franchisee of the year

AUSTIN, Texas — FirstLight Home Care, an award-winning provider of non-medical home care, today announced it will open a new location in Austin next month. The offices will be owned and operated by Bobby and Michelle Scruggs.

FirstLight Home Care of Austin will be serving primarily southwest Austin, including Lakeway, Bee Cave, Westlake Hills, Barton Creek, Oak Hill and Sunset Valley.

FirstLight serves seniors, adults with disabilities, new mothers, veterans, those recovering from surgery and other adults in need of assistance. Their caregivers help with many needs – from personal hygiene and household duties such as cooking, cleaning and running errands to mobility assistance and dementia care.

“This Austin office will help meet the increasing demand for home care in the area as baby boomers choose to age at home,” said Jeff Bevis, FirstLight Home Care co-founder and CEO. “We are eager to extend FirstLight’s culture of care to meet this growing need and help improve the well-being of members of the community.”

Since opening its first franchise location in 2010, FirstLight Home Care has experienced steady growth and is now operating more than 250 locations in 34 states throughout the U.S.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Cover the grill and fire up the drill, it’s pumpkin carving season! The nation’s leading property maintenance, repair and improvement franchise, Mr. Handyman, a Neighborly company, is celebrating Halloween with a photo contest to give North America’s pumpkin carving pros a chance to show off their unique handmade creations.

To enter the Pumpkin Carving contest, visit: https://mrhandyman.app.do/mr-handyman-pumpkin-carving-contest and submit a photo of your pumpkin by Wednesday, October 31, 2018 at 11:59 CT. Mr. Handyman will reward five random winners with a $250 gift card to Lowe’s Home Improvement.

“Our technicians are experts at wielding cordless drills, jigsaws and sawzalls to not only create pumpkin masterpieces, but to also cut down the time it takes to carve pumpkins,” said Mr. Handyman President J.B. Sassano. “We are interested in seeing what tips, tricks and pumpkin carving techniques people use at home to create their own ghoulish gourd.”

To learn more about Mr. Handyman’s Pumpkin Carving Contest, please visit: https://mrhandyman.app.do/mr-handyman-pumpkin-carving-contest. For additional decoration inspiration, visit Mr. Handyman’s website for free pumpkin carving templates, power tool tutorials and tips to make your pumpkin the best on the block at: http://www.mrhandyman.com/pumpkin.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Assisted Living Locators, a leading senior care referral and placement agency, announced today it is partnering with Seniorly, a powerful open online marketplace specializing in senior living search. This partnership offers families nationwide a “first-of-its-kind” service that adds the personal touch by offering customized tours of pre-screened facilities. This collaboration solidifies both companies’ commitment to transforming the way aging citizens and families connect to senior housing. Free to users on Seniorly.com, this unique booking service for personal tours extends nationwide.

Through this partnership, Seniorly will connect families via their online platform with Assisted Living Locators senior living advisors. These local experts will provide families a personalized experience with tours of vetted facilities, as well as share insider-knowledge on short- and long-term care options. Seniorly’s easy-to-use online marketplace lets users on web and mobile devices search, compare, save, share and select from thousands of facilities based on factors including location, cost, size, languages spoken and non-medical needs, as well as provides property ratings and reviews.

The collaboration between the two companies reinvents the senior housing search process and challenges the status quo of today’s online senior resource platforms, according to Assisted Living Locators CEO RN Angela Olea.

“This partnership combines Assisted Living Locators’ local placement expertise with Seniorly’s easy-to-use, intuitive search platform technology to reinvent a new service that has never been provided in the senior housing search process,” said Olea. “Families want more engagement and personalized service from online senior resource platforms. With our alliance, we are bringing a new physical reality to today’s digital services. Families will find our new service an appealing alternative to the limited offerings of online platforms.”

“Seniorly is excited to partner with Assisted Living Locators and their experienced team of eldercare advisors to give families this innovative tool in the senior housing search process,” said Seniorly CEO Arthur Bretschneider. “We are thrilled to be the first online platform to offer this new personal dimension to provide an even better experience for families once they are ready to tour and narrow their list of the right options for their loved one.”

Irvine, CA – Like any holiday, National Taco Day is about celebrating something we love: in this case, tacos. That’s why Taco Bell is observing the holiday with the magical gift of tacos and saying “seasoned beefings” with the $5 National Taco Day Gift Set, available in restaurants nationwide exclusively on October 4.

“Holidays certainly differ across the globe, but we know that a celebration of taco love is nearly universal,” said Marisa Thalberg, Global Chief Brand Officer at Taco Bell Corp. “National Taco Day has become a beloved tradition in the United States, and it is our honor to help translate that tradition to our friends around the world.”

With an unparalleled collection of four incredible hardshell tacos, the National Taco Day Gift Set includes the Crunchy Taco as well as the Fiery, Cool Ranch® and Nacho Cheese Doritos® Locos Tacos for just $5 – for fans to enjoy on their own or to gift this holiday season. To show that special someone they care, fans can send a digital gift card for $5 plus applicable taxes to their friends to gift the exclusive set along with a personal message because no holiday exchange is complete without one.

Forget that special box of chocolates or sparkling diamonds, Taco Bell is bringing taco season to fans leading up to October 4 with holiday commercial parodies highlighting the $5 National Taco Day Gift Set as the hottest gift of the season. With the return of National Taco Day also comes the return of many Taco Bell holiday traditions, including airings of the classic animated tale “Glen and the Magic Taco,” a magical digital short inspired by Taco Bell’s founder Glen Bell that tells the story of National Taco Day’s origin according to the brand.

Tomorrow might be the big day, but Taco Bell kicked off celebrations back on September 20 and has been helping fans get into the holiday spirit for weeks with a host of activities on Ta.co/day. While seasons come and go, Taco Bell is forever and fans can rep their love of tacos year-round with an exclusive National Taco Day t-shirt from the Taco Bell Taco Shop.

Celebrations officially kick off in U.S. restaurants nationwide tomorrow, but as Taco Bell announced in September that for the first time ever, the global brand will celebrate National Taco Day in more than 20 countries across the world. Follow #NationalTacoDay for festivities happening across the globe and for more suggestions on how to celebrate the big day.

CANTON, MA – Baskin-Robbins, the world’s largest chain of specialty ice cream shops, is inviting its ghoulish guests to enter Baskin-Robbins locations at their own risk this October to enjoy frighteningly delicious frozen treats that celebrate the scariest month of the year. Guests can enjoy a spooktacular product lineup that includes the Fang-Tastic Monster Cake, Trick OREO® Treat Flavor of the Month and wickedly good deals such as a small Cappuccino Blast® for $2.99.

Terrifyingly Tasty Treats

The frighteningly-friendly and fuzzy Fang-Tastic Monster Cake is a festive orange cake that can be customized with a guest’s favorite ice cream and cake flavors, including Trick OREO® Treat, the October Flavor of the Month.

Trick OREO® Treat is a classic Halloween favorite featuring the perfect combination of some of the best Halloween candies in one indulgent bite. This festive flavor features vanilla ice cream with orange crème-filled OREO® cookies, Baby Ruth® and Butterfinger® candy pieces and can be enjoyed in a cup, cone, sundae or even blended into a thick, creamy milkshake.

Wickedly Good Deals

Baskin-Robbins is scaring guests all month long with spooky deals, including a small Cappuccino Blast® for $2.99. The Cappuccino Blast is a delicious frozen coffee beverage that features a rich combination of coffee from 100% Arabica coffee beans, milk and ice cream blended with ice and topped with whipped cream and a cinnamon garnish. This fully customizable beverage can be created with seasonal flavors like Pumpkin Pie, Caramel Praline Cheesecake and Banana Nut.

Guests will also scream for ice cream throughout October when select ice cream cakes will be available for purchase beginning at $12.99. This includes the new OREO® Cookie Crumb Mini Roll Cake, a round ice cream cake topped with chocolate sauce, whipped topping and OREO® Cookies, and the Celebration Mini Roll Cake is a festive roll cake adorned with colorful frosting ribbons. These cakes will be available at participating U.S. locations as well as online at www.baskinrobbins.com/onlineordering.

Finally, mummies, ghosts and vampires alike can lift their spirits this Halloween with October’s Celebrate 31* promotion. This October 31st, guests can celebrate Halloween in the sweetest way possible with any regular or kids-sized scoop of ice cream for $1.50 at participating locations nationwide – bone appetite!

“We know how much our guests love Halloween and we’re so excited to treat them to a hauntingly delicious lineup of Halloween-themed desserts and wickedly good deals all month long,” said Carol Austin, Vice President of Marketing for Baskin-Robbins. “We are especially thrilled about the October Celebrate 31 promotion, where guests can stop by any Baskin-Robbins location for a Halloween treat.”

For more information about Baskin-Robbins’ wide variety of premium ice cream flavors and frozen desserts, visit www.BaskinRobbins.com or follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/BaskinRobbins), Twitter (www.twitter.com/BaskinRobbins) or Instagram (www.instagram.com/BaskinRobbins).

OREO is a trademark of Mondelez International group, used under license.

* Offer valid on October 31st. Offer varies in Detroit, Michigan, Houston Texas, San Jose, California and Fresno, California. Participation may vary. Scoop offer good on every size scoop. All listed flavors are optional amongst Baskin-Robbins’ stores. Waffle cones and toppings are extra. Cannot be combined with other offers. Plus applicable tax.

NEWPORT BEACH, CA – PRNewswire

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) will donate half of all sales from its 60 North Carolina restaurants on Sunday, September 30 to the United Way Hurricane Florence Recovery Fund. The fund will help local United Ways meet storm-related needs and support mid- to long-term recovery throughout the affected regions.

“Our communities – including our employees and our customers – across North Carolina are dealing with the destruction of Florence, and we want to do what we can to help rebuild,” said Brian Niccol, Chipotle CEO. “Since the storm hit, we’ve fed volunteers, worked with our local suppliers to donate food, and made sure our employees were compensated even when restaurants were closed. Being part of the community means taking care of each other, and we hope to do just that by raising funds for the United Way Hurricane Florence Recovery Fund.”

“United Way is grateful to work with organizations, like Chipotle, that share our commitment to helping those in crisis find a path to recovery,” said Mary Sellers, U.S. president, United Way Worldwide. “The Florence-affected areas of North Carolina are, and will continue to face severe challenges. United Way is continually assessing storm damage and resulting needs. With Chipotle and its customers, we’ll continue to fight for the health and safety of every North Carolinian affected by Florence.”

To contribute to the cause, residents can simply visit any Chipotle in North Carolina at any time from open to close (10:45 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) on Sunday, September 30, and half the pre-tax proceeds of all food and beverage sales will be donated to United Way. Digital, catering and takeout orders placed for September 30, in addition to any orders placed in the restaurants, will also be included in this fundraising effort.

In addition to the fundraiser scheduled in the 60 North Carolina restaurants, Chipotle has donated more than 1,500 burritos to feed first responders over the last two weeks. Chipotle also made a cash donation to the Red Cross for immediate emergency efforts.

DENVER, CO – PRNewswire

Back by popular demand, Smashburger® will once again offer the Smash Pass™ to keep you well-fed through the holiday season. Beginning September 28, 2018, fans can purchase the Smash Pass™ for just $100, and this time it’s better than ever.

Available online only, the Smash Pass™ grants you one FREE entrée every day from November 5, 2018, to February 14, 2019, at participating locations. That’s 100 days of free burgers! Enjoy any entrée – including the iconic Triple Double, with triple the cheese and double the beef in every bite – or choose from options like black bean burgers, grilled and crispy chicken sandwiches, and fresh signature salads.

Last year, the original Smash Pass™ offered an incredible value with $1 burgers every day. This year Smashburger has raised the stakes with 100 days of completely FREE Smashburgers. Plus, you can purchase the Smash Pass™ as a delicious gift for family and friends.

“Our fans raved about the original Smash Pass ™and have been begging for it to make a comeback,” said David Martinelli, Vice President of Marketing at Smashburger. “We wanted to elevate the experience for our most loyal fans and really give them a lot of burger for their buck. Getting more than $600 worth of burgers for just $100 really takes the sting out of the expensive holiday season.”

Getting the new Smash Pass™ is easy. Simply visit Smashburger.com/SmashPass and sign up for the SmashClub™ rewards program. Purchase the Smash Pass™ for $100, and every day from November 5, 2018, to February 14, 2019, a FREE entrée coupon will be added to your SmashClub™ account and is valid for that day only. Then just visit your neighborhood Smashburger and choose your favorite entrée!

The Smash Pass™ will be available for a limited time online only at Smashburger.com/SmashPass beginning September 28, 2018. Hurry and snag 100 days of free entrées while there’s still time.

As a bonus, purchase a Coca-Cola® fountain beverage when using your Smash Pass™ and you will be automatically entered to win an all-expenses-paid trip to Las Vegas for two!

For more information on Smashburger®, please visit smashburger.com or check us out on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

PITTSBURGH, PA – GLOBE NEWSWIRE

GNC Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: GNC), a leading specialty health, wellness, and performance retailer, today announced the nationwide launch of Earth Genius, a new line of more than 40 nature-inspired products.

The entire line of Earth Genius products is gluten-free, non-GMO, and crafted with no artificial colors, flavors, or sweeteners. Additionally, many products meet the needs of customers with diets that are vegan or have no soy, no added sugar, or no dairy.

“Earth Genius helps meet the demands of a broadened customer base, particularly those looking to live a healthier, cleaner lifestyle,” said Ken Martindale, Chairman and CEO of GNC. “The market for more natural health supplements continues to grow rapidly – expected to hit $68 billion by 2024 according to Persistence Market Research – and we believe strongly this can be an area of opportunity for the business.”

The Earth Genius line offers solutions spanning multiple categories, including energy, digestive health, immune support, metabolism, beauty, relaxation and exercise performance. Products range from vitamins and minerals, to superfoods, greens, plant-based proteins, and oils and vinegars.

Among the key products that are being introduced are:

• SuperFoods Supreme: A blend of 35 different superfood ingredients that includes six different organic mushrooms, along with protein, prebiotic, and enzyme support.
• Smart Greens: A way to infuse more than 40 fruits, vegetables, greens, mushrooms and botanicals into a daily diet in a convenient way.
• OrganIQ Eats: An organic plant-based protein with 24 vitamins and minerals that supports energy and lean muscle.

Further innovation in Earth Genius is found in several new detoxes and TonIQ products, which also helps reach consumers looking for different healthy living solutions. For example, GNC is growing its offerings around beauty and skincare with products like Earth Genius Beauty TonIQ, a combination of collagen and Sicilian blood orange extract, an antioxidant-rich botanical that protects and improves skin tone.

To learn more about Earth Genius, visit www.GNC.com/EarthGenius.

COLORADO SPRINGS, CO – PRNewswire

LearningRx , the world’s largest personal brain training company, is announcing that it will lower its franchise fees and initial investment as part of its celebration to mark a major milestone: 15 years of franchising.

The announcement comes on the heels of the personal brain training franchise being named No. 1 in Franchise Times’ education category for first-time franchisees. LearningRx was chosen for its unit volumes, return on investment and online polling of Franchise Times readers. The company was also listed under Entrepreneur’s 10 Hottest Franchise Business Categories for 2018, being named a top choice for Education Franchise by Franchise Rankings and being named a Top 100 Franchise by Franchise Gator. LearningRx has garnered countless awards and accolades, including ranking on Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500, Franchise Business Review’s Franchisee Satisfaction Award, Franchise Gator’s Top 10 Fastest Growing Franchises, Franchise Times’ Top 200 and rankings on Bond’s Top 100 Franchises and Franchise Grade’s Top 500 for Lowe Investment Risk, among many others. A full list of awards can be viewed here: http://www.learningrx-franchise.com/award-winning-franchise/. In addition, LearningRx’s franchisee satisfaction (NPS) rating is one of the highest among franchise systems. About 80% of its executive team members have Certified Franchise Executive credentials. (The average franchisor has less than 5%!)

The award helps further distinguish the one-on-one cognitive skills training company from an industry sometimes confused with “brain games.” LearningRx programs are based on 35 years of research and input from a team of psychologists, educators, speech and language pathologists, and occupational therapists. With 100,000 students having graduated its brain training programs, LearningRx has plenty of data for independent researchers to study its unique cognitive training methodology and results through its sister nonprofit, the Gibson Institute of Cognitive Research (www.gibsonresearchinstitute.org).

CANTON, MA – Dunkin’ Donuts has been on a first-name basis with its fans long before the introduction of its iconic tagline, “America Runs on Dunkin’,’’ with customers around the world naturally and affectionately referring to the brand as “Dunkin’.” In recognition of this relationship, and as one of many steps to transform itself into the premier beverage-led, on-the-go brand, the company today unveiled its new branding at its Global Franchisee Convention that officially recognizes its name as simply “Dunkin’.” The change will officially take place in January 2019.

The new branding conveys the company’s focus on serving great coffee fast, while embracing Dunkin’s heritage by retaining its familiar pink and orange colors and iconic font, introduced in 1973. Beginning the first of the year, the new branding will appear on packaging, as well as the company’s advertising, website and social channels. Going forward, the new “Dunkin’” logo will also be featured on exterior and interior signage on all new and remodeled stores in the U.S. and, eventually, internationally. The brand tested the new logo extensively, including on exterior signage at Dunkin’ locations featuring its next generation design concept over the past year.

According to Dunkin’ Brands’ CEO and Dunkin’ U.S. President David Hoffmann, “Our new branding is one of many things we are doing as part of our blueprint for growth to modernize the Dunkin’ experience for our customers. From our next generation restaurants, to our menu innovation, on-the-go ordering and value offerings, all delivered at the speed of Dunkin’, we are working to provide our guests with great beverages, delicious food and unparalleled convenience. We believe our efforts to transform Dunkin’, while still embracing our incredible heritage, will keep our brand relevant for generations to come.”

“By simplifying and modernizing our name, while still paying homage to our heritage, we have an opportunity to create an incredible new energy for Dunkin’, both in and outside our stores,” said Tony Weisman, Chief Marketing Officer, Dunkin’ U.S. “We are bringing the iconic name Dunkin’ to the forefront in a bold way that brings to life how we refill optimism with each cup and bring fun, joy and delight to our customers each and every day.”

Brand Refresh part of the Dunkin’ Blueprint for Growth

The new branding, developed in partnership with new creative and branding agencies Jones Knowles Ritchie (JKR), BBDO New York and Arc Worldwide, is one part of Dunkin’s multi-faceted blueprint for growth, a plan designed to transform the company into the premier beverage-led, on-the-go brand. Recent initiatives have included a simplified menu, a greater emphasis on beverages like Cold Brew Coffee, Nitro Coffee and Iced Teas, the introduction of unique products like Donut Fries, an increasing emphasis on On-the-Go Mobile Ordering, and most importantly, the introduction of Dunkin’s next generation design concept.

Specifically designed to meet the needs and demands of today’s on-the-go consumer, the next generation store design offers new and innovative elements to make running on Dunkin’ faster and more convenient than ever before. The key in-store elements include an eight-headed tap system for cold beverages encouraging crew members to serve guests like bartenders, a glass bakery case putting donuts in the forefront within arm’s reach of guests, and more prominent and engaging mobile-order pick up areas, as well as the first-ever mobile order drive-thru lane to allow mobile users to speed past the line.

Dunkin’ to Remain Sweet on Donuts

Although the word “donuts” will no longer appear in the logo or branding, donuts will remain a significant focus for the brand. As the #1 retailer of donuts in America, selling more than 2.9 billion donuts and MUNCHKINS® donut hole treats annually worldwide, each Dunkin’ restaurant is required to make the most popular donuts available every day, along with local favorites, so that guests know they will be able to find the top-selling donuts and fun seasonal varieties no matter which Dunkin’ location they visit.

Earlier this season Dunkin’ brought back its popular Pumpkin Donut and MUNCHKINS® donut hole treats for a sweet taste of fall. The brand will be revealing this year’s lineup of Halloween-themed donut varieties early next month.

From Open Kettle to Dunkin’

The story of Dunkin’ began in 1948 with a donut and coffee restaurant in Quincy, Massachusetts called “Open Kettle.” Founder William Rosenberg served donuts for five cents and premium cups of coffee for ten cents. After a brainstorming session with his executives, Rosenberg renamed his restaurant “Dunkin’ Donuts” in 1950. His goal was to “make and serve the freshest, most delicious coffee and donuts quickly and courteously in modern, well-merchandised stores,” a philosophy which still holds true today. In 1955, the first Dunkin’ Donuts franchise opened, and, in just 10 years, the number of restaurants had grown to over 100 shops. Since 1950, the number of Dunkin’ restaurants has increased to more than 12,600 restaurants worldwide in 46 countries.

For more information and images, please visit the Dunkin’ press room at https://news.dunkindonuts.com.