People and News Briefs

The Alamo Drafthouse added Christian Parkes as chief brand officer. Bottle & Bottega CEO and co-owner Nancy Bigley, CFE, was recently appointed vice president of the IFA Women's Franchise Committee where she’ll chair the Leadership Conference Planning Task Force that focuses on tools and best practices in developing leadership skills in franchise professionals. BrightStar Care added Anthony Padulo, CFE, as the executive vice president, international franchise development. Corner Bakery Cafe named Michael J. Nolan executive vice president and chief development officer and promoted Senior Vice Pres. and General Counsel Blake Bernet to chief legal officer.  Edible Arrangements International appointed Robert Price president. FRANdata retained Ronald Feldman, CFE, as its chief development officer. Red Mango Yogurt Café & Juice Bar promoted Craig Erlich to vice president of operations. Sport Clips Haircuts’ Scot Johnson has been named vice president of organizational development and human resources, a new position. Togo’s Eateries expanded its executive team to include hiring John Carlson as vice president, franchise operations, and Ed Mananghaya senior director of supply chain.

 Growth

Anytime Fitness recently opened its 2,500th gym.  Representatives from the U.S. Embassy attended a formal ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility, located in Madrid.  The ceremony occurred almost 12 years after the company’s first unit opened in the United States in 2002. Caption:  From left, Consejero Commercial de la Embajada de Estados Unidos Robert Jones, the Anytime Fitness Iberia Dir. Rod Hill and Anytime Fitness CEO and co-founder Chuck Runyon. Auntie Anne's Pretzels, following the opening of its milestone 400th international location late last year continues the momentum by signing a master franchise agreement with Canadian Pretzel LLC to open 40 new locations in Canada by 2023. The first new shops are targeted to open in early 2015.  Bar Louie, a neighborhood bar and eatery franchise, signed a multi-unit restaurant agreement with Windy City Restaurant Management to open six new units in Chicago. Boneheads Grilled Fish and Chicken announced its entry overseas with a development agreement to open five locations in Pakistan. Franchisee Mukaram Ghani signed a five-store agreement to bring Boneheads overseas for the first time, with two locations opening by December 2014, making Pakistan the first country outside the United States to open a location.  The franchise also announced its return to California under a 20-store deal with multi-unit operator Malik Asif, a current restaurant franchisee with 24 restaurants. Corner Bakery Cafe celebrated two multi-unit development agreements with California-based businessman Anil Yadav, CEO of JIB Management, who plans to open 16 cafes in Seattle and seven in Las Vegas over the next seven years. Dunkin’ Donuts signed a multi-unit development agreement with existing franchisee Greg Nigro to develop 13 new restaurants in Richmond, Va.  Meineke Car Care Center markedApril as its strongest month of franchise development this year. The franchise has more than 960 locations in 48 states and five countries and recently signed nine new franchise agreements to bring locations to Hartford, Conn.; Nashville, Tenn.; Dallas, Houston, Midland and Odessa, Texas; and Richmond and Petersburg, Va. Newk’s Eatery franchisee Todd Jackson plans to open 10 new restaurants across Alabama and Texas during the next five years, making him the largest franchisee of the 69-restaurant chain. By 2019, the restaurateur will own and operate 15 Newk's in the southern states. Jackson recently partnered with investors who together will open five additional restaurants in Austin and three in Houston and.  Quaker Steak & Lube celebrates its 40th anniversary this year. Wingstop has opened the first of 50 restaurants in the Philippines. The new restaurant debuted at Regis Center, Katipinuan, in the largest and most populous city in Metro Manila, Quezon City. The opening is part of a large multi-unit development agreement with Wingstop Philippines Inc. and underscores the rapid international expansion of the restaurant brand that now has more than 640 locations worldwide.

 Honors & Awards

Franchise Services Inc., parent company of Sir Speedy and PIP Printing and Marketing Services, announced that 15 of its franchises have been recognized on Quick Printing magazine’s 2014 Top 100 List. Greensfelder, Hemker & Gale, P.C. announced that the 2014 editions of Chambers USA and Chambers Global have recognized the firm’s Chicago Officers John R.F. Baer and Beata Krakus among the nation’s leading franchising attorneys. Chambers USA gave the firm’s national Franchising & Distribution Practice Group and Baer its highest possible ranking – Band 1 – and recognized Krakus as an “Up and Coming” attorney. Chambers USA also ranked Greensfelder Officer Leonard D. Vines for franchising.  Welcyon, Fitness After 50, one of the nation’s only fitness franchises designed specifically for people over 50, was named to the Star Tribune’s 2014 Best of Minnesota list in the category “Best Gym for 50-plus set.”

 Mergers, Acquisitions & Alliances

American Family Care, the largest urgent and primary care provider in Alabama and the second largest privately-owned urgent care operator in the United States, acquired Trinity Medical Contractors, an Alabama-based health care staffing firm. In separate news, American Family Care and AFC/Doctors Express, now has U.S. Dept. of Transportation-certified physicians on staff at all its clinics.  All AFC and AFC/Doctors Express doctors at more than 100 locations nationwide are now certified by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to perform these physicals to check visual acuity (with or without glasses or contact lenses), color discernment, auditory acuity, blood pressure and blood sugar levels. Edible Arrangements, the originator of the fresh fruit bouquet and global category leader, launched its first-time collaboration with Chip Ganassi Racing and aircraft company Cessna recently at the Pocono 400 in Long Pond, Pa. The company logo was featured on rear panel of the No. 1 Cessna Chevrolet SS driven by NASCAR All-Star champ Jamie McMurray. The company also acknowledged McMurray with an early Father’s Day gift – it’s first “All-Star Dad” award. McMurray placed 10th overall in the race.   From left, Edible Arrangements Vice Pres. of Corp. Gifting, franchisee Matt Moore, NASCAR driver Matt McMurray, Edible Arrangements Exec. Admin. Asst. Jennifer Brown and Asst. Mktg. Mgr. Jessica Bade. Speedpro Imaging announced its acquisition by Fairfield-Maxwell, Mountain Ridge Capital and Boris Katsnelson. Katsnelson will serve as president of the rapidly growing wide-format imaging franchisor while founder Blair Gran will become the chairman.  Valpak, a leader in local print and digital coupons, announced a partnership with Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing to kick off during the Indianapolis 500 and continue through 2015.  The partnership combines America’s love of racing with Valpak’s loyal audience, reinforces the convenience of mobile apps on the go and supports Valpak’s automotive offerings. Correction Lapels Dry Cleaning Customers Donate Nearly 5 Tons of Clothing to Big Brothers Big Sisters Lapels Dry Cleaning clothing drive to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters generated 9,480 pounds of clothes from customers in Arizona, Connecticut, Louisiana, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Jersey and Rhode Island. The clothes will be resold at various thrift shops and other second-hand clothing stores, helping to fund Big Brothers Big Sisters programs.