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| Good Morning Wolf Pack, Today's newsletter covers a Gulf Coast operator buying up 10 Checkers & Rally's stores at once, Jollibee lining up new multi-unit developers on a path to 330 U.S. restaurants, and Teriyaki Madness posting nearly 31% systemwide sales growth in Q2. Enjoy! Was this email forwarded to you? FROM THE WOLF DEN 1) Checkers & Rally's Franchisee Buys 10 Stores in Alabama and Mississippi Markets Checkers & Rally's just handed a 10-restaurant package to one operator in a single move, bringing multi-unit veteran Spencer Marks into the system with six restaurants in Mobile, Alabama, and four in Biloxi, Mississippi. Marks has spent nearly two decades building a multi-brand portfolio and plans further development in the two markets down the road. "Spencer brings the operational expertise, business acumen, and growth mindset we look for in our franchise partners," said Robert Bhagwandat, Senior Director of Franchise Development at Checkers Drive-In Restaurants. The brand is leaning on experienced multi-unit operators to backfill and grow across the Gulf Coast, and this is one of its bigger single-operator pickups in the region this year. It's a reminder that acquisition activity in franchising isn't only happening at the platform level. Individual operators with the right track record are still buying their way into meaningful scale, ten restaurants at a time. 2) Seven Franchise Groups and a Clear Path Toward 330 US Franchise Units by 2030: Jollibee Builds Mid-Year Momentum in 2026 Jollibee added three new multi-unit franchise developers in the first half of 2026, bringing its total to seven and putting the Filipino chicken chain on a defined path toward 330 U.S. restaurants by 2030. Average unit sales are already topping $4.9 million, a figure that's clearly doing a lot of the recruiting work on its own. "We have a high degree of confidence in franchising as a key way to grow, and the quality of the franchise candidates we are engaging with is impressive," said Peter Wright, vice president of franchise development for Jollibee Group North America. The brand is prioritizing California and New York for its next wave of openings, both corporate and franchised. Jollibee's growth strategy centers on recruiting operators who can run high-volume, multi-unit territories rather than chasing single-unit deals, and the math on those average unit volumes suggests that approach is paying off. 3) Teriyaki Madness Extends Growth Streak With 31 Percent Systemwide Sales Jump in Q2 Teriyaki Madness closed Q2 with systemwide sales up nearly 31% year over year, opened 12 new shops, and entered Mississippi for the first time. The Seattle-style teriyaki brand now sits at 215 locations across 41 states and is on pace to hit roughly 250 by year's end. "We are building systems that make operators more successful before they ever unlock the front door of a new location," said Jodi Boyce, chief marketing officer at Teriyaki Madness. Same-store sales rose 7.42% for the quarter, well ahead of category averages, while catering sales are up more than 97% compared to 2024 levels. The brand continues to lean heavily on referrals from existing franchisees rather than outside recruiting, which is part of why growth keeps compounding quarter over quarter. EXTRA SAUCE 💥 Pigtails & Crewcuts Builds on Strong Start to 2026 With New Franchise Growth, Training Investments and Community Initiatives The kids' salon brand signed four new franchise agreements in the first half of 2026, including a three-salon Nashville deal, while also rolling out a new franchisee training platform. Celebree School Awards New Franchise Agreement in Phoenix, Marking First Arizona Location The early childhood education franchise is entering Arizona for the first time, betting on the state's growing demand for infant, toddler, and preschool programs. VIO Med Spa Expands Atlanta Footprint with New Franchise Agreement The physician-guided med spa brand is adding another Metro Atlanta location as it continues courting operators with hospitality and healthcare backgrounds. Christian Brothers Automotive Marks Strong Mid-Year Momentum with 14 New Awards, System Expansion, and National Recognition CBA issued 14 new franchise awards in the first half of 2026 and entered Wyoming as its 31st state, with 96 more locations in the pipeline. Skiptown Signs Five-Unit Franchise Agreement to Expand Across Colorado The tech-enabled dog care brand is handing a five-unit Denver-area commitment to a longtime member turned franchise owner. Happy Joe's Inks Multi-Unit Deal in Dallas-Fort Worth Market The 50-year-old Midwest pizza and ice cream chain is making its Texas debut through a multi-location deal covering four DFW-area counties. Boardroom Salon for Men Accelerates Nashville Expansion with Veteran Multi-Unit Franchisee Guy Gonzales A 15-year system veteran is taking over Boardroom's two existing Nashville salons and adding two more across Middle Tennessee. Pvolve Reaches 40 Open Studios, Signs New Franchise Agreements The Jennifer Aniston-affiliated fitness brand hit its 40-studio milestone while signing new franchise agreements in Pittsburgh and Albuquerque. Chicken Salad Chick Debuts in Pennsylvania The fast casual chain's first Pennsylvania restaurant will push its footprint to 25 states, with a stated goal of being in half the country by early August. FullSpeed Automotive Shifts Franchise Growth into High Gear During First Half of 2026 The parent of Grease Monkey and SpeeDee signed 12 new franchise agreements and opened 11 locations in H1, with 18 more openings expected in the back half of the year. Uni K Wax Expands National Footprint with New Studio Openings in Connecticut and Arizona Two new franchisees are bringing the natural waxing brand into Westport, Connecticut and the Scottsdale, Arizona market for the first time. HOODZ Comes to New Jersey With New Franchise Location Opening A former corporate banker is opening HOODZ's commercial kitchen exhaust cleaning franchise in Verona, New Jersey. WOLF BITES
That’s it for this edition of The Wolf Report. Feel free to reply with any questions or feedback. Thanks and see you Thursday! — The Wolf | ||||||
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