most profitable franchises

NASHVILLE, TN – PRNewswire

Back Yard Burgers has announced the hiring of Scott Shotter as its new chief executive officer. Axum Capital Partners, Back Yard Burgers’ private equity firm, selected Shotter for his proven track record in operations and success in guest loyalty and team building strategies.

Shotter joins Back Yard Burgers from Moe’s Southwest Grill, where he was vice president of operations. While at Moe’s, he helped bring about exponential growth for the brand, which expanded from 200 locations to more than 700 locations during his nine-year tenure.

Prior to Moe’s, Shotter managed operations for more than 30 national and regional brands, including Starbucks, Sbarro, Popeye’s, Johnny Rockets and Burger King.

One attribute that attracted Shotter to the Back Yard Burgers brand, which boasts 51 locations across 11 states, was its vision for a new restaurant prototype and growth plan to bring its signature fresh, flame-grilled favorites to a new generation of guests.

“I’m very excited about these plans and it’s one reason I joined the team,” Shotter said. “In addition to the new store prototype, we’re going to focus on the culinary and service experience Back Yard Burgers provides to our customers. We know that our franchise partners are going to be equally excited and we look forward to rolling out what I believe is a well-planned growth strategy.”

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK – PRWEB

Celebrating its 35th year of business, leading staffing company Express Employment Professionals continues to smash sales records, reporting $1.71 billion in sales in the first half of 2018, 11 percent ahead of the same period in 2017. At its current growth rate, the company is projected to finish 2018 with $3.57 billion in sales.

Coinciding with its milestone anniversary, the international staffing company has awarded 26 franchise locations so far this year, including the 800th territory to Ryan Strain in Central Calgary, Alberta, Canada. For every Express office that opens, on average 700 more people find work annually.

“Express continues to outperform the competition by impacting communities on every level,” said Bill Stoller, Express CEO. “Our franchisees are committed to connecting quality workers with reputable companies, helping put food on the table for families and generating revenue to boost local economies. In an era of increasing automation during the job search, we are committed to preserving the human element of recruiting.”

At the end of June, Express’ more than 800 offices have put 336,528 people to work this year in the United States and Canada and nearly 180,000 of those were first-time associates. A total of 566,893 people are projected to find work through the staffing company by the conclusion of 2018, a 5 percent increase from 2017.

Currently, Express has nearly 19,000 job openings for a variety of positions, including technical support analysts, administrative assistants, inventory clerks, delivery drivers, carpenters, customer service reps, switchboard operators, auditors and welders.

“For the first time in American history, there are more open jobs than people out of work because of the booming economy and low unemployment,” Stoller said. “While the labor force participation rate increased from 62.7 percent in May to 62.9 percent in June, it continues to lag behind 66.2 percent at the beginning of the Great Recession. There are more than 95 million workers who we need to get off the sidelines. In the midst of a recruiting crisis for companies, we are excited to work with this untapped labor pool.”

To make connecting with Express recruiters even easier, Express recently released the much-anticipated ExpressJobs app. The new app is a significant step in the digital transformation of the company, which believes in creating a personalized experience for job seekers while embracing advancements in technology. The free app leverages machine-learning models and intelligent search to help users easily find jobs in their area, link to their social networks, apply to jobs, schedule interviews, access resources and manage their employment details, all within the same platform.

All of these accomplishments and the company’s continued success in 2018 led to the distinction of being named the No.1 staffing franchise in the U.S. by Entrepreneur Magazine for the seventh consecutive year. It was also ranked among the Top 100 companies on the 39th annual Franchise 500 List. The magazine ranks companies based on financial strength and stability, growth rate and the number of years a company has been in business.

“As a company, we have accomplished quite a bit in the first two quarters of 2018, but I’m confident that our greatest chapters are yet unwritten,” Stoller said. “And that we absolutely have the best people to help further the remarkable story of Express.”

If you would like to arrange for an interview with Bill Stoller to discuss this topic, please contact Sheena Karami, Director of Corporate Communications and PR, at (405) 717-5966.

GLENDALE, CA – PRNewswire

Today, IHOP® Restaurants marks its 60th year by announcing the rollout of its first, and largest, national delivery program in partnership with DoorDash. The introduction of delivery at select IHOP restaurants across the U.S. is a critical step in expanding the brand’s IHOP ‘N GO® (to-go) platform which already includes a fully-integrated online ordering system through IHOP.com and the IHOP mobile app. Guests ordering IHOP ‘N GO via DoorDash will be able to enjoy the full range of items off the restaurant’s regular and limited time menus as well as fully customize any order. All IHOP delivery and to-go orders are placed in proprietary packaging that is designed to keep all-day breakfast foods and more – like IHOP’s new Ultimate Steakburgers – hot and fresh while in transit – or in the case of its world-famous pancakes, hot, fresh and fluffy until eaten.

“For 60 years, IHOP has proudly served our guests freshly made breakfast favorites and more, all day, every day,” said Darren Rebelez, President, IHOP. “Undertaking a national delivery partnership is an exciting new chapter in our story and builds on the foundational work we’ve done on IHOP ‘N GO this past year, including introducing a mobile app, online ordering through IHOP.com, and special packaging that preserves the quality of our food for takeout. Most importantly, our partnership with DoorDash helps us bring more pancakes, to more people, whenever and wherever cravings strike – something IHOP guests told us they wanted.”

As part of the weeklong anniversary festivities – which also includes an in-restaurant, 60-cent short stack of pancakes deal today only* – DoorDash customers can enjoy free delivery on any IHOP order totaling $10 or more from Wednesday, July 18 through Sunday, July 22**. Currently, more than 300 IHOP restaurants are set-up for online ordering through the DoorDash website and mobile app with another 600-700 IHOP restaurants expected to be available for delivery by the end of the year.

“As a leading delivery provider with extensive national reach and a focus on strategically – and rapidly – expanding, DoorDash is an ideal partner to help us kick off the next phase of IHOP ‘N GO,” continued Rebelez. “Right now, about 300 IHOP restaurants are signed up with DoorDash with more coming online every day. Given the national matchup between where there’s an IHOP and DoorDash’s current and anticipated service areas, I expect to have close to 1,000 restaurants added to the DoorDash platform before the end of the year.”

Through this partnership, IHOP will ensure a best-in-class guest experience by seamlessly integrating DoorDash into its Point of Sale (POS) system. POS integrations allow DoorDash to scale additional IHOP restaurants at a faster pace. By integrating with IHOP’s restaurant management system, DoorDash can ensure a better experience for the guest and the restaurant team.

“At DoorDash we pride ourselves on offering the best selection in the industry, and today’s announcement with IHOP is especially exciting as this brand has consistently been a top requested restaurant by our customers,” said Christopher Payne, Chief Operating Officer at DoorDash. “Customers can now order their favorite IHOP menu items any hour of the day, from over 300 locations across the country, and counting.”

The partnership news from IHOP comes a month after the brand debuted its Ultimate Steakburgers, seven mouthwatering burgers made with 100 percent USDA Choice, Black Angus beef and piled high with premium ingredients like hickory-smoked bacon, thick-cut onion rings and a special sauce. To show the brand was as serious about its burgers as it is about its pancakes, it temporarily flipped the “p” to a “b” in its iconic name for the campaign launch. Perfect for delivery – and available with a side of pancakes – Ultimate Steakburgers, along with breakfast combos, hearty omelettes, and more are available via DoorDash.

DoorDash is available from select IHOP locations starting today. To find the nearest IHOP location and learn more about special offers, including the IHOP Anniversary Event featuring a 60-cent short stack of pancakes on July 17, available in-restaurant only, visit IHOP.com.

*Guests can receive one short stack of IHOP restaurant’s Original Buttermilk pancakes for 60 cents on Tuesday, July 17 between 7 am and 7 pm in honor of the brand’s anniversary; good for dine-in only at participating restaurants.

**$0 Delivery Fees Promotional Terms: Free delivery only available by ordering IHOP ‘N GO through DoorDash; applies to a purchase of $10 or more placed between 7/18/2018 and 7/22/2018. See DoorDash for additional details and limitations. Offer, price and participation on all promotions varies by location. Delivery is not available at all IHOP restaurants.

LOUISVILLE, KY – BUSINESS WIRE

Papa John’s is not an individual. Papa John’s is a pizza company with 120,000 corporate and franchise team members around the world. Our employees represent all walks of life, and we are committed to fostering an inclusive and equitable workplace for all. Racism and any insensitive language, no matter what the context simply cannot – and will not – be tolerated at any level of our company.

The Board of Directors of Papa John’s accepted Mr. Schnatter’s resignation as Chairman of the Board earlier this week. It has also been decided he will no longer be in any of the advertising or marketing materials associated with the brand.

This decision is the first of several key steps to rebuild trust from the inside-out. We will be engaging a broad set of stakeholders to chart a course forward that demonstrates our commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion.

First, we will identify and retain an independent and outside expert to audit all of our existing processes, policies and systems related to diversity and inclusion, supplier engagement and Papa John’s culture. As part of that process, we will establish a process for communicating progress against transparent goals to everyone in our Papa John’s family.

The entire senior management team will also be visiting key locations across the country and hold listening sessions with employees in our stores to talk about what they are seeing and give them a platform to voice their concerns. To follow-up, we will initiate two-way conversations to invite ongoing feedback from employees and franchisees to ensure that their voices are heard.

I will personally be leading this effort because there is nothing more important for Papa John’s right now. We want to regain trust, though I know we need to earn it. We will demonstrate that a diverse and inclusive culture exists at Papa John’s through our deeds and actions.

Ronkonkoma, NY – Minuteman Press International, a top-rated business marketing and printing franchise headquartered in Farmingdale, has launched a significant initiative to move business operations in a more environmentally sustainable direction. As of March 16th, of this year, the company has converted to solar energy, enlisting SUNation Solar Systems of Ronkonkoma for the project.

SUNation comprehensively manages the project through all phases including engineering, installation and maintenance of the system and does so for thousands of their Long Island neighbors. “Minuteman Press will benefit from an array of advantages by entrusting SUNation with this project”, says Scott Maskin, CEO of SUNation. He adds, “SUNation’s solar grid system ensures a secure investment, with fixed energy costs that allow businesses like Minutemen Press to more efficiently forecast their operating expenses and allocate additional funds to other vital business functions. With guaranteed performance and energy independence, Minuteman Press can rest assured that with SUNation’s solar panels they will have the necessary energy resources to properly power their building.”

Minuteman Press is optimistic at the impact this decision will have on their business and their community. “Partnering with SUNation for our conversion to solar energy was easy and efficient,” says Bob Titus, Minuteman Press International President & CEO. He adds, “Minuteman Press has strong roots in Long Island. We have been here since we established our family business in 1973 and since then we have expanded to nearly 1,000 franchises across five countries. Our world headquarters in Farmingdale continues to be our home base and we are thrilled that we were able to utilize SUNation, another industry-leading Long Island-based company, for our energy conversion.”

Ranked #1 in its category by Entrepreneur Magazine 26 times, Minuteman Press serves as a major contributor to the Long Island economy. Appropriately trademarked “We Are The Modern Printing Industry”, the move to solar energy aligns accordingly with Minuteman Press’ motto and sets a precedent for other Long Island based businesses. “Solar energy is the way of today and the future. As a company, we are excited to invest in green technology in an ongoing effort to be environmentally responsible. Going solar with SUNation is one huge part of the larger picture”, Titus remarks. Equipping their headquarters with solar energy sends a powerful message to Minuteman Press’ customers and worldwide franchise locations, demonstrating a clear commitment to clean and responsible operating practices. This is further evident by the fact that they are also in the process of switching over all lighting in their 46,000 sq. ft. building to energy efficient LED technology.

The business venture between Minuteman Press and SUNation is representative of more than just a standard solar installation job. Both companies are family run, Long Island based businesses. From inception to modern day operations, the companies and their team members live, work and play in Long Island, and us such, have a vested interest in sustaining their home and promoting its integrity for future generations.

Danbury, CT – Salsa Fresca Mexican Grill, with locations in New York and Connecticut, announced that franchise development opportunities for the popular chain of fast casual Mexican restaurants are now available in the DMA’s Connecticut, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Massachusetts and Florida, with locations in New York available soon.

Launched in 2008 with an “open kitchen” concept, fresh ingredients and traditional flavors from Mexico, Salsa Fresca guests have consistently praised the extremely fresh dishes, as well as the transparency which allows guests to see exactly what is being prepared, and how. “There have been so many different factors in our success,” said Seth Hirschel, co-founder of Salsa Fresca Mexican Grill. “One of the biggest factors is the fact that we’re not using pre-frozen ingredients – it’s all fresh, every day. The response at all eight of our locations has been so overwhelming, and we’re seeing constant interest from patrons who want to enjoy our fresh foods in other locations, too. It’s time for the next step, and our franchise program will finally meet that incredible demand as we expand to a hundred stores over the next five years.”

Customers have been enthusiastic about the restaurants and eager to see expansion into their own markets. “Franchisees will be stepping into a business with a built-in demand,” said Lynette McKee, national director of franchising. “With best-in-class support, franchise owners can look forward to hands-on help from the very beginning, to build-out assistance, pre-opening training programs, and on-site support during launch and on an ongoing basis.”

The “fast casual” market represents a $47 billion segment of the restaurant industry experiencing rapid growth. Seven of the ten fastest-growing restaurant chains over the past five years being fast casual brands – and of those, Mexican food represents the largest share at 19 percent, compared with only 10 percent growth at traditional burger restaurants. Fast casual has consistently taken market share from quick service restaurants (QSR’s), moving from a nine percent share in 2007 to 18 percent in 2016, with a projected 22 percent share by 2021. This positive trend for fast casual restaurant growth is expected to continue long term.

“Entrepreneurs today are interested in a strong concept and a profitable business plan, but there’s more than that – today’s generation of entrepreneurs are also interested in sustainable concepts and ecologically conscious business models,” said Hirschel. “In addition to using eco-friendly building materials in new restaurant construction, we employ green utensils and packaging, energy-efficient HVAC systems and lighting, and recycle all of our cooking oil.”

The earth-friendly design of each location reflects a modern, industrial-chic look with gleaming stainless steel and glass for an easy showcase of the restaurant’s fresh ingredients. With everything made on site, customers enjoy watching as well as eating. Freezers are not a part of the design, intentionally, reinforcing the “always fresh” concept.

ATLANTA, GA  – Tropical Smoothie Cafe, one of the fastest growing franchise concepts in the country, is proud to announce significant achievements and growth in the first half of 2018, opening 47 new cafes and signing 113 franchise agreements to date. This continued momentum in franchise development represents the brand’s expansion into top priority growth markets such as Atlanta, Houston and Dallas-Fort Worth, and keeps the company on track to reach its goal of opening 120 new cafes by the end of this year. In addition to propelling development, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has also experienced a 6.6 percent increase in year-to-date same-store sales.

Additionally, June 15th marked the celebration of Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s annual National Flip Flop Day®. This one-day customer appreciation event is also designed to bring awareness to the brand’s fundraising efforts for its national charitable partner, Camp Sunshine. In just one day, the company raised a record-breaking $184,150 and gave away over 310,000 of the brands signature Sunshine Smoothies on National Flip Flop Day. Over the past 11 years, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has raised more than $6.3 million to support Camp Sunshine’s mission to provide an authentic camp experience for children with life threatening illnesses and their entire families.

“We’re thrilled with the impressive strides we’ve made as a brand in the first half of 2018. From new cafe openings, strong same-store sales, to record-breaking donation efforts for Camp Sunshine, along with our continued focus on innovation, we are determined to make this year the biggest and best to date,” said Charles Watson, chief development officer and interim CEO of Tropical Smoothie Cafe. “With over 670 locations open nationwide and over 100 franchise agreements signed so far this year, nearly 55 percent more deals than this time last year, we’re positioned for continued success in 2018 and on pace to reach our goal of 1,000 locations by the end of 2020.”

Tropical Smoothie Cafe has also positioned itself as a leader in innovation and forward thinking with unique limited-time offerings, such as the Citrus Cactus Smoothie, which debuted in April. Additionally, the brand further enhanced its offerings by adding pressed sandwiches to the menu, including the Chicken Caprese and Cuban pressed sandwiches.

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 $222,095 and $569,335. The better-for-you food franchise currently boasts an average unit volume (AUV) of more than $681,000 – the highest in the company’s 21-year-history – with the top 50 percent reporting an AUV of more than $873,000.

BALTIMORE, MD – In an effort to continue addressing the rising demand for elder care, Senior Helpers®, the nation’s premier provider of in-home senior care services, announced the launch of a nationwide franchise concept called Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising. The new venture is the result of a strategic alliance between Senior Helpers – experts in Alzheimer’s and dementia care – and the George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, Inc.® – a non-profit organization whose namesake is known for his research on the beta-amyloid protein that is considered to be the hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease.

George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, Inc. created an original prototype, Town Square®, in Chula Vista, CA, just south of San Diego, which will open later this month. Senior Helpers will work with George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers, Inc. to bring the unique experience of Town Square to seniors across the country. Senior Helpers Town Square offers a one-of-a-kind adult day care experience for individuals living with Alzheimer’s or dementia. Each will be comprised of an indoor, simulated urban environment that employs reminiscence therapy – which utilizes tangible prompts from an individual’s past to help elicit more long-term memories, reduce anxiety and improve mood and sleep quality in those with dementia.

“With nearly 75 million individuals aged 51-69 in the U.S., the need for elder care has significantly grown over the years, making it a $400 billion industry and counting,” said Greg White, newly appointed VP of Franchise Development for Senior Helpers Town Square. “Adult day care franchises can be highly profitable. With the George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Center’s 35 years of experience in the field, coupled with Senior Helpers’ background in caregiving for those living with Alzheimer’s and dementia, this is an exciting new concept that can generate a positive impact on the community.”

Each Senior Helpers Town Square location will feature a highly structured, midcentury “town” built around distinctive vignettes that evoke the age when most participants (now in their 70s and 80s) were young adults, including such areas as a 1950s-era diner, movie theater, library, and hair salon, arranged around a central green. Participants could be served hot lunch at an authentic 1950s style diner, enjoy a vintage black-and-white film and old-fashioned popcorn at the movie theater, get their hair styled at the on-site salon or tinker with a 1959 Ford Thunderbird at the service station. The one-of-a-kind, interactive environment is designed to help capture part of the life and preserved cognitive function that remains intact for these individuals, ultimately enabling them to feel calm, confident and secure.

“Our shared mission is to improve the quality of life for the elderly and their families by delivering innovative adult day care that is safe, affordable and accessible,” comments Scott J. Tarde, L.N.H.A., CEO and Executive Director of the George G. Glenner Alzheimer’s Family Centers.

Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising provides an attractive investment opportunity for entrepreneurs looking for exceptional corporate support and an exciting franchising concept in a booming industry. Led by White, Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising offers potential investors two ownership models that leverage Senior Helpers’ unmatched senior care services: hands-on ownership – which requires a franchise owner to oversee the operation and actively participate in managing daily operations, or absentee ownership – relying on Senior Helpers to manage and execute day-to-day operations.

“The initial response to Senior Helpers Town Square Franchising has been overwhelmingly positive, and we hope to have 100 Senior Helpers Town Square locations operating all across the U.S. within the next three years,” comments Peter Ross, CEO and Co-Founder, Senior Helpers. “Moreover, with Greg’s proven track record in franchise development and running small businesses for over two decades, we have a winning team that bodes well for the long-term growth and success of this new segment of our business.”

The company is currently accepting applications for Senior Helpers Town Square locations.

CHESHIRE, CT  – Wayback Burgers, America’s Favorite Hometown Burger Joint and one of the nation’s fastest-growing burger franchises, is celebrating National French Fry Day in style – sharing bottomless fries with our loyal guests. To commemorate National French Fry Day on July 13th, Wayback Burgers will offer guests bottomless fries with the purchase of a burger or sandwich. We’re hoping even those who suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia (the fear of Friday the 13th) can admit this upcoming Friday the 13th sounds delicious!

Who doesn’t love fries? Fries can be ordered as a meal, as a side, put in sandwiches, or on top of salads. The versatility of fries is endless. Fries can be dipped in ketchup, dunked in ranch or dipped in one of Wayback’s hand-dipped milkshakes. We’re not here to judge anyone’s preference, but we’re asking you to be the judge of OUR fries. Visit your local Wayback Burgers restaurant on National French Fry Day, Friday, July 13th – with a purchase of a burger or sandwich, you are free to enjoy as many fries as your heart desires during your visit.

Wayback Burgers’ President John Eucalitto is confident guests will love celebrating National French Fry Day with Wayback Burgers.

“Like all great partnerships that have withstood the test of time, hamburgers and fries have always been perfect partners and you’ll find we serve both with the highest possible quality,” says Eucalitto. “We believe our fries are second to none and we are excited to celebrate America’s love of fries with our guests. Once our guests pair their favorite cooked-to-order burger or sandwich with bottomless fries, and potentially a hand-dipped-to-order milkshake, we believe it will be a Friday the 13th to remember.”

Americans’ infatuation with French fries dates back to World War I. American soldiers arrived in Belgium and enjoyed Belgium fries. They became “French” fries because French was the official language of the Belgian Army at that time.

Patrick Conlin, Wayback Burgers’ Senior Vice President, says there isn’t a language barrier when it comes to delivering fun for families visiting local Wayback Burger restaurants.

“National French Fry Day is a day we look forward to just as much as National Hamburger Day and Free Shake Day,” says Conlin. “Any chance we get to show our appreciation to our guests by treating them to our wonderful products, on the house, is a special day here at Wayback Burgers. With National French Fry Day falling on a Friday, our loyal guests have a great opportunity to kick-off the weekend with a wonderful meal complete with all the fries they want!”

All Wayback Burgers’ fries are prepared to order. They’re simple, which makes them fantastic. Dipping sauces are also available to accompany the fries.

Guests are encouraged to share their National French Fry Day experience on Twitter or Instagram, and leave a comment on Wayback Burgers’ Facebook page.

For more information on Wayback Burgers and National French Fry Day, please visit www.WaybackBurgers.com, Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

For more information about the Wayback Burgers franchise opportunity visit https://franchise.waybackburgers.com/.

IRVINE, CA – Less than five months after announcing its franchise opportunity, StretchLab, an inclusive, energetic assisted stretching concept, has signed initial franchise agreements to debut studios in Chicago, Austin, Dallas, Seattle, Central New Jersey and Eagle, Idaho. Additional agreements have been signed to significantly expand the brand’s presence throughout its home state of California in Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area. This strategic development of 31 new units launches the StretchLab concept to all four regions of the U.S., making the inclusive wellness concept more accessible to all.

StretchLab introduces people of all ages, fitness levels, genders and sizes to various health and wellness benefits of working one-on-one with highly trained flexologists™ in an open, modern, fun and approachable environment. Although often neglected, deep stretching is not only scientifically proven to effectively decrease pain, lower risk of injury and reduce stress, but it also provides the ability to perform better at work, in the gym and in everyday life. StretchLab strives to help clients increase mobility and flexibility to achieve a deeper, more advanced stretch than one can do on his or her own.

“In today’s busy world, there is a growing trend toward self-care, recovery work and overall wellness. Deep stretching fulfills that desire, allowing all people to fully tackle their days, no matter what’s on the agenda,” said Lou DeFrancisco, President of StretchLab. “These initial franchise agreements greatly expand StretchLab’s presence throughout the country, allowing us to continue to educate consumers on the benefits of including assisted stretching in their health rituals.”

Founded in 2015 in Venice, California to fulfill the vision of creating an affordable assisted stretching concept, StretchLab quickly gained popularity and grew to three studios throughout Southern California. Now backed by Xponential Fitness, a curator of premium boutique fitness brands led by an expert team with more than 25 years of experience in fitness franchising, StretchLab is actively seeking single- and multi-unit franchise partners to increase the brand’s presence across the U.S. with territories available in all 50 states. With first-to-market opportunities available nationwide, StretchLab is a profitable and rewarding franchise investment. Initial single-unit investment fees range from $153,100 to $223,500.

For more information about StretchLab’s franchise opportunity, visit: stretchlab.com/franchise.