Franchise deals, development agreements, M&A, and the moves reshaping unit counts.
PR Newswire / TruGolf HoldingsTruGolf Links signed a Knoxville entrepreneur to develop 40 indoor golf centers statewide, testing the regional developer model in a young category.
PR Newswire / Marco's PizzaMarco's Pizza signed a two-unit area development agreement to crack the Philadelphia market, a measured entry into a crowded Northeast pizza corridor.
Hooters of AmericaHooters filed for bankruptcy to sell its 151 company restaurants to a franchisee group led by its founders, ending private equity ownership.
QSR MagazineA bankruptcy auction moved 77 Pizza Hut restaurants to new operators and recovered nearly $12 million, showing how distressed franchise portfolios get sorted.
Naf Naf Middle Eastern GrillA 20-unit Tropical Smoothie operator signed for four Naf Naf restaurants in Columbus, the brand's latest bet on proven multi-unit franchisees.
ZiebartA 60-year Canadian master franchise renewal and a 10-store Mexico deal show how legacy brands compound through master-franchise partners abroad.
WingstopRecord openings lifted Wingstop's system sales even as same-store growth slowed to 0.5%, testing how long new units can carry the model.
Waste Advantage MagazineA Greater Austin franchisee folded independent hauler Rubbish Inc. into his redbox+ territory, a sign of how franchisees now grow by acquisition.
The National ProvisionerA 30-plus-unit IHOP operator opened Fuzzy's first California location on a high-traffic desert highway, betting travel corridors beat dense urban infill.
Zaxby'sThe chicken chain hands its Chicago debut to an experienced multi-market operator, betting on a known partner over a cold-start entry.
FAT Brands / GlobeNewsWireA single development group commits to 40 Fatburger restaurants across Florida, a scale bet that reshapes the brand's Southeast footprint.
franchising.comA multi-unit operator commits to seven Barberitos restaurants in the Tampa Bay area, extending the Southeastern brand deeper into Florida.
Kinderdance InternationalA standout Kinderdance franchisee is taking over the New York City and Bronx territories, expanding a proven operator into two dense urban markets.
ZiebartThe Mattiacio Group absorbed 17 stores from a retiring operator to reach 26 locations, the largest ownership team in Ziebart's U.S. system.
Friendly's RestaurantsA longtime Friendly's franchisee bought BRIX Holdings and its 250-plus locations, putting an operator in control of a seven-brand franchising platform.
FranchiseWireThe protective coatings franchise is attracting multi-unit operators who see recurring fleet and commercial accounts as a hedge against retail traffic fluctuation.
FranchiseWireThe private equity firm takes Freddy's off Golden Gate Capital's hands in one of the largest QSR deals of the year, with a mandate to build the brand beyond 500 locations.
FranchiseWireThe gas station chain's sandwich shop acquisition shows how the convenience sector is moving to capture full-service dining traffic at high-volume locations.
QSR Magazine / Lola BeansA Texas husband-and-wife team running established Crumbl and Wingstop portfolios chose Lola Beans as their next brand, targeting 15 Dallas-Fort Worth locations from Q1 2026.
FranchiseWireMore than 12 percent of active U.S. franchise brands now carry PE backing, and investors are moving in earlier, often before a system reaches 50 units.
PIRTEK USAThe hydraulic hose franchise sold 22 territories and opened 7 locations in Q3, entering New Hampshire and Kansas while climbing 12 spots on Franchise Times' Top 400.
Wikimedia CommonsB Wild Investments, led by KBP Brands co-founder Barry Dubin, acquires 20 existing locations to become Qdoba's largest franchisee overnight.
Shipley Do-NutsThe Houston-based donut brand opened 25 shops through September, with Q4 on pace to outrun 2024's full-year total by more than 60 percent.
ScenthoundDr. Jaime Pickett brings 18 years of multi-unit franchise operations to a pet wellness brand built on subscription-based grooming.
