1851 Franchising Weekly Rewind

NLRB Expands Joint Employer Standard

This Thursday, the National Labor Relations Board ruled that Browning Ferris Industries, a waste management company, qualifies as a “joint employer” with the company’s subcontractor. This ruling loosens the standards for who is considered a worker’s boss under the labor laws. Under this ruling, franchisors would be considered a joint-employer and means that they may have to sit at the bargaining table when it comes to workers employed by a franchise location.

(From The New York Times) http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/28/business/labor-board-says-franchise-workers-can-bargain-with-parent-company.html?_r=0

Focus Brands Will Start On-Demand Delivery

Pretty soon customers will be able to get Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, Carvel, Cinnabon, McAlister’s Deli, Moe’s Southwestern Grill and Schlotzky’s delivered on-demand. That’s because Focus Brands Inc., the parent company, will be rolling out delivery services for all six food-service chains. The Atlanta-based company has reached a deal with Postmates, a four-year-old delivery service that has partnered with other chains like McDonald’s and Starbucks. Postmates offers delivery in designated markets in less than 60 minutes.

(From Nation’s Restaurant News) http://nrn.com/technology/focus-brands-rolls-out-demand-delivery

MOOYAH Teams Up with No Kid Hungry to Raise $50K

MOOYAH Burgers, Fries & Shakes plans on taking on childhood hunger by teaming up with No Kid Hungry to raise $50,000. During September, the franchise chain will give 1 percent of system-wide sales from participating locations to No Kid Hungry. The brand will be encouraging customers to dine at MOOYAH as often as possible during this time. From Sept. 21 to 27, 2015, MOOYAH will donate an additional 25 cents for fans who add bacon to their order during “Bring Home the Bacon Week.”

(From Fast Casual) http://www.fastcasual.com/news/mooyah-teams-up-with-no-kid-hungry-to-raise-50k-to-fight-childhood-hunger/

Dunkin Announces Autumn LTOs

This fall, Dunkin’ Donuts is partnering with The Hershey Company for the first time to release a new REESE’S Peanut Butter Square. The REESE’S Peanut Butter Square is filled with REESE’S peanut butter buttercreme, topped with chocolate icing and finished with an orange icing drizzle to match the iconic orange packaging. In addition to that, the brand will also release the new Pumpkin Cheesecake Square. The Pumpkin Cheesecake Square has pumpkin cheesecake filling and is topped with crumbled graham crackers, and orange and white frosting. The new items will be available beginning Aug. 31 for a limited time.

(From QSR Magazine) http://www.qsrmagazine.com/news/dunkin-partners-hershey-new-reeses-lto

McDonald’s Inks Second Franchise Deal in Russia

McDonald’s Corp. is expanding in Russia. The company announced that it has signed a second deal with a Russian franchisee to expand the brand to remote Siberian regions. McDonald’s opened in Russia 25 years ago, and has over 500 locations in 120 Russian cities. This new deal would bring up to 20 new locations to the Novosibirsk, Tomsk, Kemerovo, and Altai regions in coming years.

(From Reuters) http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/08/21/us-mcdonalds-russia-franchising-idUSKCN0QQ0V420150821