customers are and which employees are selling what products, at regular price, or discount. But there’s a twist: He’s doing all this micromanaging from home - 133 miles away in Mullica Hill, N.J.

“We monitor the business remotely via the Internet,” says Mr. McQuillan, who co-owns the store with his wife and another business partner. While a manager handles the tanning salon’s day-to-day affairs, he pulls up data from afar by computer. A fingerprint scanner monitors workers’ arrivals and departures, while intricate software tallies sales data and pricing, almost in real time. “I’m down there once every three months,” he says.

The franchising world is letting loose. Gone are the days of one owner being chained behind the counter of a single store day in, day out. (more…)

An organically oriented, green-minded, Florida-based pizza franchise will open its first Colorado location in Aspen a year from now, owners said.

The business, Pizza Fusion, serves organic and natural pizzas, sandwiches and salads.

The franchise owners, Linda and Rick Wilson, live in Aspen for one to three months each year. The Florida couple, who are opening three Pizza Fusions in their home state, married in Aspen six years ago and said they were interested in opening an Aspen location because “Colorado has a mind-set of being eco-friendly, eating locally grown food, being physically fit and healthy,” and they said they felt like they were part of the Aspen community. (more…)

Since 1979 more than 1,000,000 children have attended a Skyhawks program. “Every day I am grateful and amazed at the reach of Skyhawks,” said founder Jeff Heimbigner. In 1979, a local youth sports association asked Jeff if he would offer soccer camps to the youth of Spokane. Jeff would offer the camps, but only on one condition; the camps had to be available to anyone regardless of athletic or financial ability. A handshake later, Skyhawks’ first camp was born. Now, more than 25 years later, Skyhawks will expand its reach through franchise opportunities.

According to the 2000 US Census, sports and recreation instruction is now more than a 2 billion dollar industry. If projections prove true, Skyhawks’ share of the sports and recreation industry will continue to climb. Skyhawks now offers an opportunity to combine a passion for sports, the purpose of teaching youth with a successful business plan to offer Skyhawks Franchises. “Franchising affords us the opportunity to expand into new markets with local owners,” says Executive Vice President and Director of Franchise Sales Chris Stiles. “Our goal is to figure out how to maintain the same safety and quality at our camps while growing at a more aggressive rate. We are confident local owners will strive for the same standards Skyhawks has set for the rest of the country.” (more…)

Universal Express, Inc. today announced its completion of its LEAP (Luggage Express Associates Program) franchise agreements and will be offering Luggage Express Franchise opportunities in Florida and Texas. LEAP franchise opportunities will be available to all 50 states as registrations are completed for each state.

It is expected within the next 30 days, LEAP Franchise registrations will be complete and ready to offer franchise opportunities in California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Kentucky, Maryland, Maine, Michigan, Minnesota, North Carolina, North Dakota, Nebraska, New York, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Virginia, and Washington. (more…)