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| Good Morning Wolf Pack, Today's newsletter covers Huddle House and Perkins' new franchisee incentives, Batteries Plus' 19 new Q3 signings, and Clementine's Ice Cream launching its franchise program. Enjoy! Was this email forwarded to you? FROM THE WOLF DEN 1) Huddle House and Perkins Roll Out Incentives to Spur Franchise Deals Ascent Hospitality Management is trying to restart growth at Huddle House and Perkins by cutting early costs for new franchisees. Huddle House owners now pay 0% royalty in their first year of operation. Owners who open at least three months ahead of schedule get another three months waived. Perkins is taking a local route. In September it reached an agreement with Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, where the city will provide a $10,000 matching grant for exterior renovations. Dixon, Illinois is offering a plot of land with reduced taxes and utilities already hooked up, and Ascent says it is talking with cities in Georgia and Tennessee too. Both brands could use the lift. Huddle House dropped from 296 locations in 2021 to 255 in 2025, and Perkins fell from 285 to 245. Ascent's Rick Jordan said "The first year is so crucial as you're ramping up and getting sales," and Chief Development Officer Peter Ortiz says the lost royalties get made up when operators buy more units. 2) Batteries Plus Fuels Franchise Growth with 19 New Q3 Signings Batteries Plus signed 19 new franchise agreements in the third quarter and opened 13 locations across six states: Florida, Utah, Pennsylvania, Arizona, Alabama and Texas. The brand says it now signs 60 to 70 new stores a year and has more than 800 stores open and in development. It also rolled out an AI platform built around three tools. Savannah answers questions from prospective franchisees, Edison is a bilingual voice assistant that picks up every store call, and Wattson helps customers find the right product. Vice President of Global Franchise Development Victor Daher pointed to "continued confidence" from new and existing operators. The brand sits at No. 118 on the Franchise Times Top 400. Stephen Lutfi, who owns several Phoenix-area stores, was named a 2026 IFA Franchisee of the Year. 3) Clementine's Ice Cream Unveils Fresh Franchise Opportunity and Two New Parlors as the Brand Looks to Scoop Up National Growth St. Louis-born Clementine's Ice Cream is opening its doors to franchisees. The launch comes as the brand prepares to open two new parlors in the Kansas City area this October and November. Clementine's is known for handcrafted, small-batch flavors sorted into Nice, Non-Dairy and Naughty. It was also named to the Inc. 5000 list for the fifth straight year. Founder and CEO Tamara Keefe said the goal is to grow "thoughtfully" with partners who understand the brand goes beyond the ice cream. The brand is looking for franchise partners who share its passion for hospitality and community. EXTRA SAUCE 💥 New SBA Lending Rules Will Impact Franchise Acquisitions The SBA's updated lending procedures took effect October 1 and raise the bar for financing franchise acquisitions. Lenders are now looking for a quality-of-earnings report on larger deals and a tougher debt-service coverage test for first-time buyers. Existing loans aren't affected, but new applications face the stricter standards, so buyers should expect more paperwork and longer timelines. Gong cha Rises to No. 129 on Franchise Times' Top 400 With Sales Growth Double the List's Pace The bubble tea brand climbed five spots from No. 134 last year on the 2026 Franchise Times Top 400. Its sales growth is running at double the pace of the overall list, which collectively grew 4.3 percent in 2025. It's a strong showing in a ranking built on systemwide sales. LINE-X Heads Toward 11 New Openings in 2026 as Franchise Sales Momentum Builds Across North America LINE-X says this is shaping up as one of its strongest development years, with 11 new openings expected by the end of 2026. Franchise sales momentum is building across North America, and the protective coatings brand is adding new territories as demand from prospective owners picks up. RockSalt Pilates Names Franchise Veteran Stephanie Knepp COO Amid Rapid Franchise Expansion Stephanie Knepp is stepping in as RockSalt Pilates' new Chief Operating Officer, bringing years of franchise experience to the role. The hire comes as the brand works through a stretch of rapid franchise growth, when strong operations leadership matters most for keeping new studios consistent. KYURAMEN Expands Portfolio With Kyuramen Express and New Bao Dumpling Concept Kyuramen has opened a multi-brand fast-casual destination at 40 Gold Street in Manhattan's Financial District. The space brings together the first Kyuramen Express, the debut of the new Bao Dumpling concept, and Aokō Matcha under one roof. It's a notable test of how a ramen brand can grow by stacking concepts in a single footprint. Atomic Wings Opens Eight New Restaurants in Q3 as National Expansion Continues Atomic Wings opened eight new restaurants across five states in the third quarter. The wing brand says its national expansion is continuing, with openings spread across multiple markets rather than clustered in one region. Woofie's Builds Presence with New North Austin Franchise Location Woofie's of North Austin will offer mobile pet grooming, dog walking and pet sitting across Austin and Cedar Park, Texas. The new franchise will celebrate its launch at the Barktoberfest Festival on October 17, giving local pet owners a first look at the services in person. The Flying Biscuit Café Signs Katy Lease, Expanding in the Houston Market Franchise partners Mario and Ifeoma Harper signed a lease for their first Flying Biscuit Café at 1660 S Mason Rd in Katy, Texas. The all-day breakfast and lunch café is adding to the brand's growing Houston market presence, and it marks the couple's first step as franchise owners. Hot Head Burritos Promotes Peter Wiley to Corporate Vice President, Chief Marketing and Chief Technology Officer Hot Head Burritos has promoted longtime company leader Peter Wiley to corporate vice president, chief marketing and chief technology officer. He now oversees both the brand's marketing and its technology, two areas that increasingly overlap for restaurant franchisors. Spherion's Mary Barrineau and Pam Thompson Named 2026 Franchisees of the Year by the International Franchise Association Mary Barrineau and Pam Thompson, who own Spherion Charleston, have been named 2026 Franchisees of the Year by the International Franchise Association. Spherion announced the honor on October 1. The IFA award is among the most prestigious recognitions a franchise owner can earn. PVOLVE Continues Expansion with Three New Studio Openings Across California, Indiana and Maryland PVOLVE is opening new studios in Granger, Indiana; Bel Air, Maryland; and San Francisco, California. The three openings keep the fitness brand's growth moving across the country, with new locations landing on both coasts and in the Midwest. CarePatrol Reaches Record Revenue Milestone as Demand for Senior Care Solutions Continues to Grow CarePatrol is reporting record performance across its franchise system. Growing demand for senior care solutions is creating opportunities for local business owners nationwide, and the milestone shows how an aging population is translating into revenue for the brand's franchisees. 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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