Ideal Siding Appoints Arkady Vitrouk as Brand President: deal Siding proudly announces the appointment of longtime franchisee and early brand partner Arkady Vitrouk to Brand President. A proven leader who joined Ideal Siding as its fourth franchisee in 2020, Vitrouk brings firsthand experience, operational insight, and a deep-rooted commitment to guide the brand through its next chapter.
As Brand President, he will lead franchise operations with a focus on enhancing support systems, mentoring new owners, and building infrastructure. Before joining Ideal Siding, Vitrouk held senior roles across both startups and global corporations, including CEO of AbeBooks, Director of Kindle Content at Amazon EU, and CEO of Atticus Publishing Group. He began his career at Goldman Sachs, rising to Vice President, and holds an MBA from Harvard Business School.
“Ideal Siding’s system is unique, and the support from the central office is one of the main reasons I joined,” said Vitrouk. “I’m excited to work more closely with the team to support franchisees and help build the structure we need for the next phase of growth.”
Spectra Salon Suites Targets Wellness Industry With Franchising Program: Spectra Salon Suites is set to become the newest spa franchise opportunity to compete in the $5.6 trillion health and wellness industry. With three corporate owned locations in Colorado and Texas, the timing is now right for the brand to pursue expansion.
“We felt the timing is right to introduce our brand,” stated Brian Robinson, co-founder and president of Spectra Salon Suites. "Ultimately, Spectra Salon Suites is about creating a unique community that goes beyond a mere workspace. It’s about empowering our clients to create a captivating vision for their clientele that’s all their own.”
Spectra’s value proposition can be found in its upscale, luxury feel, with more spacious common areas, and private, customizable suites based on an individual’s highly personalized style and image. Spectra Salon Suites offer individual HVAC, climate control, and exhaust systems for its tenant base of beauty professionals, hair stylists, and aestheticians. All locations feature individual 110-135 square foot suites that come furnished with two dedicated electrical circuits, secure keyless entry, LED lighting, and are grouped according to specific uses - offering tenants more professional independence and tranquil settings.
Duck Donuts® Partners with 3Owl to Launch a New Website Experience: Duck Donuts is delighted to announce its groundbreaking partnership with 3Owl to introduce an all-new Duck Donuts website designed to enhance the guest experience.
The newly designed website represents an exciting step forward in guest interaction, streamlining the path to donut joy while opening new doors to customization and convenience. This is made possible by Olo, the brand’s online ordering partner, which powers the menu, POS communication, order processing, and first party delivery.
Sweet Paris Debuts in Arkansas and Missouri with Four-Unit Signed Agreement: Sweet Paris Crêperie & Café enters two new states: Arkansas and Missouri. In a four-unit signed agreement, two restaurants will be opening in Arkansas metropolitan cities, and two restaurants will be opening in Kansas City, Missouri. The first restaurant is slated to open in the fall of 2025.
Behind the deal is Texas native husband-wife duo Michael and Melissa Aaron. As multi-unit and multi-brand franchise owners, the Aarons were introduced to franchising at an early age. Michael began his career as an assistant manager at Sonic Drive-In, when he was presented with the opportunity to open a new store as a manager. Meeting Melissa at work, the two climbed the ladder to open and operate numerous Sonic Drive-In locations for over 30 years, and recently a Nothing Bundt Cakes location. It wasn’t until the couple walked into a Sweet Paris that they knew they wanted to form a partnership with the brand.
Habit Burger & Grill X UFC GYM Team Up to Redefine Salads: Habit Burger & Grill is making a bold move to dominate a new category: salads.
With consumers increasingly seeking fresh, healthier meals that don’t sacrifice flavor, speed, or value, Habit is turning its operational strengths and culinary innovation toward a fast casual segment that remains underdeveloped: entrée salads. The brand’s newly revamped salad lineup is designed to elevate expectations and capture new demand.
As part of the launch, Habit has partnered with UFC GYM, a brand rooted in high-performance fitness and holistic health. The partnership includes in-restaurant signage and UFC GYM-endorsed menu icons promoting the new salads as part of a balanced, protein-forward lifestyle.
Kilwins Appoints Brad Williams as Vice President of Franchise Operations: Kilwins announces the appointment of Brad Williams as vice president of franchise operations. In this role, Williams will develop strategies and support systems to drive profitability, consistency, and long-term success across all Kilwins franchise locations.
With more than 30 years of experience in franchise leadership, Williams brings a proven track record of driving meaningful results. He has held senior leadership roles with household-name brands including Taco Bell, The Krystal Company, Wingstop, and most recently, Checkers and Rally’s, where he led operations across 580 franchise locations nationwide.
KPOT Opens 100th Location, Celebrates with Times Square “Thank You” Video: KPOT Korean BBQ & Hot Pot announces today the official opening of its 100th location. As a heartfelt thank-you to its guests, team members, and franchise partners, KPOT debuted a special celebratory video in New York’s Times Square, recognizing the people and communities who made this moment possible.
KPOT offers a diverse culinary experience with an extensive selection of premium meats, fresh seafood, and crisp vegetables for both its BBQ and Hot Pot offerings. The Hot Pot menu offers a variety of noodles and soy-based options; guests can customize their experience by choosing from eight distinctive soup bases, each offering a unique flavor profile to complement their meal.
Woodhouse Spa Expands with Four New Spa Openings in Growing Communities: Woodhouse Spa opening of four new locations in Colorado Springs, Colorado; Broomfield, Colorado; Odessa, Texas; and Rogers, Arkansas.
Woodhouse Spa is a day spa franchise that delivers a resort-level experience in a convenient neighborhood setting. For more than 24 years, Woodhouse has provided guests with fully customized wellness experiences designed to relax, restore, and rejuvenate. Each location offers a calming environment enriched with natural textures, earthy tones, soothing aromatherapy, and tranquil sounds. Guests can choose from a range of luxury services including massage therapies, facials, body treatments, waxing, and nail care—all tailored to their individual needs.
Port of Subs Announces 20-Unit Deal for the Dallas-Fort Worth Suburban Region: Port of Subs® proudly announces its latest development deal. With 20 units expected to open across the Dallas-Fort Worth suburbs, this agreement is spearheaded by Texas-based entrepreneurs Robert and Nikki La Grace, a husband-and-wife team with deep ties to the region and a passion for community-building.
This deal will further its reach across Dallas, targeting Plano, Frisco, and its surrounding suburbs. The entrepreneurial duo bringing the brand to this part of the state has a diverse background. Robert brings a wealth of operational and strategic insight to the table. Nikki, who spent years supporting executive leadership before stepping into a more hands-on role at their children's school, shares Robert’s dedication to fostering meaningful connections in the community.
Shake Shack to expand to Panama: Shake Shack is expanding into Panama with a licensing agreement with Multifood Enterprises to open 12 restaurants in the country by 2035.
Multifood is a subsidiary of Attie Group, a diversified Panamanian company with operations in real estate, banking, trade, solar power projects, and textile production, among other segments. It already operates numerous restaurants, including locations of Maison Kayser and Darden Restaurants’ subsidiaries Olive Garden and The Capital Grille.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to expand into Panama, our first stop in Central America,” Shake Shack’s president of global licensing, Michael Kark, said in a statement. “Bringing Shake Shack to Central America marks a major milestone as we continue to grow globally, and Panama has always felt like a natural place to begin given its blend of warmth, rich history, and a vibrant culinary scene.
Dunkin’ debuts in France: Dunkin’ opened its first location in France on Wednesday.
The global coffee chain’s master franchise QSRP opened the restaurant at 19 Boulevard Montmartre in Paris, and a second location at Paris’ Saint-Lazare train station is slated to open on Thursday.
The 2,152-square-foot Montmartre location features Dunkin’s current “Recharge” design with its signature pink-and-orange color scheme with indoor seating. The menu includes espresso drinks, teas, and baked goods including the chain’s signature doughnuts.Dunkin’ parent company Inspire Brands said the new location also had beverages on tap and French sandwiches prepared onsite, but did not elaborate.
