Thompson Street Sells Freddy's to PE Firm Rhône: Private equity firm Rhône completed its acquisition of Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, ending a year-long sale process.
“Rhône is a great partner for us,” Freddy’s CEO Chris Dull said. “They have strong consumer experience. They share our vision for Freddy’s and believe in our continued growth story.”
Thompson Street Capital Partners, which bought Freddy’s in 2021, sold the company for an undisclosed amount. Rhône’s other brands include coffee company Illy, which franchises a cafe concept, luxury retail company Saks Global and private aviation company Vista.
Sip Fresh Appoints Allison Olszewski as Director of Marketing: Sip Fresh announced today the appointment of Allison Olszewski as Director of Marketing.
Olszewski will spearhead the brand’s marketing strategy. With more than a decade of experience spanning global and regional brands, she brings a distinguished track record of delivering transformative growth through innovative campaigns, loyalty-building initiatives and effective digital strategies. Her leadership has consistently translated into multi-million-dollar revenue gains and enhanced customer lifetime value.
The Goddard School Sets GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS™ Title for Most Viewers for a Reading Live Stream on YouTube: The Goddard School®, the nation’s leading premium early childhood education provider, set the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title today for most viewers for a reading live stream on YouTube. 6,535 viewers watched Steve Burns, the original host of the beloved children’s program “Blue’s Clues” and host of the upcoming “Alive” podcast, read “Curious Blueberry the Carousel Horse” live on The Goddard School’s YouTube channel. The reading took place at The Goddard School of Manhattan (StuyTown) in front of the school’s students and teachers.
The record-breaking 6,535 viewers represent the number of devices that concurrently watched the live stream. In total, in addition to the general public, tens of thousands of students and teachers from the more than 650 Goddard Schools nationwide watched live, as thousands of classrooms tuned in from a single device in each room.
Goldfish Swim School Inks Deal to Expand La Footprint With 7 New Locations: Goldfish Swim School Franchising, LLC has signed an agreement to grow the brand in Southern California with franchise group GSS Los Angeles, LLC, led by local entrepreneurs Jason Adler and Alex Wang.
The duo plans to bring seven new swim schools across Los Angeles over the next several years, with the first one anticipated to open in late 2026.
Adler and Wang both come from backgrounds in investment management and live in Los Angeles, where they are raising their families. Recognizing the need for greater swim safety resources in their community, they were inspired to bring Goldfish Swim School to the market.
Marco's Pizza Announces Maryland Expansion with 3-Unit Franchise Deal in Germantown: Marco's Pizza, one of the nation's fastest-growing pizza brands, announces a new three-unit franchise agreement to develop in Germantown, Maryland and the surrounding area. Behind the multi-unit deal are cousins Sri Masabathula and Sasi Vaddi, operating under SS Brothers Pizza, LLC – a family-run venture rooted in drive, grit, and a shared love for great pizza.
Masabathula, who got his start in the industry delivering pizzas for Papa John's, always dreamed of owning his own pizza franchise. While he briefly pivoted to a career in IT, he quickly realized that his passion and long-term vision lived in the community connections of the pizza business.
The Big Biscuit Names Alexandra Clark as Vice President of Finance: The Big Biscuit, a modern All-American breakfast and lunch franchise concept known for its classic comfort food served with genuine hometown hospitality, has named Alexandra (Alex) Clark as its Vice President of Finance. Clark brings more than 30 years of accounting and financial leadership experience, including two decades focused on the restaurant franchising sector. She most recently served as Vice President of Finance at Jefferson’s, where she oversaw financial planning and systems for the fast-growing full-service restaurant concept. Before that, she was Chief Financial Officer for Goodcents Deli Fresh Subs, where she guided financial strategy and decision-making.
“The Big Biscuit is an emerging brand with a strong foundation, and its leadership team is deeply committed to driving growth while supporting franchisee success, which aligns with my approach throughout my career,” said Clark. “I reached a point in my professional journey where a new challenge felt exciting. I’m passionate about building systems that make data actionable, empowering franchisees with clear insights, and ensuring every decision we make as a leadership team supports sustainable long-term growth. I am drawn to The Big Biscuit’s collaborative spirit and dedication to its franchise community, and I’m thrilled to be part of this brand that is expanding and deeply invested in its people.”
Enviro-Master Appoints Frank Costello as Chief Executive Officer: Enviro-Master today announced the appointment of Frank Costello as Chief Executive Officer.
The appointment of Costello marks a milestone in Enviro-Master’s journey as the company delivers on Enviro-Master’s brand promise: It’s Not Just Clean. It’s Clean Done Right.
“Frank brings an outstanding track record of leadership, operational excellence, and strategic growth,” said Bill Lundstrom, Chairman of the Board of Enviro-Master. “His vision and experience will be instrumental in guiding Enviro-Master through its next phase while reinforcing our mission to protect businesses, employees, and communities with essential health and safety solutions.”
Jersey Mike’s Appoints Stacy Peterson as President and Chief Operating Officer: Jersey Mike’s Subs (“Jersey Mike’s” or the “Company”), a leading franchisor of fast-casual sandwich shops known for its fresh sliced and fresh grilled subs, today announced the appointment of Stacy Peterson as President and Chief Operating Officer. Peterson is a restaurant industry veteran who has led revenue-driving initiatives in various leadership roles, including at fast-growing global brands.
As President and Chief Operating Officer, Peterson will lead Jersey Mike’s U.S. operations and oversee marketing and technology, drawing on her extensive experience to drive innovation and operational excellence, accelerate digital transformation, and strengthen the Company’s leadership in the marketplace.
Ace Hardware Celebrates 100th New Store Opening of 2025, Continues Nationwide Growth: Ace Hardware, the world’s largest hardware cooperative, is proud to mark the opening of its 100th new store of 2025. The achievement is a key milestone as the brand continues expanding its footprint to serve more neighborhoods nationwide. Over the past five years, Ace has opened more than 930 new stores and remains on pace to open more than 175 by the end of 2025.
“This milestone reflects the continued strength of our local ownership model, our commitment to service, and the trust our customers place in Ace,” said Andy Enright, Senior Vice President, Retail Strategy and Operations, Ace Hardware. “Even in a world of rapid change, we believe that helpfulness, human connection and a commitment to community will always be at the center of enduring retail success.”
Saigon Hustle Embarks on Expansion With Backing From Savory Fund and Virentes Partners Group: Saigon Hustle today announced a partnership with Savory Fund and Virentes Partners Group.
Founded in 2020 by best friends and Houston residents Cassie Ghaffar and Sandy Nguyen, the brand brings traditional Vietnamese cuisine into a modern, fast, and approachable format. Guests enjoy Banh Mi sandwiches, rolls, bowls, salads, pho, and wings made with locally sourced ingredients — earning Saigon Hustle recognition as “the Chipotle of Vietnamese food” and accolades including QSR’s 40/40 list and Houston Eater’s “Brag-Worthy Banh-Mi.”
Saigon Hustle joined the Savory Fund portfolio in 2021 after winning the firm’s Million-Dollar Restaurant Launch, a competition that saw nearly 250 emerging restaurant brands compete for the grand prize.
Dog Haus Signs Three-Store Deal to Expand Into Nashville Area: Dog Haus is making its way to Music City with three new locations slated for the Nashville area.
Seasoned franchisee Michael Deak, a restaurant operator with more than 15 years of experience, has signed on to bring Dog Haus to East Nashville, Franklin and Smyrna. Each location will offer far more than just food and drinks - guests can expect 24 taps of Tennessee craft beer, over 20 TVs for live sports, an outdoor firepit, shuffleboard, beer pong and more - creating an all-in-one destination for locals and visitors alike.
Michael is no stranger to Dog Haus, having previously been a General Manager for a Dog Haus location, prior to embarking on his own journey in franchising. Since entering franchising in 2022, he has quickly built an impressive portfolio with Jet’s Pizza and Tropical Smoothie Cafe units across Tennessee.
