Domino's Pizza China continues rapid expansion, strengthens market positioning
Domino's Pizza is expanding its presence in China.

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Domino's Pizza is expanding its presence in China.

Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers plans to open around 60 locations in 2026, nearing 600 total units, with new building formats enabling expansion into different real estate types.

Golden Chick is launching a new marketing campaign, loyalty program, and digital-first strategy to compete in the competitive chicken tender category.

Canadian dessert chain D-Spot Dessert Café is entering the U.S. market with its first location in Dallas, signaling readiness to scale a franchise model beyond its home country.

Yogurtland reported record franchise metrics in 2025, with traditional store AUVs reaching $934,959, signaling sustained demand in the self-serve frozen yogurt category.

Despite access to unprecedented guest data, restaurants struggle to retain customers, suggesting that loyalty programs alone may not drive repeat visits without translating data into personalized expe

HB Protein Smoothies signed a 6-unit franchise agreement for Houston with an experienced restaurant operations group, continuing its geographic expansion.

QSR Magazine highlights untold stories from franchisees about leadership challenges and operational turning points, suggesting that personal experiences with hiring and mentorship often shape franchis

Swig has signed a multi-unit franchise agreement to expand across Chicago's southwest suburbs with experienced operators Derek and Michelle Hincks.

Nearly half of U.S. diners switched their favorite restaurant last year, up from 33 percent the prior year—a shift that signals growing customer volatility and potential vulnerability in restaurant lo
Another Broken Egg Cafe launched a royalty relief program aimed at incentivizing franchisees to open additional units, signaling the chain's focus on accelerating unit growth through financial incenti

Slim Chickens appointed Maureen DiStefano as Director of Franchise Development to strengthen its franchise team ahead of expansion efforts.


Dutch Bros reports 74% rewards penetration among customers, with the company attributing boosted transactions and digital engagement to its loyalty program; the metric signals rewards programs' growin
A major operator of a pizza chain has filed for bankruptcy despite the brand's ongoing expansion, suggesting potential strain between franchisor growth and franchisee unit economics.
Fast food chains are leveraging collectible cups and limited-edition merchandise to drive loyalty while menu prices have climbed significantly since 2019, signaling an industry strategy to offset cost
Freddy's Frozen Custard & Steakburgers projects 60 new locations in 2026, signaling confidence in its expansion pipeline and potential market appetite for the brand's positioning.
HTeaO opened a new location in Katy, Texas, expanding its presence in the state.

Wendy's is investing in digital sales, AI-powered ordering, and menu innovation to address weak customer traffic.
Starbucks' loyalty program, personalization features, and faster service are cited as drivers of higher store traffic and customer engagement.
Restaurant franchising is attracting women entrepreneurs who seek business ownership with built-in operational support and growth potential.

Woof Gang Bakery, a pet-food-focused bakery brand, has secured private equity backing from Great Hill Partners.
Zaxby's has surpassed 1,000 locations, signaling sustained expansion in the competitive chicken sandwich category.
Dog Haus is offering an area director franchise model that includes equity stakes for franchisees.
Freddy's has announced a target of 600 locations by 2026.
Zeus Street Greek attributed its private equity partnership to rising operational costs.
Ben Leventhal's Blackbird Labs tackles independent-restaurant invisibility and profitability through frequency-driven loyalty — a template applicable to multi-unit brands rethinking guest retention.
Bad Ass Coffee is expanding through nontraditional unit formats, a strategy that signals growing operator interest in flexible, lower-overhead coffee concepts beyond traditional standalone cafes.
Chicken Salad Chick signed 52 franchise agreements in early 2026, nearly 50 percent more than the 35 it secured in the same period last year, marking its strongest quarter for franchise development si

Dog Haus is launching an area director program with 15 leaders to accelerate expansion from its current 60 locations, signaling a shift toward franchisee-supported growth infrastructure.

A franchisee of a popular pizza chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
RestaurantNews.com's top 20 restaurant stories for the week ending July 5, 2026 featured Birdcall, Golden Corral, Blue Mint Thai, Red Lobster, and Chili's.
Spur Corporation, a casual dining brand, is exploring expansion into the US market through franchise growth.
Several major restaurant franchisees executed significant acquisition and divestiture deals in the first half of the year, including Red Robin selling company-owned stores and Mas Restaurant Group off

Rosie's Burgers, owned by Happy Belly Food Group, has signed its first franchise agreement in New Brunswick, signaling the brand's expansion into a new Canadian province.
Golden Corral's senior director of franchise business development, Dan Doulen, will speak at the QSR Evolution Conference; he brings over two decades of franchising experience, including prior roles a

Restaurant operators are adopting voice AI technology to capture phone call data as a way to recognize and engage customers across locations, suggesting the phone channel may become a key loyalty and

Vibe Restaurants is opening its 100th Wingstop location in Wichita on July 8, marking a milestone in the franchisee's expansion.

A pizza franchisee has filed for bankruptcy despite pursuing national expansion over the past two years, signaling potential strain in the franchise model even during growth periods.
A Woody's Bar-B-Q franchisee in Florida filed for bankruptcy a second time in three years, citing rising food costs, management issues, and expensive merchant cash advance financing as contributing fa

Fuzzy's Taco Shop is running a summer promotion through August 30 featuring limited-time menu items, rewards offers, and events designed to drive repeat visits and engagement during peak season.

GoTab has acquired Fishbowl, a guest marketing and loyalty platform, to expand its restaurant commerce ecosystem that includes POS, ordering, payments, and mobile solutions.
Famous Brands outlined its restaurant portfolio amid investor scrutiny of consumer spending patterns.
Carrols Restaurant Group outlined its fast-food strategy while TAST expands its presence in quick-service dining.
A Mountain Mike's franchisee in Medford filed for bankruptcy amid debt pressures, signaling potential financial strain within the chain's franchise system.
Domino's is distributing $1 million in rewards to loyalty members following a penalty card issued to U.S. soccer player Folarin Balogun during a World Cup match, triggering a promotional commitment th
Your Pie, an Ischia-inspired pizza chain with customizable brick-oven offerings, is targeting Wilmington, North Carolina for expansion, signaling confidence in regional demand for fast-casual pizza co

Restaurant brands are increasingly centering their apps around loyalty programs, personalization, and direct customer engagement rather than just order-ahead convenience, signaling a shift toward usin
Social-first growth playbook — organic content scaled The Taco Spot to 400-unit pipeline, showing how brands can use owned channels to accelerate franchising velocity.

Mountain Mike's Pizza is expanding in Nashville while another pizza chain has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.