How Saroki's Crispy Chicken & Pizza pairs great food, service with mega pavilions

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Saroki's Crispy Chicken & Pizza proves that gas station food can be great. Lead by brothers Todd and Curtis Saroki, the brand has 19 locations in mega gas…

Wetzel's Pretzels enters New Hampshire

August 12, 2025

Wetzel's Pretzels will open a bakery in the Pheasant Lane Mall in Nashua, New Hampshire, according to a press release.

Smalls Sliders to open in West Virginia, Ohio

August 11, 2025

Smalls Sliders has inked its first-ever development deal for West Virginia. The deal will bring three of the brand's signature "Cans" — its units — lead by…

Former Marine turns Wetzel's Pretzels into a mall powerhouse

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Tyler Dutton went from a teenage pretzel maker to a Marine and now a thriving Wetzel’s Pretzels franchise owner at the Mall of America, driven by years of hard…

Fransmart launches platform for early-stage restaurant, franchise brands

August 7, 2025

Fransmart, a franchise development company, has launched an investment platform that allows individual accredited investors to co-invest alongside the firm in…

Taco Bell Joins 5610 Interstate Food Co. to Continue Growth in Austin

Taco Bell® franchisee Tacala Companies has officially joined 5610 Interstate Food Co., bringing Taco Bell to Austin residents through a new ghost kitchen…

What 35 years as a Rita's Italian Ice & Frozen Custard franchisee taught this entrepreneur

August 4, 2025

Mitch Cove inked a deal with Rita's Italian Ice and Frozen Custard in 1989, never guessing his career move to frozen treats would span 35 years. Today, he runs…

Smalls Sliders to enter Tennessee

August 4, 2025

Smalls Sliders has inked its first deal for Tennessee. The multi-unit agreement will bring for units to the Knoxville metro region, according to a press…

Toppers Pizza opens in Charlotte, North Carolina

July 31, 2025

Toppers Pizza has opened in Charlotte, North Carolina. It marks the third Charlotte-area restaurant for the brand and the 73rd systemwide, according to a press…

Fat Boy's Pizza, Savvy Sliders bring co-branded unit to Fort Wayne, Indiana

July 29, 2025

Savvy Sliders and Fat Boy's Pizza will open a co-branded unit this fall in Fort Wayne, Indiana. The restaurants, located in a former BurgerFi, are located at…

Driven by taste: Saroki's rapid rise in the QSR gas station market

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

Saroki's Crispy Chicken & Pizza, a Michigan-based QSR chain, has rapidly expanded to 19 locations since 2012 by focusing on quality ingredients, consistent…

Wendy's to bring 20 restaurants to Armenia

July 28, 2025

Wendy's has partnered with Wen Restaurant LLC to bring 20 units to Armenia through 2030, according to a press release.

Wendy's to expand across Italy, Armenia

July 25, 2025

The Wendy's Company has inked two franchise agreements that will add up to 190 restaurants across Italy and Armenia.

Marco's Pizza celebrates international milestones

July 22, 2025

Ohio-based Marco's Pizza is celebrating major milestones in its international strategy, marking one year since it opened its first location in Mexico and 1…

Cold Stone Creamery eyes Philadelphia for growth

July 18, 2025

Cold Stone Creamery plans to expand its presence in the Greater Philadelphia location. The brand plans to open six stores in two years and 10 over the next…

Keeping the Maine thing the main thing: How 2 'Cousins' built a global brand

In this episode of Founderology: Built to Breakthrough, Sabin Lomac—co-founder of Cousins Maine Lobster—shares how one wild night idea with his cousin Jim…

HTEaO opens 1st location in Colorado

July 14, 2025

Texas-based tea brand HTeaO has opened its first location in Colorado. The store is located in Loveland and is owned by Nobby and Mandy Grona, according to a…

4th annual Pizza Leadership Virtual Summit to offer advice, tips to pizzeria operators

by Mandy Wolf Detwiler — Editor, Connect Media

The Pizza Leadership Virtual Summit will take place July 30 and will feature a keynote address with the president and CEO of Donatos Pizza and a variety of…

Wetzel's Pretzels opens in Oxnard, California

July 7, 2025

Wetzel's Pretzels has opened in the lifestyle center, The Collection at RiverPark, on the westside of Los Angeles. Located in Oxnard, California, the shop…

Toppers Pizza to debut in Manhattan, Kansas

June 25, 2025

Wisconsin-based Toppers Pizza will open in Manhattan, Kansas, June 30th. The restaurant is located near Kansas State University and the historic Aggieville…