1851 Franchising Weekly Rewind

Franchise Operators Lobby Capitol Hill

Franchise owners are taking their fight to Capitol Hill over the National Labor Relations Board joint employer ruling. The group of franchise business owners with supports from the International Franchise Association (IFA) launched The Coalition to Save Local Business to get their voices heard. This issue is a move by the NLRB to change the 30-year-old standard definition of the relationship between franchisor and franchisee.

(From Nation’s Restaurant News)

NLRB Issues Complaint Against Au Bon Pain

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) is alleging that Au Bon Pain is discouraging employees at the Philadelphia International Airport location from engaging in union activities. The cases opened by Unite Here Local 274 initially filed the complaint against Au Bon Pain. The union alleges CEO Susan Morelli was brought in to meet with workers, with the motivation of discouraging them from forming a union. Au Bon Pain denies these allegations.

(From FastCasual.com)

Chicago Restauranteur in Lead to Acquire Del Taco

Levy Acquisition Corp., the acquisition vehicle of Larry Levy, Chicago restaurateur, is in the lead to acquire Del Taco Inc., a U.S. fast food chain. The deal could value Del Taco at $500 million, including debt. Lake Forest, California-based Del Taco currently owns and operates 560 restaurants in 16 U.S. states.

(From Reuters)

Domino’s Raises $10 Million for St. Jude’s

After the 2014 St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital "Thanks and Giving Campaign," Domino’s completed a three-year, $10 million dollar commitment to the hospital one year early. In 2014 Domino’s raised an all-time high amount of donations for St. Jude’s with $5.2 million. This will apply to the company’s new commitment to raise $35 million in eight years beginning in 2015.

(From QSR Magazine)

Restaurant Workers Express Optimism about the Industry

The National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation’s research shows that restaurant workers express positive feelings toward the industry. The NRAEF found that seven out of 10 restaurants provide good long-term opportunities, and that 86 percent of employees age 25 to 34 have advanced to higher paying jobs.

(From PizzaMarketPlace.com)