Jonathan Maze

Editor-in-Chief

Articles by
Jonathan Maze

Page 64
Leadership

Don Fox, longtime Firehouse Subs CEO, is stepping down

In a Facebook post, the longtime chief executive of the sandwich chain said COO Mike Hancock will take over day-to-day operations. Fox will remain Firehouse’s chairman.

Financing

Yum Brands has a $50M deal to help finance underserved franchisees

The program with the investment firm Lafayette Square, called Franchise Fast Start, is designed to provide access to capital for underrepresented franchisees of KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Habit Burger.

The Bottom Line: Inspire Brands owner Roark Capital along with global gas station and restaurant operator EG Group are among the reported potential bidders for the fast-food sandwich chain. Here’s a look at the field.

Burger King is among a trio of approved buyers of most of the 90 units owned by Toms King Holdings, which declared bankruptcy in January. A court has yet to approve the deal.

Robert Eckert and John Rogers, who joined the board on the same day in 2003, are retiring as part of the company's "commitment to ongoing refreshment" of its directors.

The sandwich chain is on the verge of becoming the first $1 billion concept in the Focus Brands portfolio, thanks to a willingness to expand where others might not.

A Deeper Dive: The head of the company that owns Auntie Anne’s, Cinnabon, Carvel, McAlister’s Deli, Schlotzsky’s, Jamba and Moe’s discusses the brands’ growth strategies on this week’s podcast. Also: IPOs, franchisee optimism and tipping.

The owner of its namesake food-and-games chain, along with Main Event, cited difficult comparisons and calendar challenges as sales slowed in February and March. But its stock fell, anyway.

EYM King, a Texas-based operator who the brand sued in February for not paying royalties, is closing the locations over the next few weeks.

The deal will nearly double the juice chain’s footprint, expanding it into new states as it works to bring its healthy menu to “all the masses.”

The Bottom Line: A labor proposal would mean a full-time worker would earn about $48,000 after tips, about the same as health technologists and more than bus drivers. What would that do to prices?

The investment firm has also recapitalized the polished-casual dining chain and plans to accelerate the brand’s development.

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