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| Good Morning Wolf Pack, Today's newsletter covers a longtime Mr Gatti's franchisee acquiring the remaining ownership stake in the brand, Swig signing a 38-unit expansion deal across Kansas City, and Club Pilates crossing the 1,500-studio mark worldwide. Enjoy! Was this email forwarded to you? FROM THE WOLF DEN 1) Mr Gatti's Pizza Announces Full Ownership Transition as CEO Jim Phillips Retires Mr Gatti's Pizza is changing hands at the top. CEO Jim Phillips is retiring after 11 years leading the pizza and family-entertainment brand, handing the reins to G. Brint Ryan, a longtime Mr Gatti's franchisee and founder of Dallas-based Ryan, LLC, who has now acquired the remaining ownership interest in the company. "Leading Mr Gatti's over the past 11 years has been one of the great privileges of my career," Phillips said. "Together with our franchisees and leadership team, we've strengthened every part of this business, from operations and financial performance to brand consistency and franchisee support." Ryan, who invested in the franchisor after years as an operator, has worked alongside Phillips to shore up the company's finances ahead of this transition. "Jim has led one of the most impressive transformations in our brand's history," Ryan said. With more than 200 locations open or in development across Texas and the Southeast, the brand is betting its next chapter is best led by someone who's already run the restaurants. 2) Swig Announces 38-Unit Deal in Kansas City Swig just handed one Kansas City operating group a massive vote of confidence. Franchise partners Jeremy Assmus, Chris Redfern, Jesse Christiansen, and Tre Mulliner, who've run eight Swig locations across Missouri and Kansas since 2023, signed on for 38 more units across both states. "We've been fans of Swig for years, so when the opportunity to become one of the brand's first franchisees came along, it felt like a natural next step," Assmus said. "We believed Missouri and Kansas would embrace the concept, and the response has exceeded our expectations." Swig CEO Alex Dunn credited the group's execution: "The success this franchise group has achieved across the Kansas City metro area demonstrates what's possible when passionate, experienced operators pair strong business leadership with exceptional execution." The brand, known for its drive-thru-centric soda concept, now sits at more than 150 locations across 16 states. 3) Club Pilates Expands Global Footprint Past 1,500 Studios, Widening Gap as Industry Leader Club Pilates just crossed a milestone few franchise brands ever reach. The Xponential Fitness concept now operates 1,500 studios worldwide, fresh off new openings in Bangkok and Mexico City as it continues expanding through master franchising. "Few franchise brands make it to 100 locations, let alone 1,500," said Bob Kaufman, President of International for Xponential Fitness. "The global adoption of Club Pilates in so many diverse markets is a testament to our capable and dedicated franchisees, instructors, studio teams, and members." Club Pilates President Tianna Strateman called it a defining moment for the brand: "We're bringing Club Pilates to new people around the world daily and providing a path to a more fulfilling life." With over 24,000 trained instructors and a teacher-training program requiring 450 hours of instruction, the brand's scale is matched by a fairly high operational bar for franchisees. EXTRA SAUCE 💥 Tommy's Express Car Wash Appoints International Directors of Franchise Development The car wash brand is beefing up its development team as it pushes further into international markets. The new hires will focus on identifying and vetting operators in overseas territories as Tommy's looks to replicate its domestic growth abroad. Mike's Red Tacos Signs 22-Unit Franchise Agreement to Expand Across Texas and Northern California Veteran restaurant operators Brian Cassidy and Sam Wong of CW Strong Restaurant Group are bringing the taco concept into two new state markets. The deal marks one of the brand's largest single agreements to date as it looks to build out a West Coast and Texas presence simultaneously. Leading National Brand K9 Resorts To Open State-of-the-Art Dog Resort in Sterling, Virginia The 7,000-square-foot luxury pet hotel will be the brand's 53rd location and its franchisee's 20th, making it the largest K9 Resorts operator by unit count. The Sterling resort will feature hospital-grade ventilation and antimicrobial flooring, accommodating more than 100 dogs for daily boarding and daycare. Keyrenter Riding a Summer Hot Streak with 14 New Deals The property management franchise just hit its 100th location since launching in 2014, with 14 fresh agreements signed this summer alone. The milestone caps a stretch of accelerated growth for a brand that's carved out a niche in a historically fragmented industry. Cheba Hut Touches Down in Clarksville With a Fresh New Joint The stoner-themed sandwich chain is bringing its toasted subs to Tennessee with a new Clarksville location. It's the latest stop in the brand's steady push into the Southeast, an area where its counterculture branding has found a growing audience. Currito Celebrates Grand Opening of First Delaware Location The fast-casual bowls-and-burritos concept is planting its flag in Newark as it continues its globally inspired expansion. The opening gives the brand a foothold in a new mid-Atlantic market as it looks to grow its footprint beyond its Midwest roots. Take 5 Oil Change Accelerates Arizona Expansion with Three New West Valley Locations The quick-lube brand opened three new Phoenix-area locations in a single push to deepen its West Valley presence. All three sites lean on the brand's stay-in-your-car service model, a format that's helped it scale quickly in high-growth Sun Belt markets. PrimoHoagies Strengthens Operational Excellence Under COO Glen Brandeburg The sandwich franchise is leaning on its COO's leadership as part of a broader long-term growth strategy. Brandeburg's role centers on tightening operations across the system as the brand continues signing new franchise agreements nationally. Koala Insulation Brings Expansion Momentum to San Antonio The home-services brand announced plans to expand into the San Antonio metro area as part of its continued national rollout. The move adds another Texas market to a franchise system that's grown quickly on the back of rising demand for energy-efficiency upgrades. Kiddie Academy Honors Top Franchise Owners, Educators at Annual Conference The childcare franchise celebrated standout franchisees, directors, and educators from across its system at its yearly awards event. The conference doubled as a chance for the brand to spotlight best practices from its top-performing centers nationwide. Launch Family Entertainment Signs Lease for Missoula Location The entertainment brand signed its first-ever Montana lease, marking a new state entry for the concept. The Missoula location will bring Launch's arcade-and-attractions format to a market the brand hasn't previously served. Entrepreneurial Duo Double Down on Investment in Re-Bath Franchise; Spearhead Brand's Growth Across Indiana and Kentucky A husband-and-wife team is expanding their Re-Bath footprint across two states as part of the brand's regional growth push. Their continued investment reflects the kind of repeat-operator confidence Re-Bath has leaned on to fuel its multi-market expansion. 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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