Monthly Archives: January 2018

Reading, CA – BUSINESS WIRE

Black Bear Diner, the fast-growing, family dining concept that offers a one-of-a-kind experience and home-style comfort food classics in a fun, bear-themed atmosphere, today announced it has signed a multi-unit development agreement with its existing franchise partners, Karan Gogri and Sanjiv Patel of National Restaurant Inc. This new agreement will bring an additional 19 units over a six-year period to both new and existing markets.

The agreement will bring new Black Bear Diner locations to the San Diego and Marin areas of California, as well as expand upon the brand’s upcoming entrance into Texas. The team will bring the brand to Austin and San Antonio, Texas for the first time, executing on the brand’s vision to expand eastward over the next several years. Gogri and his family currently own two Black Bear Diner locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.

“Karan and Sanjiv have been very strong partners to Black Bear Diner and their commitment, enthusiasm and proven ability to execute make them exceptional partners to grow the brand in these new and existing markets,” said Bruce Dean, co-founder and CEO of Black Bear Diner. “As we execute upon our plans to expand eastward, we will continue to seek out well qualified, committed multi-unit franchise partners who share our core beliefs and values.”

Gogri added: “As the son of restaurant franchise owners, I have grown up in this industry and have long valued the opportunities that come from identifying the right brand to partner with. Sanjiv and I have found this in Black Bear Diner, a brand that serves up exceptional food and strong values, and as a result has provided tremendous opportunity for us, along with several of our classmates from U.C. Santa Barbara who are now devoting their professional lives to growing this great brand as a part of our franchise group.”

Gogri and his college classmates will be instrumental in driving the day to day operations under this new development agreement. In 2018, the group is expecting to open one location in Marin County and two in San Diego, California. For more information on Black Bear Diner and its franchise visit https://blackbeardiner.com/franchising/

CLEVELAND, OH – PRNewswire

HealthSource, America’s largest group of clinics specializing in holistic healthcare, is kicking off the New Year by offering a free 10-Point Body Check-Up to help gym-goers keep their 2018 fitness resolutions. Those who complete the Check-Up at one of more than 250 participating HealthSource clinics will receive a free 7-day pass at participating Anytime Fitness gyms. If the individual decides to continue working out at Anytime Fitness, the initiation fee will be reduced by 50 percent and ongoing monthly fees by 10 percent.

Chicago, IL  (

Mamoun’s Falafel, the fastest growing Middle Eastern fast-casual restaurant in North America, is bringing their iconic falafel to Chicago. The popular Middle Eastern concept has announced the sale of a multi-unit franchise deal with franchisee Sagar Patel to bring five Mamoun’s Falafel stores to the Chicago area over the next 5 years.

Patel is an experienced franchisee with a long career in operating coffee and breakfast fast-casual concepts. At one point in his career, he managed 20 different retail locations simultaneously. His experience and success in the restaurant industry, coupled with his passion for the Mamoun’s concept, encouraged his decision to bring the beloved Middle Eastern concept to Chicago.

“My family and I are long-time fans of Mamoun’s and would always visit when we traveled to New York City,” said Patel. “I developed a real affinity and passion for the brand, and was immediately interested in joining the Mamoun’s Falafel legacy when I heard they were franchising.”

Mamoun’s Falafel was established in 1971 in Manhattan’s Greenwich Village by founder Mamoun Chater. The flagship location has been serving up authentic Middle Eastern cuisine ever since. Mamoun created the menu using traditional Syrian recipes, ingredients, and spices in order to deliver the most authentic Middle Eastern cuisine possible. The menu offers a variety of meat and vegetarian entreés, including falafel and shawarma sandwiches, chicken kebobs, lentil soup, and grape leaves, as well as traditional Middle Eastern pastries like baklava.

Mamoun’s is the ‘oldest falafel restaurant in New York City’ and has gathered numerous accolades in its 46-year run, including ‘Best Falafel’ by New York Press, one of ‘NYC’s Most Iconic Sandwiches’ by Eater NY, and has been featured in the book “1,000 Places to See Before You Die” and on the Food Network and Travel Guide Channel. The concept has also garnered praises from numerous actors, musicians, comedians, and other celebrities throughout the years.

Mamoun’s currently operates 6 locations in New York City, New Jersey, and Connecticut, with stores coming soon to Dallas and Chicago. In an effort to ensure the high-quality freshness of the menu, Mamoun’s uses a commissary that adheres to strict production system standards, and has also partnered with Cuisine Solutions, pioneers in the sous-vide cooking method, to ensure quality production of all of Mamoun’s authentic menu items. The concept has also partnered with U.S. Foods for distribution so that the menu can be properly duplicated all over the country, no matter the location.

The concept has teamed up with Fransmart, the industry leading franchise development company behind the explosive growth of brands like Five Guys Burgers and Fries, The Halal Guys, and Qdoba Mexican Grill, as their exclusive franchise development partner to grow the brand . Mamoun’s Falafel is currently looking for franchise partners to help introduce its menu to customers in major media markets across the country. To learn more about franchising with Mamoun’s Falafel visit: http://go.fransmart.com/mamounspr.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, the leading fast casual cafe concept known for its better-for-you food and smoothies with a tropical twist, announced today its largest franchisee DYNE Hospitality Group has signed a multi-unit agreement that will bring 26 new cafes to the Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas and Savannah, Georgia markets. The brand has made significant strides with franchise development and is experiencing tremendous momentum on the heels of a successful 2017, with their aggressive efforts resulting in the execution of more than 180 agreements.

Anchored by existing franchisees Glen Johnson and Nick Crouch, DYNE Hospitality Group will bring 22 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations to Dallas-Fort Worth and four to Savannah over the next several years, with the two cafes slated to open in Fort Worth during the first quarter of 2018.

“2017 was a year of incredible growth for us, as we significantly expanded Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s presence in several markets across the country,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. “With Glen Johnson and Nick Crouch joining forces and the execution of DYNE’s 26-unit deal for new locations in Texas and Georgia, we’re confident that we’ll not only sustain, but surpass, last year’s success in 2018.”

Johnson and Crouch merged their entities in December 2017 to form DYNE Hospitality Group, which now stands as Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s largest franchisee. The now partners are two of the brand’s top-performing operators and have continued to expand their portfolios since joining the company more than five years ago. Their decades of experience and ongoing success in the industry have inspired DYNE’s mission, which is to create opportunities through operational excellence, a practice they’ve learned through their partnership with Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

“With a proven business model, unparalleled service, wide menu variety and incredible corporate support, it’s no wonder Tropical Smoothie Cafe has established itself as a leader in the fast casual segment,” said Glen Johnson, Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee and co-CEO of DYNE Hospitality Group. “I’ve continued to grow my business since signing my first agreement in 2011 and have watched firsthand the brand consistently achieve tremendous success. Nick has followed a similar path and with our strong desire to open several more Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations, a partnership between us was a natural fit.”

Today, DYNE Hospitality Group owns and operates 41 Tropical Smoothie Cafe locations throughout Florida, Georgia, Texas, Arkansas and Oklahoma. The company has an additional 12 in development that will open in 2018 and set an overall goal to have 100 operating cafes in five years.

“Glen and I are eager to combine our experience and resources to build an exceptional company and further fuel Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s growth nationwide,” added Nick Crouch, Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee and co-CEO of DYNE Hospitality Group.

The food and smoothie franchise currently has franchise opportunities across the U.S. in markets such as Indianapolis, Kansas City, Houston, St. Louis, Philadelphia, Pittsburgh, Minneapolis and Columbus, among others. Fueled by its ongoing product innovation and consistent positive comp sales, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has experienced a surge of franchise development throughout the state that reinforces the brand’s role as a leader in the fast casual segment. By 2020, Tropical Smoothie Cafe plans to have 1,000 stores open across the U.S.

Tropical Smoothie Cafe is looking to add qualified franchisees to its growing brand. Candidates should have business experience; $125,000 in liquid assets and a minimum net worth of $350,000; and an initial investment of between $222,770 and $525,400. The better-for-you food franchise currently boasts an average unit volume (AUV) of more than $662,000 — the highest in the company’s 20-year history — with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of more than $846,000.

For more information about opening your own Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchise, please visit www.tropicalsmoothiefranchise.com.

WACO, Texas 

Recognizing another record-setting year, Restoration 1^®, one of the fastest-growing and most-trusted restoration franchises in North America, is ringing in the New Year with momentum from an aggressive franchise and service expansion in 2017. Highlights from last year included the acquisition of bluefrog Plumbing + Drain^®, the addition of key members to the leadership team, and growing Restoration 1 by 70 locations across the United States.

With a goal to continue aggressively growing the brand, and after welcoming their largest training class in history, Restoration 1 expanded to 31 states last year. The number of open locations grew from 106 to 176, with the largest area of growth in North Carolina.

Restoration 1 also expanded its service offerings with the introduction of the Contents Cleaning Program in 2017. A service that restores customer belongings after damages, the program allows participating franchisees to add an additional revenue generator to their existing business while offering expanded services to customers.

Last July also marked a key milestone for the brand as Restoration 1 acquired a complimentary service brand, Phoenix-based bluefrog Plumbing + Drain (bluefrog).Gary Findley, CEO of Restoration 1 and bluefrog, has started replicating the process used to grow Restoration 1 to similarly expand bluefrog across the United States.

“We celebrated another year full of monumental growth and development,” said Findley. “We reached new milestones with our national presence. The acquisition of bluefrog marked an exciting time for our team and an immense opportunity for our franchise networks across both brands. With our talented franchisees and dedicated corporate staff, we expect both brands to continue to push the boundaries of the restoration, remediation, and plumbing world in 2018.”

The leadership team expanded to help service both brands as well. Kurt Lee Hurley was hired as Vice President and Director of Marketing for both Restoration 1 and bluefrog, Thomas Dougherty joined as the Vice President of Sales Training, Todd Bingham assumed the duties of Vice President of Business Development, and Dan Thrush was appointed as Restoration 1 Franchise Consultant.

Restoration 1 was also honored by Entrepreneur when the brand earned its highest ranking in company history on the prestigious Franchise 500^® list where it jumped from #383 in 2016 to #96 in 2017. Additionally, Restoration 1 earned its first placement on Entrepreneur’s Fastest Growing Franchises List when they ranked #72.

PLANO, Texas (January 4, 2018) – Happy New Year! We’ve joined a gym!

More specifically, BizCom Associates, an award-winning Dallas-Fort Worth PR and marketing communications agency, has announced the addition of Gold’s Gym Franchising LLC to the client roster for 2018.

“As for resolutions, this news is all about getting bigger,” said Monica Feid, President of BizComPR. “Gold’s Gym is the undeniable icon for the fitness industry. And today, more than 50 years later, the franchise network is in the best shape ever. With an EBIDTA of 20.73% – a best among any franchisor we’ve ever worked with at BizCom – we are thrilled to be chosen to share that story as the franchise network continues to expand in the U.S. and abroad.”

Headquartered in Dallas, Gold’s Gym includes more than 700 locations around the world, an A-list leadership team, and the success of its new prototype opening in rapid order. The organization, a legend in its field, launched in 1965 and continues to redefine the industry. In 2018, the company is targeting aggressive franchise development to add more locations across the U.S. and to expand its presence in Europe.

“It’s a huge plus how celebrities like Arnold Schwarzenegger, Dwayne Johnson and John Cena have made Gold’s Gym famous over the years. But we are just as motivated by the success stories that are happening every day at franchise locations around the world,” Feid said. “That’s what makes our role in supporting the expansion of Gold’s Gym, a titan of the fitness industry, to even bigger heights truly magical.”

WACO, Texas (January 4, 2018) – Dwyer Franchising, LLC (“Dwyer Group”), one of the world’s largest franchising companies of trade service brands, has announced the largest Women in the Trade (WITT) Scholarship class since the program was launched in 2012 by Dina Dwyer-Owens, co-chair of Dwyer Group. Eight recipients were awarded a scholarship for the upcoming 2018 spring semester for their outstanding work, experience and passion for their chosen service trades industry.

The WITT initiative is one of the most recognizable efforts to educate and promote the hiring of women for traditionally male-dominated roles in the trades industry. The scholarships are available to women working towards a career in the trades, to students studying for a career in the trades, or to front-line female employees at franchise locations for any of Dwyer Group’s service brands. To-date the WITT program has awarded a total of $49,000 to 35 scholarship recipients.

“We are thrilled to see this program continue to grow year after year,” said Dwyer-Owens. “These eight women awarded the scholarships have shown their commitment to advancing their careers in the service trades, and we here at Dwyer Group are proud to contribute to their continued success.”

The 2018 WITT spring recipients include two-time recipient Brenda Hart of Dacano, CO, who is working towards a career in HVAC. Hart has come a long way from an office worker and is now halfway complete with her HVAC certification. She credits her change of career to watching Dwyer-Owens on an episode of Undercover Boss episode, which aired six years ago.

Scholarship recipients also include: Lauren Cassa of Hamilton, ON, Cheyenne Benge of Yakima, WA, and Shelley Malloy of Bath, MI, pursuing careers in HVAC; Lubelia Gocool of Phoenix, AZ, pursuing a career in restoration; Jacqueline Chouanard of Oshawa, ON, pursuing a master appliance repair technician certification; and Kristen Vance and Mary Joan Millane of Suwanee, GA, both enrolling in courses to become Certified remodeling Project Managers.

Gocool, Chouanard, Vance, Millane and Hart are all employed by franchisees of Dwyer Group brands.

“The need for skilled service tradespeople is at an all-time high and at Dwyer Group we are focused on ways to recruit dedicated and high-quality people for these jobs,” said Dwyer-Owens. “The WITT scholarships are just a starting point for these women as they begin to make great strides within their desired trade industry.”

The WITT scholarship is open to women 18 and older interested in pursuing a career in the trades and covers tuition, books, travel and/or fees. Funds can be applied to any accredited trade or technical school or certification program in the United States or Canada for specialties including: HVAC, plumbing, electrical repair, glass repair and replacement, appliance repair, restoration, painting, landscaping, residential cleaning or handyman services.

Candidates are evaluated based upon financial needs, previous work experience and their passion for their chosen industry. For more information and to apply, visit:http://www.dwyergroup.com/women-in-trades.asp or email WITT@dwyergroup.com.

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For more information, contact:

Cortney Haygood, BizCom Associates

(469) 442-7152/ Cortney@BizComPR.com

OKLAHOMA CITY–(BUSINESS WIRE)

Sonic Corp. (NASDAQ: SONC), the nation’s largest chain of drive-in restaurants, today announced results for its first fiscal quarter ended November 30, 2017.

Key highlights of the company’s first quarter of fiscal year 2018 included:

• Net income per diluted share increased 4% to $0.29 versus $0.28 in the prior-year period; adjusted net income per diluted share increased 25% to $0.30 versus $0.24 in the prior-year period;
• System same-store sales declined 1.7%, consisting of a 1.6% same-store sales decrease at franchise drive-ins and a 3.2% decrease at company drive-ins;
• Company drive-in margins declined 0.1%;
• 5 new drive-ins opened; and
• The company repurchased 1.7 million outstanding shares.

“As expected, our first quarter same-store sales declined modestly versus prior year reflecting continued intense competitive pressure and unfavorable weather,” said Cliff Hudson, Sonic Corp. CEO. “Excluding the impact of weather, same-store sales were flat, indicating an improvement in underlying traffic trends.

“During the quarter, we promoted the Carhop Classic for $2.99, featuring our full-sized cheeseburger and medium hand-made onion rings, a value offering with a highly compelling price point, broad consumer appeal and strong quality differentiation. In addition to driving improved traffic, the introduction of a sharper everyday value message also improved value and quality scores from customers, validating our evolution to more focused and consistent national value promotions. We will continue to refine this strategy as we move through the remainder of the fiscal year, seeking to balance everyday value and consistent profitability for franchisees while staying true to Sonic’s core tenets of quality, differentiation and innovation.

“While price competition remains fierce, we are hard at work driving the business in areas we can control. We continue to refine our current media strategies, resulting in increased impressions on national cable today and new creative content in the market this spring. We have growing confidence in our product pipeline as we look out to the key summer season and our mobile order ahead pilot is underway.

“Finally, we continue to optimize our capital structure and return cash to shareholders. During the quarter, we repurchased 1.7 million shares, or 4% of shares outstanding, for $40.8 million. We have increased our targeted leverage range to 3.5-4.5x net-debt-to-EBITDA and anticipate concluding the year at the higher end of the range.”

Financial Overview

For the first fiscal quarter of 2018, the company’s net income totaled $11.4 million or $0.29 per diluted share compared to net income of $13.1 million or $0.28 per diluted share in the same period of the prior year. Excluding the items outlined below, net income increased 5% and net income per diluted share increased 25%.

The following analysis of non-GAAP adjustments is intended to supplement the presentation of the company’s financial results in accordance with GAAP. The company believes that the presentation of this analysis provides useful information to investors and management regarding the underlying business trends and the performance of the company’s ongoing operations and is helpful for period-to-period and company-to-company comparisons, which management believes will assist investors in analyzing the financial results of the company and predicting future performance.

Fiscal Year 2018 Outlook

While the macroeconomic environment may impact results, the company continues to expect adjusted earnings per share for fiscal year 2018 to increase 5% to 10%⁽¹⁾ year over year, excluding the impact of the recently passed federal tax legislation. The outlook for fiscal 2018 anticipates the following elements:

• Approximately 0% to 2% same-store sales growth for the system;
• Royalty revenue growth from new unit development;
• 70 to 80 new franchise drive-in openings;
• Drive-in-level margins of 15.1% to 15.7%, depending upon the degree of same-store sales growth at company drive-ins;
• Selling, general and administrative expenses of approximately $76 million to $78 million;
• Depreciation and amortization expense of $40 million to $42 million;
• Net interest expense of approximately $32 million to $34 million;
• Capital expenditures of $38 million to $40 million; excluding spending on build-to-suit drive-in development, capital outlays would be $34 million to $36 million;
• Free cash flow⁽²⁾ of approximately $60 million to $65 million⁽¹⁾;
• An income tax rate of approximately 35%⁽¹⁾;
• The repurchase of approximately $160 million in shares across the fiscal year; and
• An expected quarterly cash dividend of $0.16 per share.

Earnings Conference Call

The company will host a conference call to review financial results at 5:00 PM ET this evening. The conference call can be accessed live over the phone by dialing (800) 281-7973 or (323) 794-2093 for international callers. A replay will be available one hour after the call and can be accessed by dialing (844) 512-2921 or (412) 317-6671 for international callers; the conference ID is 8837715. The replay will be available until Thursday, January 11, 2018. An online replay of the conference call will be available approximately two hours after the conclusion of the live broadcast. A link to this event will be available on the investor section of the company’s website, sonicdrivein.com.

OMAHA, NE -PRNewswire –

As a winter storm threatens the East Coast, Home Instead Senior Care is encouraging us all to help senior loved ones and neighbors stay safe in the snow and extreme cold temperatures.

“Winter is a difficult time, and storms like this can be especially hard on seniors,” said Lakelyn Hogan, gerontologist at Home Instead Senior Care. “Older adults can be relatively sensitive to even moderately cold conditions and they can suffer hypothermia without knowing they’re in danger, so we want to make sure seniors and their loved ones are aware of simple ways they can stay safe and warm in extreme conditions.”

Those over the age of 65 account for nearly half of all hypothermia deaths. As the body ages, the ability to maintain a normal internal body temperature decreases, creating an insensitivity to moderately cold temperatures. Seniors may not realize they are putting themselves at risk until symptoms appear. Symptoms of hypothermia include: shivering, exhaustion, confusion, fumbling hands, memory loss, slurred speech and drowsiness. If symptoms are present, immediate medical attention is necessary. The leading reason for hypothermia in the elderly is due to poorly heated homes, which is entirely preventable. Follow these simple tips to ensure a warm household.

Stay Warm

• Keep the thermostat at 65 degrees, at least. Consistently check it to make sure your home is sufficiently warm. Even as heating costs rise, your safety should be a priority.
• Put a carbon monoxide detector near where you sleep.
• Ensure that there is adequate insulation, and check and clean the fireplace and furnace. Furnace filters should be replaced monthly.
• Minimize drafts by filling old socks with sand and using them in drafty windowsills and door jambs. Weather-strip around windows and doors. Keep doors to unused rooms closed and close curtains at night.
• Add an extra blanket to the bed and warm the bed in advance with a hot water bottle. Never use an electric blanket – it may be difficult to operate the controls if the temperature needs to be adjusted in the night.
• Dress in layers of loose fitting clothing. If you go outside, make sure your head is covered.

Every year, more than 1.6 million seniors end up in the emergency room because of a fall. With icy conditions, the chances of falling are even greater.

Preventing Falls

• Take a couple minutes per day and stretch your limbs in order to loosen muscles.
• Stay inside – make arrangements for someone to shovel and salt driveways and walkways. Professional caregivers can assist with to-do items, such as bringing in the mail and/or picking up groceries.
• Wear shoes or boots with a non-skid sole.
• Have handrails installed on outside walls for frequently used walkways.
• If you use a cane or walker, check the rubber tips to make sure they are not worn smooth.

Winter weather can take a toll on everyone, especially seniors. Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) can occur in seniors and impact their emotional health. Some signs to watch for with SAD include: a loss of energy, an increased appetite and an enhanced feeling of lethargy and tiredness. If symptoms are present, talk to your medical provider about treatment options.

Additionally, winter storms can be unpredictable. It is important to be prepared in case of an emergency.

Build a network

• Stay in touch in with family, friends and neighbors. Schedule phone calls, or enlist the help of a professional caregiver to come in for an hour a week.
• Make arrangements for assistance in case of a blizzard or power outage. Keep important numbers in an emergency kit, along with non-perishable foods, water and medications.
• Be familiar with your local resources. Visit www.ready.gov/seniors, www.noaa.gov or www.redcross.org for more information about cold weather.

To learn how Home Instead Senior Care can assist in the cold weather, visit www.homeinstead.com.

ATLANTA, GA – PRNewswire 

Pretzelmaker® is extending its thanks to customers in the form of a great pretzel deal. As part of Customer Appreciation Month, the national pretzel bakery will offer $1 pretzels* (Original Salted or Unsalted) every Tuesday in January during regular store hours. No limit! To add another great twist to the deal, customers who purchase the $1 pretzels, will also receive a coupon for free Pretzel Bites with purchase on their next visit.

Pretzelmaker is known for fresh delicious pretzels and product innovation. With stores across the U.S., the bakery has thousands of loyal fans and is the original creator of Mini Pretzel Dogs, Pretzel Bites and Mozzarella Stuffed Bites. The $1 Customer Appreciation pretzel is a hot deal as Original Salted and Unsalted are regularly priced at $3 (suggested retail).

“Celebrating Customer Appreciation Month with our $1 pretzel deal has become an annual tradition at Pretzelmaker and it’s our way of sharing the love with our fans,” said Lisa Cheatham, Director of Marketing, Pretzelmaker. “Our customers have made us one of the country’s most popular pretzel bakeries and for that we are extremely grateful. Come visit us on Tuesdays in January with your friends and family and take advantage of this great deal.” For more information and store locations, visit our website www.pretzelmaker.com or join us on social media: follow @pretzelmaker on Twitter; add @pretzelmakerpics on Instagram; follow “Pretzelmaker” on Snapchat; or become a fan of the brand on Facebook www.facebook.com/pretzelmaker.
*Valid for Salted or Unsalted pretzels only. Offer valid on 1/2, 1/9, 1/16, 1/23, 1/30. Valid at participating locations only. Not valid with any other offer. Customer responsible for applicable taxes.