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| Good Morning Wolf Pack, Today's newsletter covers Flo Rida joining Beyond Juicery + Eatery as an equity stakeholder, Gong cha signing the largest direct franchise deal in its history across four Texas markets, and Unleashed Brands closing a 73-agreement first half across its seven youth enrichment concepts. Enjoy! Was this email forwarded to you? FROM THE WOLF DEN 1) Flo Rida Joins Beyond Juicery + Eatery in Landmark Multi-Million-Dollar Strategic Partnership Beyond Juicery + Eatery just landed a celebrity investor with real skin in the game. Grammy-nominated artist Flo Rida has joined the Michigan-born fast-casual chain as an equity stakeholder and franchise partner in a multi-million-dollar deal, with the investment centered on accelerating growth across South Florida while backing the brand's broader national push. "I've always believed that success starts with taking care of yourself, and wellness has always been a core part of how I approach life and business," Flo Rida said. "I love that you can grab something that makes you feel good while still delicious, whether it's my go-to green bottled juice, the Blue Mood Rush smoothie or the Turkey Dijon Wrap." Founded in 2005 and franchising since 2018, Beyond Juicery + Eatery now runs more than 50 locations across Michigan, Ohio, Florida and Georgia. Co-founder Mijo Alanis said the partnership was built on more than a famous name attached to storefronts: "Flo doesn't just put his name on something, he immerses himself in it." Expect more specifics on the South Florida rollout in the coming months. 2) Gong cha Signs Landmark 50-Unit Deal in Texas with Experienced Franchise Operator Gong cha just inked the biggest direct franchising deal in company history. The bubble tea giant, which operates nearly 2,200 locations across 33 countries, has signed a 50-unit exclusive area development agreement covering Austin, Houston, San Antonio, and Dallas with Bakers Acres & Cattle Company, a Houston-based multi-generational operating family that built its track record on Nothing Bundt Cakes. "As Gong cha continues expanding across the U.S., we're seeing strong interest from multi-unit operators looking to grow with the global leader," said Geoff Henry, President of Gong cha Americas. The deal follows Gong cha's recent acquisition of master franchise rights to 170 U.S. locations across 13 states, and comes as the brand pushes to more than double its Americas footprint by 2028. BACC has seven years to build out the four-market territory, betting on what CEO Brett Walker called "operational sophistication" in a category still finding its scale in the U.S. 3) Unleashed Brands Reports Strong First Half of 2026 with 73 Franchise Agreements Across Seven Brands Unleashed Brands is marking its fifth anniversary with a growth stretch. The youth-enrichment platform behind Urban Air, The Little Gym, Sylvan Learning, Snapology, Class 101, Premier Martial Arts, and Water Wings Swim School signed 73 franchise agreements and opened 34 new locations in the first half of the year, pushing its network past 1,500 total locations serving more than 20 million kids. "The momentum we've seen during the first half of 2026 is a direct result of our continued investment in our brands, our franchisees and the families they serve," said Michael O. Browning Jr., Founder and CEO. The newest concept in the portfolio, Water Wings Swim School, has already awarded 39 franchise units since launching in May 2025 and is set to open its first franchised location this August. It's a reminder that in a multi-brand platform, the newest addition to the roster isn't always the slowest to scale. EXTRA SAUCE 💥 Mellow Mushroom Builds Midyear Momentum With Six Franchise Deals The psychedelic pizza brand signed six deals through H1, including its first-ever location coming to Montana, and expects five to ten more before year's end. 16 Handles Surpasses Last Year's Franchise Growth in Just Six Months The upscale frozen yogurt brand signed 25 agreements across 10 states in H1, already topping all of 2025, while posting 30% same-store sales growth. Shipley Donuts Inks First-Ever Nonprofit Franchise Agreement in Texas SouthFair Community Development Corporation will serve as landlord, tenant, and franchisee on a new South Dallas location, with profits flowing back into neighborhood programs. Eggs Up Grill Reaches Major Brand Milestone to Cap Off Strong Second Quarter The daytime dining brand's 110th restaurant opening made it the largest actively franchising breakfast, brunch, and lunch franchisor in the country. PopUp Bagels Expands West with Nevada Debut in the Las Vegas Valley The viral "rip and dip" bagel brand is opening its first Nevada location in Henderson, the first of seven planned across the state. Outdoor Lighting Perspectives Expands to Washington State With New Vancouver Location The custom outdoor lighting franchise is bringing its architectural and holiday lighting services to Southwest Washington for the first time. The Brothers That Just Do Gutters Opens Jeffersonville Location A family of three, including a 20-year corporate sales veteran and his wife and son, is bringing the gutter franchise into Southern Indiana. FSC Franchise Co. Builds Midyear Momentum Across Beef 'O' Brady's, The Brass Tap and Newk's Eatery The multi-brand operator opened seven restaurants and signed five agreements in H1, with newest locations outperforming system averages by hundreds of thousands in sales. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill Opens in Coral Springs The fast-casual Greek concept added a new South Florida location at The Walk, its fourth in the region. Mountain Mike's Pizza Opens Wenatchee Location, Expanding Washington State Presence A husband-and-wife team opened the family-style pizza chain's fourth Washington location and first in Chelan County. Helpful Heroes Opens New Franchise Location in Texas The off-duty firefighter and EMT home-services platform is opening in Garland, owned by a military veteran and first-time franchisee. Oxi Fresh Carpet Cleaning Names Kris Antolak President The 17-year company veteran takes the helm as founder Jonathan Barnett shifts focus to Oxi Fresh's standalone BE FAST Software platform. 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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