 | ||||
| ||||
| | ||||
| Good Morning Wolf Pack, Today’s newsletter covers Tropical Smoothie Cafe’s 40-unit Northeast push, Mike’s Red Tacos heading to Florida, and a new CEO for Pollo Campero’s U.S. business. Enjoy! Was this email forwarded to you? FROM THE WOLF DEN 1) Tropical Smoothie Cafe Signs 40-Unit Franchise Deal With Aurify Kingstar Tropical Smoothie Cafe is pushing deeper into the Northeast. The brand signed a 40-unit development agreement with Aurify Kingstar, a newly created holding company from New York-based multi-concept operator Aurify Brands, which also franchises Wingstop and Five Guys. The locations will go across Albany, Westchester County and the Bronx in New York, plus western Connecticut. The first unit is expected to open in early 2027. Tropical Smoothie has more than 1,750 locations and is on track to reach 1,800 by the end of 2026. CEO Max Wetzel called New York and Connecticut “tremendous growth opportunities” for the brand. 2) Mike’s Red Tacos Is Heading to Florida With a 36-Unit Development Agreement for Tampa and Orlando Mike’s Red Tacos signed a 36-unit agreement with Built Different Brands to bring its birria tacos to the greater Tampa and Orlando regions and Florida’s East Coast. The first location is planned for 2027. Built Different Brands is led by CEO Kal Gullapalli and operates more than 80 locations across brands like Dave’s Hot Chicken, Marco’s Pizza and PopUp Bagels. Gullapalli said it’s “the people behind the company who will drive its success.” The brand started as a food truck in 2021 and now has more than 350 units committed nationwide. 3) Pollo Campero Names Julio Sánchez CEO of Its U.S. Business Pollo Campero named Julio Sánchez CEO of its U.S. business, effective immediately. He most recently served as COO of CKE International (Carl’s Jr.) and previously held leadership roles at Pizza Hut, Burger King and Church’s Chicken. Outgoing COO Luis Javier Rodas wrapped up nearly 26 years with parent company CMI on Oct. 16. Sánchez will focus on operational excellence, same-store sales growth, brand awareness and the guest experience as the brand grows beyond 150 U.S. restaurants. CMI Foods global CEO José Gregorio Baquero called him “the right leader to guide Campero into its next stage of growth.” EXTRA SAUCE 💥 Siblings To Debut Swig in New Mexico Siblings Heather Berry and Brock Stokes, multi-unit franchisees with nearly a decade of experience, signed for 14 Swig units across Albuquerque, El Paso and Santa Fe. They plan to open the first location by summer 2027, with Berry’s daughters joining the business. The pair were Swig customers long before they considered becoming franchisees. Kilwins Announces New Business Model, Kilwins Select, Expanding Access to Flexible Franchise Opportunities Kilwins launched a lower-investment model with a smaller footprint, a simplified build-out and a curated product assortment. Kilwins Select units can run standalone or alongside full-line stores, and the brand, at nearly 200 locations, is seeking partners nationally. CEO Brian Britton called it “the next evolution of our franchise opportunity.” Teriyaki Madness Widens Lead Over Fast Casual Peers With Double-Digit Same-Store Sales Growth in Third Quarter Teriyaki Madness posted 10.3 percent same-store sales growth and a 5.5 percent traffic gain in Q3, while fast casual traffic fell 2.6 percent. It opened nine shops, entered three new markets and signed eight franchise groups. The system now stands at 229 locations, with 245 targeted by year end. Shipley Donuts Expands Its National Footprint in Q3, Deepening Its Push Into the Midwest Shipley signed six multi-unit agreements in Q3 covering 30 locations across five states. That includes a 15-unit Metro Detroit deal, with the first restaurant targeted for late Q1 2027, plus three Indianapolis units. Those deals bring the 90-year-old brand to Michigan and Indiana for the first time. Experienced Multi-Unit Franchisees, Mari Millard & Marnie Hammel, Sign Area Development Deal to Bring Tierra Encantada to Maryland Millard and Hammel, who own 10 Two Maids locations, signed a three-unit deal that brings the Spanish immersion early education brand to Maryland for the first time. Tierra Encantada has 21 centers open and 47 more in development. Centers open more than 24 months average $2.6 million in sales. The Glass Guru Enterprises, Inc. Announces Rob Lopez as Brand President Lopez moves up from VP of Franchise Support in a planned leadership transition. He has nearly 20 years in franchising, more than a decade of it with The Glass Guru, and is a former multi-unit owner. Founder Dan Frey becomes Chief Visionary Officer to focus on long-term strategy. Broken Yolk Cafe Names Bodine Berger Director of Franchise Development Berger has held development roles with Eggs Up Grill, Steak ‘n Shake and Domino’s, and joins a sales team that has tripled in size over the past 12 months. The 42-cafe brand makes its Midwest debut next month in Lafayette, Indiana. It is also offering a 2.5 percent royalty reduction for years one and two on area development agreements signed before March 31, 2027. EverSmith Brands Unveils EverHUB in Major Investment to Accelerate Franchise Growth The 12,000-square-foot training center in Milford, Ohio serves owners across seven brands, with stations that simulate real commercial environments. EverSmith is targeting more than 1,200 territories within three years. It also includes an AI lab for franchisee operations and technician training. Perkins Griddle & Go to Open First U.S. Location in New Jersey The fast casual spinoff of Perkins opened its first U.S. café in Flemington, New Jersey on Oct. 19. It is the first of 16 locations franchisees Giuseppe and Nicole Lahara have committed to build in the state, after expanding their original 10-unit deal into Monmouth and Ocean counties. Perkins President Matt Carpenter called the opening “an incredibly exciting milestone for our company.” Popeyes franchisee seeks a way out of Chapter 11 bankruptcy A Florida bankruptcy judge said Oct. 22 he will approve a settlement giving Sailormen a path out of Chapter 11. About $16.6 million from selling 97 restaurants, including to Pulse Restaurant Group and Popeyes corporate, will go toward its debts. Popeyes and other creditors agreed to take cuts, and Sailormen has also closed 39 stores. PrimoHoagies Welcomes Seven New Franchisees in 2026 and Highlights Acquisition Opportunities for Multi-Unit Growth The brand has about 80 franchise owners, including 20 multi-unit operators. It is pointing to 10 to 15 existing restaurants available for acquisition, mostly in greater Philadelphia and South Jersey. Dev and Falguni Patel entered the system by buying an existing restaurant in Raleigh. Urban Bird Hot Chicken Closes Out Q3 With New Restaurant Openings, Multi-Unit Franchise Agreements and Expanded Growth Infrastructure The Houston-based brand signed a three-unit deal in Wichita, Kansas and a two-unit deal in Greater Houston. It also opened corporate restaurants near NRG Stadium and in San Antonio’s Potranco area. Leadership says franchise partner quality matters more than how fast agreements get signed. 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 | ||||
|
