Sambazon founder Ryan Black wanted to open an acai franchise the moment he tasted the berry on a beach in Brazil. “I was on a beach in Brazil when I had a bowl of acai,” said Black. “I wanted to launch a franchise, but nobody knew what it was at the time.”
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In an effort to attract new franchisees to the system and recharge stagnant unit growth, Roy Rogers is refranchising stores in its core Mid-Atlantic markets. bit.ly/3Pj0Rvn

A federal judge struck down the National Labor Relations Board’s new joint employer rule, halting the standard before it could take effect.

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Teppanyaki franchise Pepper Lunch is building its United States team with the hiring of Chief Operating Officer Mark Bailey, who has the goal of turning the brand into a national sensation. bit.ly/4ajneZs

A father-and-son team, Seth and Caleb Hill, have two territories, bringing the brand up to six in total. The brand has open units across several Pennsylvania counties and Middletown, New York. bit.ly/491xODj

Senior care portfolio company Best Life Brands increased to five brands following its acquisition of Next Day Access.

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Franchisees often muse about what they’d do differently if they were the franchisor. Few ultimately make the leap and create their own concept, however, but that’s exactly what a group of Papa Johns franchisees did when they launched salad franchise Chop5.
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Xponential Fitness allegedly defrauded its investors, “snookered new franchisees” to sign agreements and improperly vetted a franchisee prior to selling him dozens of studios, according to lawsuits.

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Lightbridge Academy’s senior vice president of franchise sales, Jim DiRugeris, meets potential franchisees constantly—and he’s learned what to look for in an owner to help them close the sale.

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Franchise sales conferences and channels appear to have more energy than ever. But net unit growth remains essentially flat. Why?

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Wingstop is experiencing unprecedented stock growth, with a steady increase leading to new heights.

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Operators continue their struggles to improve efficiency, with some technology to fill gaps, as pressures keep changing the industry.bit.ly/43GvhNO

The leading conference in the delivery and off-premises landscape is happening right around the corner. bit.ly/3vtxX50

Five Iron Golf SVP of Strategy Morgan Dunnan wants golf to be the new bowling. “With bowling, someone says ‘Let’s go bowling’ and no one’s like, ‘I don’t bowl,’ he said.

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While she’s only about a week into her new role as CEO of Handel’s Homemade Ice Cream, Jennifer Schuler is “thrilled” with the brand and said she’s excited to continue driving growth.

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Indoor pickleball concept Dill Dinkers signed a 30-unit agreement for the Atlanta metro area. The deal is with a five-person business group, Daniel and Laura Hardeman, as well as Destin Dunham, Evelyn Orenbunch and Stuart Napshin. bit.ly/3xhomhX

Curious about the secrets of successful franchising? Don't miss this opportunity to learn from the best in the business. Join us as we unpack the strategies behind major franchise deals during Dealmakers Week from April 22-25 starting at 10am CT each day. franchisetimes.com/franchise_merg…

BoeFly conducted its survey in mid-February, with respondents coming from several industries including automotive, education, fitness, health and beauty, home services, restaurants and retail. bit.ly/3JlLGxO

9Round Kickboxing bought iLoveKickboxing, creating a holding company with a not-yet-released name.

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Roger Duncan insists it gets easier the more family entertainment parks he adds. That’s a good thing because with 17 Sky Zones in his portfolio, he is the brand’s largest operator.

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