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HARTLAND, Wis. — In response to the 30-plus store openings and the signing of 55 new franchise agreements thus far in 2021, Batteries Plus, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb, key fob and repair franchise, announced today the promotion of one of its key leaders, Joe Malmuth, to Vice President of Franchise Development and Relations. This announcement comes on the heels of two incredible quarters of growth for the company including the largest multi-unit development agreement in brand history.

Malmuth ascends the leadership ladder from his previous position of Managing Director of Franchise Development, a title he has held since joining the Batteries Plus team in May 2020. Over the past year, Malmuth has been responsible for overseeing all aspects of franchise development. In addition to working with new owners and franchise consultants to expand the system, he has also been managing programs focused on helping current owners develop territory and facilitate transactions. In the year since his hiring, Malmuth has driven the development strategy for the brand, inking franchise agreements that will continue to bring new Batteries Plus stores to communities across the county.

“We’re seeing more than 70 people a week inquire about joining our brand, and we have started weekly Discovery Days to handle the amount of interest in joining Batteries Plus,” said Malmuth. “Because of the consistency and resiliency of our model in these uncertain times, and our 30-year track record of success – Batteries Plus continues to be one of the best franchise investments in the market today.”

Prior to joining Batteries Plus, Malmuth served as Vice President of Franchise Relations at My Eyelab, the fastest-growing optical retail franchise in the country and prior to that position, he worked for six years at United Franchise Group, which consists of a number of award-winning business-to-business brands and franchise development services, including some of the world’s largest industry-leading names.

“The past year has been a tremendous time in our brand’s history. From successfully navigating the pandemic with our offering of essential products and services to signing the largest franchise agreement our brand has ever seen, we can directly attribute our success to the work Joe and his team have done,” said Jon Sica, Chief Strategy and Development Officer. “I’m looking forward to seeing Joe continue to make a big impact on our franchise and am confident we will see another record-breaking year in 2021 as a result.”

To learn more about Batteries Plus, including information on the franchise opportunity or tour a store virtually, visit batteriesplusfranchise.com

MIAMI — Barbecue lovers nationwide, prepare for a groundbreaking advancement in the ghost kitchen industry. The world’s largest barbecue chain, Dickey’s Barbecue Pit, has partnered with Combo Kitchen to promote nationwide expansion of their brand through ghost kitchens. Since 1941, Dickey’s has been serving up delicious, fall-off-the-bone barbecue, utilizing the same recipes they perfected over 80 years ago. Known for Texas-style hickory slow smoked meats and a family-focused reputation, Dickey’s has grown to become the leader in barbecue and an inspiration for fast-casual restaurants worldwide. The partnership creates an opportunity for experienced professionals to operate a Dickey’s of their own utilizing Combo Kitchen’s ghost kitchen franchise model, all while bringing the sweet and savory flavors of Texas barbecue to new neighborhoods across the country. The partnership also includes both Wing Boss and Big Deal Burgers, family brands of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit.

Combo Kitchen allows restaurant owners and entrepreneurs to select from a variety of established brands for placement in new or existing restaurants, offered for takeout and delivery only. Restaurant owners can take advantage of their kitchen space by adding established brands to their restaurants as ghost kitchens. Operating entirely behind the scenes and without disruption of their typical operations, this allows them to instantly increase their restaurant’s revenue. Investors without an existing restaurant can open a ghost kitchen from scratch featuring a variety of Combo Kitchen’s network brands.

“Partnering with Dickey’s provides our franchisees with the opportunity to profit off of a proven and established brand that customers instantly recognize, unlike most ordinary ghost kitchens offering virtual brands” says Combo Kitchen CEO Hossein Kasmai, “With the need for brand recognition campaigns essentially eradicated, offering a brand like Dickey’s as a virtual concept gives restaurant owners or investors the key ingredient to operating a successful ghost kitchen.”

The market for food delivery has expanded rapidly in recent years, accentuated by the effects of COVID-19 on America’s dining habits. Before the pandemic, the industry for ghost kitchens (A.K.A. dark kitchens, cloud kitchens, or virtual kitchens) was already flourishing, due largely in part to the convenience they provide to younger, more technology-savvy generations. In 2020, the trend that was ignited by the millennial mindset exploded into a new cultural norm due to government mandated shutdowns and the need for societal adjustments mid-pandemic. The global ghost kitchen industry is estimated to reach $1 trillion by 2030.

“Combo Kitchen is a unique franchising opportunity which allows us flexibility to enter new markets at a much lower build cost for operators,” said Roland Dickey, Jr., CEO of Dickey’s Capital Group “Interest among new and existing franchisees combined with utilizing the convenience provided by Combo Kitchen, Dickey’s can capitalize on the rapidly growing delivery market and add new ways to serve our guests Texas-style barbecue.”

Combo Kitchen, recognized as one of the fastest-growing franchises and ghost kitchen concepts, has expanded exponentially to many states across the US. Dickey’s Barbecue Pit boasts over 550 locations, earning it the title of the World’s Largest Barbecue Chain. With this partnership, Combo Kitchen expects to expand Dickey’s by at least 100 more locations within the next year.

National Battery Retailer Signs 8-Unit Deal to Expand Presence in North Carolina.

RALEIGH, N.C. — Batteries Plus, the nation’s largest and fastest-growing battery, light bulb, key fob and repair franchise, today announces the largest single signing franchise deal in company history, bringing eight new locations to the Raleigh-Durham area of North Carolina over the next three years. This new agreement will bring the total store count to 16 in the market.

The eight-unit agreement is spearheaded by multi-unit developer Tribat, LLC, who came to Batteries Plus inspired by the strength and stability of the brand. With over 30 years of experience in the oil and gas retail industry, the development group brings with it expertise in store development and retail operations. The first store is set to open in Raleigh-Durham in early 2022.

“The Batteries Plus brand is in a period of tremendous growth which is a result of our unique combination of product expertise, speed, and omni-channel offerings which allow our owners to thrive in an evolving digital, online retail environment,” said Joe Malmuth, Vice President of Franchise Development. “It is an exciting time in our brand’s history and this most recent eight-unit franchise agreement is validation of the attractiveness and stability of our business model.”

With over 700 store locations nationwide, Batteries Plus franchise owners are passionate about providing essential products and services for their local communities. Batteries Plus has also carved out a unique niche in the industry with its ‘plus’ services – including battery installation and key fob programming – capitalizing on both its knowledge and service offerings.

The stability of the Batteries Plus business model became more apparent than ever last year when, after being deemed an essential business, Batteries Plus stores across the country continued to meet the needs of customers without missing a beat – and at a time when health and safety were a top priority. Building off the strong momentum of last year, Batteries Plus has achieved incredible growth thus far in 2021. The newly signed eight-unit deal comes in addition to the 34 signed franchise agreements and 30-plus store openings the brand has already accomplished this year. By investing in Batteries Plus, these franchisees express their confidence in the brand’s strength and durability, especially after what’s been a difficult year for many business owners.

To learn more about Batteries Plus, including information on the franchise opportunity or tour a store virtually, visit batteriesplusfranchise.com.