LANCASTER, PA – PRNewswire

In honor of its 30^th birthday, Auntie Anne’s^®, the world’s largest hand-rolled soft pretzel franchise, has partnered with six artists to create a bold, graphic design-inspired line of clothing and accessories. The eclectic “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection is debuting just in time for National Pretzel Day on April 26.

All profits from the “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection will be donated to Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), Auntie Anne’s national charitable partner. ALSF’s mission is to change the lives of children with cancer through funding impactful research, raising awareness, supporting families, and empowering everyone to help cure childhood cancer. Since establishing a partnership with ALSF in September 2011, Auntie Anne’s has raised more than $3.7 million to fund childhood cancer research.

“Over the last 30 years, we’ve established deep connections with our loyal fans worldwide,” said Heather Neary, president of Auntie Anne’s. “Now, for the first time, those fans can showcase their love for Auntie Anne’s by wearing our clothing while also contributing to the fight against childhood cancer. This is going to be a ton of fun for a great cause.”

Fans can visit auntieannes.threadless.com to purchase items from the “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection. The e-store is hosted by Threadless, an online creative community helping art unknowns become art totally-knowns. The collection features men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing, as well as shoes from Bucketfeet and a variety of lifestyle accessories including phone cases, water bottles, mugs, shower and bath gear, and more. The “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection starts at $13.

Auntie Anne’s teamed up with the following designers to create the “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection:

• Mike Perry Studio: Mike created the hand-painted “Auntie Packs” (fanny packs) which are only available via social media giveaway. Mike is an illustrator in Brooklyn, N.Y.
• Huebucket: Bangkok-based Chalermphol Harnchakkham designed the collection of Pretzel Pug Yoga items. Chalermphol is a self-taught illustrator whose unique work is inspired by pugs, French bulldogs and his dreams.
• Rick Crane: Rick made the Pretzel Heaven products and is inspired by nature and minimalist designs.
• Daniel Allen Stevens: Daniel, a graphic designer and illustrator, produced the print for A Twisted Day.
• Luis Romero: Luis, creator of the Pretzels Forever design, is inspired by his childhood in Panama and his adulthood in Chicago.
• Shawnimals: Shawn designed the Pretzels for Everyone print and has also created a number of public art displays in his hometown of Chicago and around the world.

To add to the National Pretzel Day celebration, on April 26 Auntie Anne’s is distributing a special offer for My Pretzel Perks members: buy any variety of pretzel, get a free handmade classic pretzel. The offer will be available for members in the rewards section of the app and is valid from April 26 – April 29.

For the latest “For the Love of Pretzels” Collection news, including an opportunity to win one-of-a-kind hand-painted “Auntie Packs,” follow the brand on Twitter @AuntieAnnes, on Instagram @AuntieAnnesPretzels, and on Facebook at Facebook.com/AuntieAnnesPretzels. To get exclusive offers and information before anyone else, download the Auntie Anne’s My Pretzel Perks app.

CANTON, MA – PRNewswire

Dunkin’ Donuts today announced the appointment of Stephanie Meltzer-Paul as Vice President, Digital and Loyalty Marketing, Dunkin’ Donuts U.S. With more than 20 years of experience in customer loyalty and digital marketing, Ms. Meltzer-Paul will lead the further development of the brand’s DD Perks® loyalty platform, continue the expansion of On-the-Go Mobile Ordering, and further strengthen the brand’s strategic partnerships. She will report to Tony Weisman, Chief Marketing Officer, Dunkin’ Donuts U.S., and will officially join the company in early May.

Ms. Meltzer-Paul joins Dunkin’ Donuts after most recently serving as Vice President, Member Engagement and Loyalty at BJ’s Wholesale Club. In this role, she led a team responsible for developing and spearheading the marketing strategy for the My BJ’s Perks® Program and customer relationship management efforts. Meltzer-Paul also drove membership engagement and retention for the company, and leveraged data to improve conversion rates in-store and drive member visit frequency.

Previously, Meltzer-Paul was Senior Director of Global Loyalty Marketing for Starwood Hotels & Resorts where she transformed, rebranded and greatly increased membership in the Starwood Preferred Guest® program. She also served as Director of Marketing, Loyalty & Communications for American Express, leading a highly successful team responsible for increasing Card spend in the Company’s Blue rewards program. Earlier in her career, Ms. Meltzer-Paul was in marketing and customer acquisition for TIME Inc.

A native of New Jersey, Ms. Meltzer-Paul received her B.S. in Marketing from Ithaca College in Ithaca, New York. She is the recipient of numerous marketing industry awards including a prestigious Freddie Award for Best Hotel Loyalty Promotion.

According to Tony Weisman, Chief Marketing Officer, Dunkin’ Donuts U.S., “Stephanie is a talented business leader who has excelled at delivering exponential customer growth, retention and revenue generation through best-in-class marketing strategies, and we are thrilled to have her head up our digital and loyalty marketing efforts. This is a very exciting time in the evolution of the Dunkin’ Donuts brand, and we believe Stephanie is exactly the right person to help us further engage with our customers, including building on the strength of our DD Perks program, one of the fastest growing loyalty programs in the quick service restaurant industry.”

“I am excited to join Dunkin’ Donuts and look forward to leading the digital marketing and loyalty team,” said Meltzer Paul. “This is a brand renowned for its digital technology innovation, and I can’t wait to be part of the efforts to deepen our customer relationships and make Dunkin’ Donuts ever more convenient for guests.”

Dunkin’ Donuts has invested in new technologies and digital innovations in recent years to offer guests greater speed and convenience for ordering their favorite menu items. As of the end of 2017, with more than 18 million app downloads and over 8 million members in the DD Perks® Loyalty Program, the Dunkin’ Mobile App is one of the most successful and highest-rated merchant applications in the quick service restaurant industry.

For more information about Dunkin’ Donuts, please visit www.DunkinDonuts.com.

CARROLLTON, TX – PRNewswire

FASTSIGNS International, Inc., franchisor of FASTSIGNS^®, the leading sign, graphics and visual communications franchise, announced today its worldwide partnership with 1HUDDLE, a workforce training platform that converts unique training content into science-backed, quick-burst training games that are proven to accelerate workforce productivity. FASTSIGNS^® is known in the industry for equipping its franchises with focused and advanced training techniques, and is the first in its category to offer gamification as part of its support suite for franchisees.

“We are thrilled to partner with 1HUDDLE to offer franchisees a mobile training platform that will propel our mission to position them for success and grow their businesses,” said Mark Jameson, EVP of Franchise Support and Development, FASTSIGNS International, Inc. “FASTSIGNS’ training and support is unmatched in the industry and we know the 1HUDDLE platform will allow our franchisees to quickly onboard and train new employees in every aspect of their business — in a way that resonates with the growing workforce of millennials and Gen Z.”

FASTSIGNS’ 1HUDDLE content will be focused on the franchisor’s proprietary training program and customer relations, both in-center, via telephone, and online.

“Eighty-seven percent of what we learn in a live training or seminar, we forget within 30 days. And, currently, only 1 percent of training is done on mobile platforms,” said Sam Caucci, CEO and founder of 1HUDDLE. “Training employees shouldn’t be difficult and 1HUDDLE is designed to make it fast, fun, and, most importantly, effective. In just three minutes a day, 1HUDDLE’s mobile-based training games are proven to accelerate your workforce’s productivity and we are confident FASTSIGNS franchisees will love the ability to train their employees using a single platform that tracks ROI and allows them to easily create new training games to keep their teams excited and engaged.”

FASTSIGNS International, Inc. was ranked the #1 franchise opportunity in its category and 70 overall on Entrepreneur magazine’s 2018 Franchise 500^®, the world’s first, best and most comprehensive franchise ranking. Acknowledged by entrepreneurs and franchisors as a top competitive tool of measurement, the Franchise 500^® recognizes FASTSIGNS, the only sign, graphics, and visual communications franchise to be recognized in the top 100, for its exceptional performance in areas including financial strength and stability, growth rate, and brand power. FASTSIGNS also has been recognized for its franchisee satisfaction by being named a World Class Franchise by the Franchise Research Institute for five consecutive years and has been ranked by Franchise Business Review as one of the “Best of the Best” for franchisee satisfaction for the last 10 years. Additionally, FASTSIGNS also was named to Franchise Business Review’s “Innovative Franchises” list in 2017 and a “Best-in-Category” franchise by Franchise Business Review in 2018.

For information about the FASTSIGNS franchise opportunity, contact Mark Jameson (mark.jameson@fastsigns.com or 214-346-5679).

SAN FRANCISCO – Fifteen cities. Six weeks. Junk King’s one goal -Cleaning up America.

Fueled by its ecofriendly mantra to recycle, reuse and repurpose, the nation’s leading junk removal company is embarking on its first cross-country road trip to tidy up cities coast-to-coast.

Departing on Earth Day, April 22, 2018, Junk King’s patriotic-branded Cleaning Up America truck is leaving San Francisco to visit various homeowners, small businesses and nonprofit groups across the United States. Throughout the six-week journey, Junk King’s team is lending its services to help these groups declutter while raising awareness about recycling. Junk King’s work these 6-weeks will involve no cost for the groups and individuals that participate.

“Cleaning Up America is by far the larges, longest running and most exciting giveback initiative we have put together yet,” said Michael Andreacchi, CEO of Junk King who personally kicks off the tour on April 20. “The process of clearing out is liberating and necessary, and its heartbreaking to know not everyone has the manpower or resources to haul everything away or maintain a clean space. That’s why we’re inspired to make this trip -to provide some relief to folks all over the States, hear their story and make a meaningful difference in their lives.”

Making the environmental movement a brand-wide effort, the Cleaning Up America truck will be driven and passed forward from one Junk King franchisee to the next in each local market. To capture the moments of generosity and gratitude, Junk King will be documenting the entire journey by recording the visits and later releasing city-themed episodes for the rest of America to see.

The cities on the Cleaning up America tour include:

• Peninsula, California
• Los Angeles, California
• Las Vegas, Nevada
• Salt Lake City, Utah
• Denver, Colorado
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
• New York City, New York
• Boston, Massachusetts
• Baltimore, Maryland
• Washington D.C, Virginia
• Des Moines, Iowa
• Chicago, Illinois
• Grand Rapids, Michigan
• Cincinnati, Ohio
• Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

As part of the brand’s year-round commitment to being environmentally conscious, any items collected by Junk King will be taken to the nearest warehouse, where a team will facilitate managing and sorting of the materials. In fact, sixty percent of the junk collected from jobs is recycled, rather than being dropped at landfills. And through partnerships with local nonprofits and community organizations, the remaining items are donated and repurposed to benefit residents throughout United States.

To learn more about Junk King, visit www.junk-king.com. Follow the Cleaning Up America truck’s journey by visiting www.facebook.com/JunkKingFranchise. The full tour schedule can be seen on www.junk-king.com/promotions/cleaning-up-america.

DENVER, CO – PRNewswire

Chipotle Mexican Grill (NYSE: CMG) today announced that it has hired Marissa Andrada as its chief human resources officer. Andrada will begin on April 23 and will report to Brian Niccol, the company’s chief executive officer.

Andrada comes to Chipotle from Kate Spade & Company, where she served as senior vice president of human resources and chief human resources officer. In this capacity, Andrada was responsible for positioning the company and its culture for growth, including developing and implementing plans to recruit top-tier executive and design talent for the global, multi-channel lifestyle brand. Prior to joining Kate Spade, Andrada held several senior level positions in human resources at Starbucks, most recently serving as senior vice president, partner resources for the Americas, where she led innovation and strategy for retail employee programs including employee experience, engagement and compensation.

“Marissa is an exceptional human resources executive and a valuable addition to our management team,” said Niccol. “With near-term priorities that include building the right structure and capabilities for sustained growth, and creating a culture of recognition and innovation throughout our company, Marissa’s expertise and leadership will be essential as we look to strengthen those key areas.”

Before joining Starbucks, Andrada held a variety of human resources roles with increasing responsibility for companies such as Gamestop, Red Bull North America, Universal Studios, and Pepsico/Pizza Hut. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State Polytechnic University, Pomona, Calif., and a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Pepperdine University, Malibu, Calif.

“Chipotle is a tremendous brand with so much potential,” said Andrada. “I’m thrilled to be joining the company as they look to strengthen the talent and the team in ways that will set the company up for success in the next chapter.”

FAYETTEVILLE, GA – PRWEB

This Is It! BBQ & Seafood announced it has entered into a Trademark License Agreement with Belief Brands Partners LLC. Under the agreement, Belief Brands Partners will have the exclusive rights to operate and develop This Is It! franchised restaurants in the United States and Canada. Jesus and Butch Inc., which is owned by the Anthony family, will continue ownership of the This Is It! BBQ & Seafood brand across all companies.
“We’re delighted to move our growth plans forward with a partner that brings deep restaurant franchise growth experience to This Is It! BBQ & Seafood,” said Shelley “Butch” Anthony III, Founder, President, & CEO This Is It! BBQ & Seafood. “This move will accelerate This Is It’s Southern Homestyle Cooking franchise unit growth in the US and Canada.”
This Is It! BBQ & Seafood is well know for its award-winning Southern Homestyle Cooking, served in a unique Fast Casual style setting. For over 35 years, This Is It! has developed its brand through its original recipes, evolving menus as tastes change, the Anthony family involvement and values as well as solid marketing.
“We’re pleased to join forces with This Is It! BBQ & Seafood to deliver This Is It’s Southern Homestyle Cooking experience to customers all over the United States and Canada,” said Joe Remsa, CEO of Belief Brands. “We look forward to leveraging our knowledge and experience to expand This Is It’s brand presence across the United States and Canada.
The current 8 Corporate This Is It! BBQ & Seafood restaurants, and 2 franchise restaurants will continue to be managed by the This Is It! BBQ & Seafood Corporation and the I Believe This Is It! Franchise Company respectively. A new This Is It! BBQ & Seafood Stockbridge corporate restaurant is scheduled to open in May, and will also be managed by the This Is It! BBQ & Seafood Corporation.
For more information on this press release, please contact us.

WEST PALM BEACH, FL – 24-7PressRelease

Outdoor advertising costs continue to rise. While billboard rates cover a wide range across the country, costs start at several hundred dollars a month and can be as much as $23,000 a month in larger cities. As brands look for ways to cost-effectively advertise their business, Signarama®, the world’s largest sign franchise, is pleased to offer a unique, lower cost advertising avenue through vinyl vehicle wrapping.
Vehicle advertising is eye-catching but also offers additional car body protection from the elements. April is National Car Care Month, an optimal time to wrap cars, vans, trucks, or a whole fleet. Signarama offers several vehicle advertising products, including magnetic signs, see-through perforated window film, vehicle wraps and car top signs.
“Wrapping our delivery vehicles has been a great way for us to get our logo on the road and in front of a lot of potential customers,” said A.J. Titus, president of Signarama. “We’ve had a lot of people call us from the car after having seen the phone number on one of our wrapped vehicles. It’s an instant way to connect with consumers.”
Consumers can also benefit from car wrapping, as many companies will pay a monthly fee to drivers who agree to use their cars for wrapped business advertising, earning drivers anywhere from $200-400 a month on average.
“This is a way to get creative with your brand by making it mobile,” added Titus. “Whether you want to advertise a limited time special event, looking to connect more immediately and directly with consumers, or simply want to unify the look of your business’ fleet, Signarama will work with you to create the ideal product.”
There are over 800 Signarama stores across the globe. Signarama is a proud member of the United Franchise Group family of brands.

WALLINGFORD, CT –

John Merkin, whose career spans more than two decades in hospitality and restaurant management positions, has been named COO of Edible® International (Edible®). In this role, Merkin will oversee all franchise operations for the world’s largest franchisor of shops offering creatively designed fresh cut fruit arrangements as well as all-natural, fresh fruit snacks and treats. Merkin will also oversee Edible’s® supply chain organization.
Most recently, Merkin served as Chief Operating Officer for Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen. His career also features positions in international brand marketing, operations management, and franchise business development, including over 20 years at InterContintental Hotels Group®, working on a major brand redevelopment.

“It is incredibly exciting to join Edible® at this time,” Merkin said. “Even though Edible® is an established brand, it is one that continues to expand into new product categories designed to WOW customers with premium products and a fantastic guest experience.”

This announcement comes as Edible® is experiencing an accelerated phase of growth and expansion into new markets and product categories, recently announcing the opening of a second headquarters in Atlanta, where Merkin will be based.

“The Edible® brand is evolving rapidly into new areas, and expanding the executive team with the kind of talent and expertise John brings will help us to continue pushing forward with our mission to fill the world with goodness,” said Edible founder and CEO Tariq Farid.

ATLANTA, GA – PRNewswire

Tropical Smoothie Cafe, one of the fastest growing franchise concepts in the country, announced today the reopening of its Rockport, TX cafe owned by franchisee Pam Farley. The location was destroyed by Hurricane Harvey in 2017, but Farley and her team are grateful for the overwhelming support of the community. The Rockport cafe will celebrate its reopening on April 23 with a ribbon cutting ceremony at 2 p.m. Leading up to the opening event, customers will be offered a free smoothie with the purchase of any entrée April 21, $1.99 flatbreads April 22, and $1.99 smoothies April 23. As part of the grand opening festivities on April 23, guests will also have the opportunity to donate to hurricane relief efforts and spin the prize wheel to win prizes from Tropical Smoothie Cafe.

Like much of the Rockport community, Farley was personally impacted by the storms but focused on supporting the rebuilding efforts of the community. Before rebuilding the cafe, Farley partnered with neighboring business owners to organize a drive to distribute necessities to people in the community. As part of her reopening efforts, Farley will continue to provide support to Hurricane Harvey victims by accepting donations for hurricane relief at the cafe.

“There are no words to describe how meaningful this reopening is to me,” said Farley. “To see how our community has rallied together is nothing short of inspiring. Just a few months ago, Rockport was virtually unrecognizable but through perseverance and hard work, we have rebuilt our city. I’m excited to start serving my community again and am so grateful for Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s endless support.”

In addition to reopening the Rockport location, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is also privileged to continue its growth in Texas by signing the brand’s 100th agreement in the state. First-time Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee, Shahrukh Noormohammed, is a Houston native. Noormohammed began his career in engineering before transitioning into the sales industry. His unique experience will bring a different perspective to the brand as he develops three new cafes throughout the Houston market.

“It’s inspiring to see the progress this community has made since Hurricane Harvey and we are proud to continue expanding in a market that has such compassion for local businesses and the residents they serve,” said Mike Rotondo, CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe, LLC. “The ongoing success of our existing cafes and resiliency of the business community keep Texas a prime market for development. With 30 franchised cafes open across the state and an additional 15 slated to open this year, we’re eager to continue our expansion efforts and make our better-for-you food and smoothie offerings accessible to more residents throughout Texas.”

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

ANN ARBOR, MI – PRNewswire  

Domino’s Pizza (NYSE: DPZ), the largest pizza company in the world based on global retail sales, is launching yet another delivery revolution. Starting today, over 150,000 Domino’s Hotspots are now active nationwide so that customers can receive delivery orders at spots that don’t have a traditional address – places like local parks, sports fields and beaches, as well as thousands of other unexpected sites. Local Domino’s stores around the country have selected these Domino’s Hotspots, which are now locations where drivers can meet customers curbside to hand off orders.

“We listened to customers and their need for pizza delivery to locations without a traditional address,” said Russell Weiner, president of Domino’s USA. “We know that delivery is all about convenience, and Domino’s Hotspots are an innovation that is all about flexible delivery options for customers.”

Domino’s Hotspots are online-only for prepaid orders on dominos.com and in mobile apps. Once a customer’s location has been determined, local Domino’s Hotspots that are available for delivery will appear on a map for customers to select. Before checking out, customers can leave instructions to help the driver find them. After completing their order, customers will receive text message alerts about their Domino’s Hotspot delivery progress, including a final text that gives the estimated arrival of the driver at the hand-off spot.

“Now customers spending time at some of our new Domino’s Hotspots locations, like Tommy Lasorda Field of Dreams in Los Angeles or even next to the James Brown statue in Augusta, Georgia, can have a pizza conveniently delivered to them, thanks to our innovative Domino’s Delivery Hotspots,” continued Weiner.
Customers can check out Domino’s Delivery Hotspot locations in their area by going to the locator page at dominos.com. For more information, visit dominos.com/hotspots.