McDonald’s burger empire set for unprecedented growth with 10,000 new stores
Ahead of a day-long event for investors, the Chicago burger giant said Wednesday that it aims to have 50,000 restaurants in operation worldwide by the end of 2027.
Franchises
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IBJ Podcast: Fast-growing MOTW Coffee and Pastries expanding to Chicago with pro-Muslim message
Sajjad Shah tells host Mason King that within five years, he hopes to have 40 to 50 coffee shops in the U.S.—a mix of company-owned and franchised locations.
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IBJ Podcast: Indiana’s Jiffy Lube guru on art, entrepreneurism, police relations and March Madness laundry
Steve Sanner is owner and president of Jiffy Lube of Indiana, which counts 51 locations and about 510 employees altogether.
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VetCheck looks to franchise 250 urgent care clinics nationwide
Company leaders hope to eventually have one VetCheck center for every 30 traditional veterinary offices in any given area.
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Ice cream shop models how to employ people with disabilities
Howdy Homemade Ice Cream’s goal is to provide more jobs to people with an intellectual or developmental disability. But it also wants to help other employers see people with disabilities as a dependable workforce.
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Articles
McDonald’s franchisees fined for child labor violations
Federal officials say two 10-year-olds are among the 300 children who worked for three separate franchisees that operate a total of 62 McDonald’s locations across Kentucky, Indiana, Maryland and Ohio.
Indianapolis-based franchising-tech firm Woven Brands lands $1.5M investment
Established in 2017, Woven Brands had been self-funded until now. The company’s software platform helps franchisee operators and multi-unit independent operators more easily manage their staff and operations.
Indianapolis-based Lawn Pride acquired by home-service franchisor
Lawn Pride Inc., which was founded 40 years ago by its CEO, will become the latest franchise brand for Waco, Texas-based Neighborly Inc.
East Coast wing chain planning multiple locations in Indianapolis area
Atomic Wings, a fast-casual chicken wing chain, plans to makes its Midwest debut in Indiana after signing a 10-unit development deal with an Indianapolis-based businessman who is well-acquainted with operating restaurant franchises.
Books & Brews chain continues to shrink with south-side closure
Planned closures on the south side of Indianapolis and in Zionsville will leave Books & Brews with just two locations, down from 10 in 2019.
Sonic Drive-In plans three new area locations, beginning in Westfield
The fast-food chain is getting set to add a Hamilton County presence to a local roster that includes existing Sonics in Avon, Camby, Greenwood and Plainfield.
IBJ Podcast: These women wanted a mid-life career change—and bought franchises
The owner of The Human Bean in Indianapolis and Garbanzo Mediterranean Fresh in Zionsville tell host Mason King about the biggest hurdles they faced launching a restaurant (think rising labor costs and supply chain troubles) and why they don’t regret their mid-life career changes.
Crumbl Cookies continues local expansion with Carmel store next on list
The Utah-based gourmet cookie franchise arrived in Indiana with five stores in 2021, starting with a Fishers location a year ago.
First Indiana site for Big Blue Swim School planned at Hamilton Town Center
A Carmel couple intends to open four more learn-to-swim pool facilities, with Avon on deck after Noblesville.
RE/MAX claims franchisee steered brokers to competitor
Denver-based RE/MAX LLC and RE/MAX Integrated Regions LLC filed a complaint in federal court last month against James “Jimmy” Dulin and The Hamilton Group Inc., which does business as RE/MAX Ability Plus.
Ramen chain targets Indiana, plans restaurant in Fishers
Burbank-based Jinya Ramen Bar said it has signed a deal with a franchisee to open two local restaurants early next year.
Indy area’s second X-Golf center opening this fall
The Carmel-based franchisee for the line of sprawling indoor golf and entertainment centers says he’s already looking ahead to additional stores, maybe one in downtown Indianapolis.
Fast-casual Pickleman’s sandwich chain to enter market with Noblesville store
This will be the first Indiana location for Pickleman’s, a Missouri-based chain with 24 locations. The local franchisees plan to open a total of four Indianapolis-area stores over the next four years.
Rise’n Roll bakery to open downtown store next week
This will be Rise’n Roll’s fifth Indianapolis-area location, in addition to stores in Broad Ripple, Fishers, Greenwood and Avon.
Drew Brees, former teammates partner on central Indiana stretching studios
Stretch Zone opened its first of three planned new Indiana franchises in Zionsville last month. Fishers resident Ben Smith, who co-owns the franchise with former NFL star Drew Brees, said he’s hoping to eventually open locations across the state.
Health department forces Broad Ripple ice cream shop to close
The Marion County Health Department forced the Baskin-Robbins in Broad Ripple to close last week because of a malfunctioning air conditioner. The shop’s owner said he has no plans to reopen.
Blo Blow Dry Bar chain entering Indiana with three Indy-area locations
The Canada-based hair styling chain specializes in wash and blow-dry services and special-occasion hairstyling. It has more than 100 locations, but none in Indiana so far.
Veteran franchisees bringing Dave’s Hot Chicken chain to Indy
A Fort Wayne-based franchise group that operates 45 Pizza Hut locations, including some in Hamilton and Boone counties, has signed a deal to open 15 Dave’s Hot Chicken locations in Indiana. Most are expected to be in the Indy-area market.
Crumbl Cookies chain to open first Indiana store in Fishers
The Fishers shop opens this week, to be followed later this year by locations in Indianapolis, Greenwood, Carmel and Zionsville.