The U.S. summer of ‘22 began peacefully enough, with 2½ years of Covid receding in the rearview mirror. Yet midway through, as many had predicted, a new variation appeared – more contagious, but apparently less deadly. Then came monkeypox (seriously??). Baby formula shortages. Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine. Congressional hearings on the Jan. 6 insurrection (or whatever you want to call it). What’s next? Is this the future we’ll all have to get used to? Yet, life goes on, and so does business-as-UN-usual. Here’s our mini-roundup of franchise news, delivered your way every first Tuesday of the month. If you’re not doing it already, send us your news here and see it next month in this newsletter!
POST-COVID REOPENING & RECOVERY
Report: Top 25 Franchises for Black Entrepreneurs
Wyndham Plans To Boost Black Hotel Ownership
7-Eleven Cuts Nearly 900 Corporate Jobs
How Americans Are Dining Out Now (Infographic)
Yum’s 320-Unit Habit Burger Targets 2,000 Units Worldwide
Mid-2022 Lessons on Retail, Dining, and Fitness Foot Traffic (Placer.ai)
HIRING & EMPLOYMENT
How Paying Employees More Helped Lower Labor Costs and Increase Profit at The Works Café
6 Tips To Improve the Training Strategy of Your Food & Beverage Business
Chipotle Shutters Maine Restaurant About To Hold the Brand’s First Union Vote
Opinion: College-Educated Workers Are Driving the Rise in Unionization
FINANCE & M&A
Au Bon Pain Owner Ampex Brands Acquires Fast-Casual Bellagreen
McDonald’s To Buy Out 60-Unit Caspers Company Franchise Group in Florida
Private Equity Fumes as Democrats Race To Tighten Tax Loophole
Off-Premises Operator Kitchen United Raises $100 Million
Snappy Tomato Pizza Bought by 31-Year Franchisee Tim Gayhart
MARKETING/CUSTOMER EXPERIENCE
Applebee’s Promos Its Wing-Flavored Lip Gloss in “Taste My Face” Campaign
Hubspot Study: The Best Hours for Sending Marketing Emails
TECHNOLOGY/OPERATIONS
Chick-fil-A Tests Delivery Robots in California, Texas, and Florida
Capriotti’s Pilot Tests Pizza-Making Robots from Piestro Pod
How On the Border Modernized Its Menu and Technology at 40
Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux Finds Post-Covid Success in Smaller Spaces