Burger King executives Willie Romeo and Eduardo Serafim are teaming up to become franchisees, purchasing 33 locations in Florida. The move demonstrates their confidence in the brand's strategy and aligns with Burger King's goal to refranchise to local operators. "It just became perfect timing to buy these restaurants and become franchisees and, you know, take the plunge and run," Romeo said.

Ellianos Coffee has introduced Connect, a centralized portal to enhance communication with franchisees as the company grows. The portal replaces a previous system and includes operational updates, a calendar system, internal messaging and comprehensive training resources. Future updates will include a mobile app and enhanced training management.

Jessica Reicher has been selected to serve as the new chief operating officer at Whataburger, filling the spot left by Debbie Stroud, who became CEO. Reicher was previously an executive at Flynn Group. "Jessica's proven experience and positive impact on workplace culture make her an ideal fit for our brand as we continue to expand," Stroud said.

IFA President and CEO Matt Haller reflects on the crucial role franchise brands play in summer hiring, highlighting the example set by McDonald's while noting that the trend extends across sectors. "Brands in childcare and education hired seasonal staff as schools let out," Haller writes. "Fitness franchises staffed up for summer surges. Home service operators added technicians to meet seasonal demand."

Dessert menus have experienced the highest growth among restaurant menu categories over the past year, with nearly a 10% increase in dessert items, outpacing the overall menu expansion of approximately 7%, according to Technomic. Panna cotta and crème brulee have emerged as standout desserts, growing in popularity by 25% and 17%, respectively. The surge in sweet treats is attributed to operators focusing on cost-effective, shareable dishes that appeal to value-seeking diners.

Stresses importance of setting clear goals and expectations during the pre-sale period to align franchisors and franchisees on the terms of their long-term relationship; IFA will continue working with all involved parties to modernize and improve these disclosure requirements. Read more.

The residential and commercial fencing business Superior Fence & Rail announced that it has exceeded $1 billion in system-wide sales. "Reaching the $1 billion mark is more than a financial milestone -- it's a testament to the hard work of our franchisees, the loyalty of our customers, and the strength of our brand," said Zach Peyton, brand president of Superior Fence & Rail.