Smaller Prototype Headlines Rebrand for Schlotzsky’s Deli: The fast-casual restaurant chain, known for its broad menu consisting of sandwiches, salads and soups, is rebranding by adding “Deli” back to its name and introducing a new restaurant prototype that prioritizes service speed, stronger customer experience and lower buildout and operating costs for franchisees.
Donna Varner, chief brand officer at Schlotzsky’s, sees the change as a return to form for the 55-year-old brand suffering from feeling “a little lost.”
“We went out to the consumer to say, ‘How do you see us … and who do you see us as?’” Varner said. “Two-thirds of the guests said, ‘You are Schlotzsky’s Deli.’ Our franchisees have called us Schlotzsky’s Deli for a long time, so we said, ‘Why are we fighting who we are? Let’s be who the consumer tells us we are.’”
PIRTEK USA Celebrates Opening of Milestone 200th U.S. Location: PIRTEK USA, the nation’s leading provider of on-site and retail hydraulic and industrial hose service, has officially opened its 200th location in the United States, marking a significant milestone in the brand’s continued national expansion.
The achievement follows a record-breaking 2025, when PIRTEK awarded 61 franchise units and opened 41 new locations, the strongest year of growth in company history. Reaching 200 locations so early in 2026 emphasizes the brand’s accelerating development pace and sustained demand for essential, B2B-focused service franchises.
“This milestone represents so much more than a number,” said Kim Gubera, President & CEO of PIRTEK USA and PIRTEK Canada. “Opening our 200th U.S. location reflects the real strength of our franchise system, the dedication of our franchisees and employees, and the increasing demand for PIRTEK as the provider of essential services that keep businesses operating. We could not have reached 200 without the strong network that is our foundation. We’re thrilled to celebrate this achievement with all of TEAM PIRTEK and are excited to continue our growth across the country.”
Aqua-Tots Swim School Expands in Thailand with New Central Pinklao Location: Aqua-Tots Swim School proudly announces the opening of its newest location in Central Pinklao, Thailand. This milestone marks the brand’s 10th school in Thailand, reflecting Aqua-Tots’ continued commitment to drowning prevention and accessible swim education for children worldwide.
Owned and operated by Tiparad Sitthimonamnuay, Aqua-Tots Central Pinklao brings a safe, supportive, and encouraging environment where children of all ages and abilities can develop essential water safety skills, build confidence, and learn to swim for life.
Thailand’s strong connection to water makes swim education especially critical. Drowning remains one of the leading causes of death among children under 15 in the country, with approximately 1,500 drowning-related deaths each year, according to the World Health Organization. Research shows that formal swim lessons can significantly reduce drowning risk in young children, reinforcing the importance of early, consistent instruction.
Farmer Boys® Appoints Mark Hardison as Chief Marketing Officer to Lead the Next Phase of Brand Growth: Farmer Boys® has appointed seasoned restaurant marketing executive Mark Hardison as its new Chief Marketing Officer. In this role, Hardison will lead the next phase of Farmer Boys’ brand growth by elevating the company’s market positioning and deepening guest engagement through data-driven marketing strategies that increase visit frequency and long-term customer value.
Hardison brings over 25 years of experience to Farmer Boys, previously leading marketing strategy, CRM, and digital growth for nationally recognized restaurant brands. Most recently, he served as Chief Marketing Officer at California Fish Grill, where he used data-driven marketing and lifecycle programs to increase visit frequency and check averages. Previously, Hardison spent more than 20 years at El Pollo Loco in progressive leadership roles, including Senior Vice President of Marketing. During his tenure, the brand achieved more than 25% comparable sales growth over eight years, introduced over 100 new menu items and limited-time offerings, and expanded its loyalty program to more than 2 million members - experience he will now bring to Farmer Boys’ next phase of growth.
Shipley Donuts Rounds Out C-Suite With Three Senior Leadership Appointments: Shipley Donuts, the nation's largest brand of fresh, handmade donuts and kolaches, has expanded its senior leadership team with the addition of new Chief Operating Officer Matt Kafka, Chief Development Officer Todd Brin and Chief Financial Officer John Feray.
Kafka brings nearly 30 years of restaurant operations experience to Shipley. He most recently served as senior vice president and interim COO at Smoothie King, where he oversaw franchise and corporate operations across approximately 1,250 stores. He previously held operations roles at Jamba Juice. As chief operating officer at Shipley, Kafka will champion operational excellence and strengthen franchisee leadership.
Brin, who joined Shipley in 2025 as vice president of design and construction, brings more than 30 years of experience in unit development, operations and strategic leadership. He spent 22 years at Wingstop, where he helped build the systems that scaled the brand from 85 to 2,500 units worldwide. As CDO, Brin will oversee all aspects of franchise sales, development, construction, design and real estate with a focus on streamlining processes, reducing costs and accelerating unit growth across the Shipley system.
HTeaO Strengthens Leadership Team with Strategic Appointments in Store Development and Operations: HTeaO announces the appointment of two key executive leadership appointments: Jerry McClain as Vice President of Store Development and Brian Aga as Senior Vice President of Operations. These additions follow the recent appointment of a new Chief Financial Officer (Chris Phillips) and reinforce HTeaO’s commitment to building organizational infrastructure that supports disciplined, sustained expansion.
“As HTeaO continues to grow, building the right leadership team isn’t optional — it’s critical,” said Justin Howe, Co-Founder and CEO of HTeaO. “With Chris stepping in as CFO, and now Jerry and Brian joining the team, we’re strengthening the foundation of this business. That means sharpening our focus on operational excellence and being intentional about value engineering smarter, more efficient footprints that drive best-in-class unit-level economics for our franchise partners. At the same time, we’re raising the bar across the system so both new and existing franchisees are positioned for long-term success — all while delivering the consistent, fun, refreshing guest experience that defines HTeaO.”
Eggs up Grill Accelerates Growth Through Multi-Unit Partnership With Metz Group: Eggs Up Grill has entered into a multi-unit franchise partnership with Metz Group, a family-owned restaurant organization with deep hospitality roots, marking a significant step in the brand’s expansion with experienced multi-unit operators.
The agreement brings together Eggs Up Grill and Metz Group, a company founded on family values and long-term brand building, with companies like Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Dunkin, Chick-fil-A and TGI Fridays. The partnership reflects Metz Group’s years-long search for the right growth brand and its confidence in Eggs Up Grill’s positioning in the daytime dining category.
“Metz Group represents exactly the kind of partner we look for as we grow,” said Ricky Richardson, CEO of Eggs Up Grill. “They understand the importance of culture and hospitality and bring decades of restaurant experience with a community-first mindset. Their confidence in Eggs Up Grill is a significant validation point of the strength of our brand and our ability to grow with sophisticated multi-unit operators.”
USA Ninja Challenge Appoints Thomas Dievart as Chief Marketing Officer: USA Ninja Challenge has named Thomas Dievart as its new chief marketing officer, bringing nearly two decades of global marketing leadership to the youth fitness franchise as it accelerates growth nationwide.
Dievart joins the brand after holding senior marketing roles across sports, fitness and sporting goods, including global brands such as Wilson Tennis, Ironman Triathlon and Technogym. His background spans international brand strategy, digital marketing and growth-focused leadership within high-performance sports environments.
“I love the fact that first and foremost it’s a sports company giving kids the ability to challenge themselves, to grow and to gain confidence,” Dievart said. “I think there’s a lot of room for growth for the company.” In his new role, Dievart will focus on strengthening marketing foundations across the system, supporting new openings and ensuring franchise owners are equipped with consistent, high-quality tools as the brand scales.
Ford’s Garage Announces Entrance into Wisconsin as They Continue National Growth: Ford’s Garage – the full-service, 1920s garage-themed burger and craft beer restaurant inspired by the heritage of The Ford Motor Company – has just announced their debut into Wisconsin with three new locations in the Milwaukee and Madison area. The deal is led by Six Stars Hospitality, the group is comprised of Wisconsinite entrepreneurs with decades of experience building, growing and operating successful businesses.
“We fell in love with Ford’s Garage the moment we saw the iconic blue oval,” said Six Stars Hospitality. “The brand’s distinctive décor and its ability to bring automotive history right to the table immediately stood out to us. From the moment guests walk in, they feel welcomed, and the exceptional hospitality and atmosphere create a truly stand-out dining experience.”
Cullen and Bromm were first introduced to Ford’s Garage while grabbing lunch together at a location as their kids were baseball teammates. That visit marked their first experience with the brand, and they quickly connected with the blue-collar aesthetic and a menu that aligns naturally with Wisconsin tastes. Ford’s Garage offers a unique blend of crave-worthy comfort food, craft beer, and vintage automotive nostalgia. Known for its signature burgers, over-the-top desserts, and themed décor featuring classic cars, gas pumps, and a true 1920s garage vibe, Ford’s Garage creates a destination for families, foodies, and car enthusiasts alike.
Wendy’s targets Latin America for expansion: Wendy’s is identifying some 200 to 300 underperforming restaurants in the United States for closure, but the company’s expansion strategy in Latin America is full speed ahead. The company announced the finalization of two new franchise agreements that will add more than 60 new restaurants in Mexico in the coming years.
Wendy's franchise agreement with AJ Group includes plans to develop 50 new Wendy's restaurants in Mexico City and the states of Mexico, Hidalgo, and Morelos. The first new Wendy's restaurant in Mexico City is planned to open this year.
Wendy's has also entered into a franchise agreement with WS Pacific to develop 12 new Wendy's restaurants across the states of Sinaloa and Durango. The first Wendy's in the region is also targeted to open by year end.
JRI Hospitality acquires 43 Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers locations: Manhattan, Kansas-based JRI Hospitality — the largest franchisee of quick-service brand Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers — has acquired an additional 43 Freddy’s locations through the purchase of franchisee HCI Hospitality’s restaurant operations. With this deal, JRI’s total number of Freddy’s locations multiplies from 88 units across 15 states to 130 restaurants across 18 states.
“The acquisition of HCI is a unique opportunity to bring two great teams together,” Jason Ingermanson, founder and CEO of JRI Hospitality, said in a statement. “Their reputation, consistent performance, and commitment to integrity and quality align closely with our own values, and we look forward to continuing to bring unique, memorable experiences for our guests across all operations nationwide.”
As HCI Hospitality’s restaurant operations merges with JRI, the latter has also gained the franchisee’s other holdings, including JC’s BBQ and Grill in Junction City, Kansas; and Powercat Sports Grill in Manhattan, Kansas. Cam Blakely, CEO of HCI will be joining JRI as president of operations for JRI Freddy’s.
