Pet Supplies Plus, Wag N Wash Officially Separate From Franchise Group: Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N’ Wash have separated from Franchise Group, the brands’ former franchisor.
Franchise Group was once a publicly traded company that at different times owned Wag N Wash, Pet Supplies Plus, Sylvan Learning, Liberty Tax, The Vitamin Shoppe, Buddy’s Home Furnishings and American Freight. It bought Pet Supplies Plus in 2021 and, in 2022, PSP bought Wag N Wash, a pet grooming concept. Last summer, FRG completed its financial restructuring process after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in 2024. Upon exiting the bankruptcy process, Pet Supplies Plus, Wag N Wash and Buddy’s Home Furnishings were operated under an umbrella company called Fusion Parent.
In December, Pet Supplies Plus and Wag N Wash officially separated from Franchise Group. The transition was done through securitization financing with a low, fixed-rate debt, according to a news release on the matter.
Daymond John to Speak at IFA Convention in Las Vegas: Daymond John of FUBU and Shark Tank fame takes top billing among the 10 guest speakers at IFA26: Evolve, the International Franchise Association’s annual convention. He will address thousands of franchise leaders during the Feb. 23-25 gathering at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas.
John, CEO and founder of the FUBU apparel brand, is appearing on his 17th season of the Shark Tank reality TV series. On that ABC show, entrepreneurs needing financial backing make their pitches to high-profile, wealthy businesspeople such as John.
He has received many awards for his marketing and entrepreneurial skills. John’s marketing firm, The Shark Group, offers advice on how to creatively and effectively communicate with consumers. President Obama tapped John to serve as presidential ambassador for global entrepreneurship, a position that contributed to the development of the next generation of entrepreneurs. And Real Leaders magazine listed him as one of the top 20 keynote speakers worldwide for 2024.
Chick-fil-A Celebrates 80 Years with ‘Newstalgia’ Campaign: With Chick-fil-A® reaching the ripe old age of 80 in 2026, the franchise has kicked off its yearlong “Newstalgia” campaign. Headlining the fun is a sweepstakes giving 3,000 guests a year of free food. And – to put the “new” in Chick-fil-A Newstalgia – the franchise also has rolled out new beverages and four retro-inspired Classic Cup designs.
The cups, selling for $3.99, are generically wrapped to hide whether they are non-winning cups or Golden Fan Cups, which contain cards awarding free food for a year, a Chick-fil-A news release explains. Winning customers will find the cards inside their cups.
The Golden Fan Cup cards have instructions and a QR code to use in claiming the prize of 52 entrées, the winners’ choice of an Original Chick-fil-A Chicken Sandwich, a Spicy Chicken Sandwich, a Grilled Chicken Sandwich or eight original or grilled Chick-fil-A Nuggets. The yearlong entrée giveaway is also available via mail-in entry, no purchase necessary, under the sweepstakes’ official rules. The Golden Fan Cup giveaway will run through July 1.
Rita’s® Italian Ice & Frozen Custard Enters 2026 With Record Growth, 600th Shop Milestone and Expanded Drive-Thru Incentives: Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard is entering 2026 with strong momentum following a record-setting year marked by accelerated franchise growth, new incentive programs and a major systemwide milestone. The brand closed 2025 having surpassed 600 locations worldwide, reinforcing its position as the largest Italian Ice concept in the world and setting the stage for continued expansion in the year ahead.
In 2025, Rita’s opened 35 new shops systemwide! U.S. openings increased 10% year-over-year and new unit signings grew by nearly 10% year-over-year. The brand also earned multiple industry accolades, including placement on the Restaurant Business Top 500 (#211), QSR’s 16 Best Franchise Deals for 2025, and the Franchise Times Top 400 (#232).
Drive-thru development emerged as one of Rita’s most powerful growth drivers in 2025. Across the system, drive-thru locations are delivering over 30% higher performance compared to non-drive-thru shops, fueled by greater throughput, convenience for families and extended operating seasons in colder climates.
Shipley Donuts Appoints New Chief Marketing Officer: Fast-growing Shipley Donuts, the nation’s largest brand of fresh, handmade-daily donuts and kolaches, has appointed Bill Leibengood as chief marketing officer.
Bringing more than 25 years of restaurant marketing and operations leadership to the Houston-based company, Leibengood previously served as chief marketing officer of Houlihan’s before stepping into the chief operating officer role. Prior to that, he held senior marketing titles at Wingstop Restaurants and Applebee’s.
"With his deep marketing expertise, Bill will help elevate our brand storytelling through fresh, creative initiatives," said Flynn Dekker, CEO of Shipley Donuts.
Smalls Sliders® Inks First Official Development Deal for Nebraska: Smalls Sliders, the iconic cheeseburger slider brand dropping its signature Cans nationwide, has signed its latest and first development agreement to open four Cans in Lincoln and Omaha, Nebraska.
This milestone marks Smalls’ entry into one of the brand’s key markets for growth, where strong retail development and a thriving college and young-professional base create a prime environment for the brand. The move further accelerates Smalls’ nationwide growth strategy and positions the brand to establish a meaningful presence across Nebraska with plans to drop the first of four Cans in 2026.
JETSET Pilates Launches in Austin with Two New Studios: JETSET Pilates is officially making its Austin debut with two new studios in South Austin and Downtown Austin. The South location, now open, marks the beginning of a planned expansion across the city. The Downtown studio is slated to open in early 2026, bringing JETSET’s signature high-intensity, low-impact experience to even more local Austinites.
The new Austin studios are owned by Alison Radway, an ex-finance professional and lifelong entrepreneur at heart. Radway grew up immersed in a business background and always envisioned herself owning her own company. After graduating magna cum laude from Michigan State University with a B.A. in Finance, she built a successful career across Wall Street in investment banking and investor relations. Throughout her demanding professional roles, Pilates remained her outlet – and during frequent visits to Miami, she fell in love with JETSET Pilates’ dynamic, signature workouts. What started as curiosity about becoming a Pilates instructor soon evolved into a larger vision. As she reflected on what was next, Radway’s business background and passion for JETSET Pilates made studio ownership the natural next step.
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa Opens 13 Spas and Signs 12 Franchise Agreements in Q4 2025, Reinforcing Growth Momentum for 2026: Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa (Hand & Stone), the fastest-growing spa franchise in North America and a 600-plus-unit accessible luxury wellness brand, today announced strong fourth-quarter development results, underscoring the brand’s momentum heading into 2026.
In Q4 2025, Hand & Stone opened 13 spas and signed 12 franchise agreements, demonstrating strong franchisee confidence in the brand’s membership-driven model and spa franchise-leading 1.4 million average unit volume (AUV). The quarter’s openings represent one of the clearest indicators of system growth – translating into entrepreneurial success stories, job creation, local economic impact and expanded access to professional wellness services throughout the U.S. and Canada.
Among the quarter’s signed franchise agreements are commitments to develop spas in new markets – Hartford, Connecticut and Tucson, Arizona – marking continued strategic expansion and reinforcing Hand & Stone’s ability to scale across established and emerging markets nationwide.
Batteries Plus Strengthens Arizona Footprint with Two-Store Deal in Tucson: Batteries Plus has signed a two-store franchise agreement in the Tucson area with Steve and Vicky Dotson, a husband-and-wife entrepreneurial team with deep roots in the community. The agreement will bring new Batteries Plus locations to Oro Valley and Green Valley, expanding access to essential battery, lighting, and device repair services across Southern Arizona.
Steve Dotson, a Tucson native and U.S. Navy veteran, spent more than two decades in military service, including time in the Navy’s Submarine Service. Following his military career, Steve and Vicky built and operated successful small businesses in the Tucson area, gaining hands-on experience growing operations and revitalizing underperforming locations.
The Dotsons evaluated a wide range of franchise concepts before selecting Batteries Plus, citing the brand’s structured approach, team-oriented culture, and strong demand for battery and power solutions across both retail and commercial customers.
Huddle House Announces Bob Campbell as Brand President: Huddle House is kicking off the new year with new leadership designed to fuel its next phase of growth. The company announced the appointment of seasoned restaurant executive Bob Campbell as its Brand President. He brings more than 25 years of experience in the casual dining space and will head the concept with a more than 60-year history that is known for its homestyle food without the fuss.
Campbell’s appointment follows the recent announcement of a new Brand President for sister brand Perkins American Food Co., both under the Ascent Hospitality Management portfolio. These leadership moves reflect the strategic growth vision of Ascent Hospitality Management CEO Paul Damico, who also recently joined the leading franchisor and is laser-focused on strengthening the legacy brands.
“We are delighted to welcome Bob to our leadership team as we build on the strong foundation of the Huddle House brand,” said Paul Damico, CEO of Ascent Hospitality Management. “His deep expertise in multi-unit operations, brand strategy, culture stewardship, and growth planning, combined with his passion for developing high-performing teams, will be instrumental as we guide this iconic family-dining brand into its next chapter of sustained growth and success.”
Birdcall Accelerates Expansion with New Five-Restaurant Franchise Development Deal in Southwest Denver: Birdcall today announced the signing of a new franchise development agreement for five restaurants across Southwest Denver. The new franchise partners are Niraj Aryal and Rebecca Michael of Littleton. No strangers to franchising, the husband-and-wife team currently owns and operates the UPS Store in Littleton and are expanding their franchise portfolio with Birdcall as their newest venture.
“As someone who grew up in Denver, it means a lot to invest in a homegrown brand that truly reflects the spirit and values of this city,” she said. “Birdcall’s commitment to quality, community, and innovation really resonates with us, and we’re excited to grow our franchise portfolio while helping introduce Birdcall to even more neighborhoods across Southwest Denver.”
Like every Birdcall restaurant, the new Southwest Denver locations will offer a welcoming, high-energy atmosphere with outdoor patio seating, free arcade games, and bold art. Guests will also be able to enjoy draft beer and craft cocktails with Happy Hour specials, along with self-serve ordering kiosks designed to make the experience seamless and fun.
White Castle promotes Jamie Richardson to chief marketing officer: White Castle announced Wednesday the promotion of Jamie Richardson from vice president of marketing and public relations to chief marketing officer. Richardson replaces Lynn Blashford, who announced her retirement from the company two weeks ago on LinkedIn, stating that “The keys to the Castle are in great hands.”
“Jamie brings a deep knowledge of our brand, strong relationships across our communities and an unwavering belief in what makes White Castle special,” Lisa Ingram, CEO of White Castle, said in a statement. “I have full confidence that Jamie will carry forward the strong foundation Lynn has built while continuing to bring fresh ideas and energy to the team.”
Richardson has worked for White Castle for nearly three decades in multiple roles and served in his most recent vice president position since 2020, where he led a team to grow the relevance of the White Castle brand.
