Franchise Times Magazine

10/03/2026

Anytime France, the master Anytime Fitness franchisee in France, acquired Interval Sports Fitness Group and will convert 10 properties to Anytime Fitness clubs. Anytime France operates three clubs across the country. Anytime France is owned by Benoit Hanssen and Matt Burgess, who also operate Anytime Fitness gyms in Italy. Purpose Brands owns Anytime Fitness.

https://bit.ly/46cgA7w

Anytime France, the master Anytime Fitness franchisee in France, acquired Interval Sports Fitness Group and will convert 10 properties to Anytime Fitness clubs. Anytime France operates three clubs across the

10/02/2026

Youth Athletes United, the franchisor for Soccer Stars, Amazing Athletes and TGA Premier Sports across more than 400 territories, made it about halfway to its goal of reaching 1 million children through its three youth sports brands.

The company has a new owner to help it get the rest of the way.

https://bit.ly/4xIrxtj

Youth Athletes United, the franchisor for Soccer Stars, Amazing Athletes and TGA Premier Sports across more than 400 territories, made it about halfway to its goal of reaching 1 million

10/02/2026

Ever wonder how consumers feel about your franchise? Franchise Times editorial staffers check out three brands in a different genre each month, and report back in FT Undercover.

🥯 While the Bruegger’s footprint is shrinking, its bagels and various sandwich options have won me over as a new fan. Hopefully, my local store will stick around a bit longer for me to enjoy it. —A.H.

🥯 Bagel Boss might be more interesting in another state, but touting authentic New York bagels in Manhattan feels repetitive. —E.W.

🥯 Bagel Boss might be more interesting in another state, but touting authentic New York bagels in Manhattan feels repetitive. —E.W.

Read more here 👇
https://bit.ly/4hp0dee

Ever wonder how consumers feel about your franchise? Franchise Times editorial staffers check out three brands in a different genre each month, and report back in FT Undercover.

10/01/2026

The rankings are in and the Top 400 is officially live!

The Franchise Times Top 400 is an exclusive annual ranking of the largest U.S.-based franchise systems by global systemwide sales. The project is the result of a five-month research and reporting effort each year that results in the most credible and objective franchise ranking available.

Did your brand make the list? 👀

Read more here 👇
https://bit.ly/4y0zTvZ

10/01/2026

Joanne Forrester sometimes speaks in paradoxes when talking about her approach to ensuring Moxies, the restaurant company where she’s president and chief operating officer, stays committed to constant improvement.

“We’re always challenging ourselves and our assumptions, because I think when you stop doing that, that’s when you can become irrelevant,” says Forrester. “Our unit economics are very strong, and it’s easy to say things are great. They are, but what if they could be better?”

It’s strong unit-level sales, not a jump in unit count, that drove a 13.6 percent increase in systemwide revenue last year and pushed Moxies up 10 spots on the Top 400 ranking, to No. 179. The brand ended 2025 with 58 locations—the same as it started with—but systemwide sales grew to $345 million, up from $304 million.

Read more here 👇
https://bit.ly/4xWvdHg

Joanne Forrester sometimes speaks in paradoxes when talking about her approach to ensuring Moxies, the restaurant company where she’s president and chief operating officer, stays committed to constant improvement.

09/30/2026

Joanne Forrester sometimes speaks in paradoxes when talking about her approach to ensuring Moxies, the restaurant company where she’s president and chief operating officer, stays committed to constant improvement.

“We’re always challenging ourselves and our assumptions, because I think when you stop doing that, that’s when you can become irrelevant,” says Forrester. “Our unit economics are very strong, and it’s easy to say things are great. They are, but what if they could be better?”

It’s strong unit-level sales, not a jump in unit count, that drove a 13.6 percent increase in systemwide revenue last year and pushed Moxies up 10 spots on the Top 400 ranking, to No. 179. The brand ended 2025 with 58 locations—the same as it started with—but systemwide sales grew to $345 million, up from $304 million.

Read the full cover story at the link in bio 🔗

09/30/2026

As someone who's been in the real estate field for more than 30 years, Denver-based entrepreneur Jason Smith is regularly around a variety of residential properties.

As a result, he’s well aware of the opportunities that come with the growing home services industry. Recently, when it came time for him to diversify his portfolio, he knew exactly what field he wanted to look into, and began researching franchise concepts with a commitment to exceptional standards.

https://bit.ly/4d1pLva

As someone who's been in the real estate field for more than 30 years, Denver-based entrepreneur Jason Smith is regularly around a variety of residential properties.

09/29/2026

Picking a wedding dress for the big day is rarely a spur-of-the-moment decision.

For 13 years, the same slow, intentional approach is how Lanie List has handled franchise expansion for bridal shop concept Lovely Bride.

“Even though we’ve been around for a while, we’re still sort of in the emerging franchising sect—and that’s been by choice,” said List, founder and CEO at Lovely Bride. “I call it a ‘supernova strategy,’ where people blow up big and then fizzle out. I don’t want that to be our brand.”

Read more here 👇
https://bit.ly/4yR5MYJ

Picking a wedding dress for the big day is rarely a spur-of-the-moment decision.

09/29/2026

There was a time when the founders of emerging brand Haven Hot Chicken had sworn off franchising.

A few years after it was established in 2020, leaders at the New Haven, Connecticut-based concept were attending a conference where they were approached by a representative from another concept. When franchising came up as a suggested method of expansion, President Jason Sobocinski said one important element gave him pause.

“We asked, how do we control the quality and make sure the brand is upheld?” Sobocinski said. “The guy told us, ‘You’re going to have to give up control and be OK with a slip in a quality.’ We thought, from there, we are never franchising.”

That changed, however, when the team at Haven Hot Chicken was able to learn from Jersey Mike’s and its founder, Peter Cancro, about how a franchise system can grow sustainably by finding the right operators. The brand launched a franchise program last year, and its first franchise location opened in Franklin, Massachusetts, with a group of Jersey Mike’s owners.

Read more here 👇
https://bit.ly/4qKCvMz

There was a time when the founders of emerging brand Haven Hot Chicken had sworn off franchising.

09/28/2026

A 314-unit Wendy’s operator filed for bankruptcy this week.

Meritage Hospitality Group—which also owns a Bojangles location and five Morning Belle restaurants—listed between 1,000 and 5,000 creditors, to which it owes between $10 million and $50 million. Its assets were in that same range, according to the bankruptcy petition.

The operator owes nearly $25 million to Wendy’s for deferred franchise fees.

Through Chapter 11 restructuring, Meritage hopes to “strengthen its balance sheet and establish a sustainable capital structure that positions Meritage for long-term success,” the company said in a press release.

Read more here 👇
https://bit.ly/4yM9OkZ

A 314-unit Wendy’s operator filed for bankruptcy this week.