The 8 | April 13, 2018

1. Frantastic: We’re kicking this week off with some Frantastic news for franchisees and entrepreneurs looking to break into the industry. A recent article in Forbes explores why owning a franchise business is good for the entire family. One reason is that data from the 2017 State Independence Report shows that 74 percent of independent workers are satisfied with their choice. Owning a franchise and being a part of a family business also teaches responsibility, enables work-life balance management and encourages people to be more involved in their local communities.

2. Franlebrity: Continuing our theme from last week, this week’s Franlebrities are more of 2018’s legal players. We’re giving a shout out to a new batch of franchise attorneys, who all have profiles that are currently live on 1851. Head to the site to learn more about why Richard Morey, Christina Fugate, Lynne Hanson, Will Woods, Brian B. Schnell, Lane Fisher, Beata Krakus and John A. Bender are all franchise legal players to watch.

3. Frash Money: We’ve talked before about how Dunkin’ Donuts is actively taking steps to make more Frash Money. Now, the chain is continuing those efforts by testing out Donut Fries. Dunkin’ Donuts is set to test the new product in the Boston area, where they’ll be on sale for $2. The move builds on the momentum that Taco Bell has seen with its wildly successful Nacho Fries.

4. Frant of the Week: Change in any company can be a challenging thing, especially for those brands that are still emerging. However, founders are not afraid of change when it’s beneficial for the good of their teams. And as No Limit Agency* CEO Nick Powills points out in his latest Frant, that’s a positive thing. When founders are focused on creating change for the greater good, they can do a better job at communicating, reinforcing core values and ensuring that the structural support of their organization is sound.

5. Franch Forward: Chipotle has had a hard time Franching Forward recently following a string of illness outbreaks. But now, the brand is trying to redeem itself by launching a new campaign centered on waste reduction. Chipotle has a goal of diverting half of its waste from landfills by 2020, and is planning to do so by minimizing food waste during preparation as well as end-of-day waste. It’s too soon to tell if these efforts will be successful, but it’s a positive step forward that brands in the franchising industry can look to when trying to move on from a setback.

6. Fran Funny: One of the biggest news stories this week is Mark Zuckerberg testifying before Congress. In honor of that, here are some of the best internet memes and reactions from his two-day congressional inquisition.

7. Franspiration: “There are so many smart, talented and entrepreneurial people involved [in] working with franchisors, franchisees and suppliers – and the best of their collective energy and smarts have always been the difference-maker.” – Lee Plave of Plave Koch PLC on what makes working in the franchising industry rewarding.

8. Franemies vs. Frands: Papa John’s has experienced a lot of change recently. That’s why the brand’s new CEO, Steve Ritchie, is trying to be a better Frand to customers. To do that, Papa John’s is rethinking its marketing strategy by rolling out new campaigns that shift its focus to value.  The goal is to ditch the perception that Papa John’s is too expensive while showing consumers that its providing value.