1851 Franchise Weekly Rewind

Check out the hottest franchising headlines from the past week

SPONSOREDUpdated 4:16PM • 03/24/16

Yum Brands Potentially Selling Stake in China Division

Last October, Yum Brands Inc., the parent company of KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, announced plans to spin off the brand’s China operations. Now, the Louisville, Kentucky-based brand is considering selling a stake in the Chinese operations of the business. The portion of the sale could be up to 20 percent of the business. KKR & Co., Baring Private Equity Asia and several Chinese funds are currently exploring offers with Yum.

(From The Wall Street Journal)

Krispy Kreme Focuses on Franchising

In the coming year, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc. plans to focus more on franchising. According to the Winston-Salem, North Carolina-based chain, the focus on franchising is due to franchise stores performing better than corporate owned locations. The doughnut chain reported that in the fourth quarter of 2015, company-owned locations in the U.S. reported same-store sales of 0.2 percent while franchisee same-store sales rose 2.5 percent. Krispy Kreme has several initiatives in place to reduce investment costs for new stores.

(From Nation’s Restaurant News)

Fazoli’s to Extend Franchise Incentives

Fazoli’s is extending franchise incentives for new operators. This comes after the brand reported same-store sales of 9.3 percent in February, which is a 6.3 percent increase. That is in addition to franchisees reporting sales growth in 69 of the last 71 months. New incentives for franchisees include discounts of up to $20,000 off the initial $30,000 franchise fee, royalties cut to 2 percent from 4 percent for the first year and a 12 month discount on vendor fees.

(From Fast Casual)

Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s Introduces Midnight Moonshine Burger

Fans of Carl’s Jr. and Hardee’s can expect a new burger on the menu. The burger brands have partnered with Midnight Moon Moonshine for the new Midnight Moonshine Burger. The new burger features a charbroiled 100 percent Black Angus beef patty with a Midnight Moon Moonshine glaze, Pepper Jack cheese, crispy garlic-pepper onion straws and thick-cut, Applewood-smoked bacon. The new burger is available now at participating locations nationwide.

(From QSR Magazine)

Wienerschnitzel’s Second Annual ‘Hot Dogs for Homeless’ Tour Returns

Wienerschnitzel has partnered up with Skate For Change, a nonprofit that encourages youth to give back to the less fortunate in their communities, for the second annual Hot Dogs for Homeless tour. The tour will commence on March 25, when a Wienerschnitzel-wrapped RV, the “Wienerbago,” will tour cities with large homeless populations to provide Wienerschnitzel hot dogs, socks, hats, warm clothes, hygiene kits and other necessities to those in need. Last year’s tour raised $200,000 including Wienerschnitzel’s $100,000 donation, for Skate For Change. This year the company is expecting it to be even more successful.

(From QSR Web)