1851 Franchising Weekly Rewind

Wisconsin in State of Emergency after Bird Flu Outbreak
Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker has declared a state of emergency on Monday after discovering three flocks of poultry had contracted a lethal case of bird flu. Walker asked the National Guard to contain the outbreak. After the avian flu outbreak was discovered in a flock in Iowa, over 1 million turkeys and chickens were diagnosed with bird flu in Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Arkansas, the Dakotas and Kansas. There are currently bans on poultry from the U.S. to Canada, Japan, Costa Rica and the European Union, and China has issued restrictions.
(From Pizza Marketplace)

Labor Union Focuses on Franchisees
The Fight for $15 just made an unlikely partner—franchisees. The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) launched a website targeted at franchisees who want stronger protection for their businesses. This would be an uneasy alliance, as many franchisees are small-business owners who oppose union growth in their industry.
(From ABC News)

Del Taco Bulks Up Buck & Under Menu
The affordable Buck & Under Menu from Del Taco, a leader in the Mexican quick-service restaurant category, is getting some flavorful additions. The Salsa Fresca Chicken Taco and the Chicken Roller are now available at participating Del Taco restaurants. The Buck & Under Menu now features 15 menu items with these additions, and prices for the menu start at $.59 and go up to $1.
(From QSR Magazine)

Bob Evans Closing 20 Restaurants
Following a comprehensive review, Bob Evans Farms Inc. plans to close 20 underperforming stores. Sixteen of the stores are company-owned. The majority of the locations will be closed by the end of May, but all 20 are planned to close by the end of the year. In addition to the closures, Bob Evans has announced plans to eliminate its discount strategy and change its menu to highlight higher-margin items.
(From Nation’s Restaurant News)

Free Fro-Yo For Moms
This Mother’s Day, Orange Leaf and Kevin Durant, MVP of the National Basketball Association and forward for the Oklahoma City Thunder, have partnered up to give moms a free cup of frozen yogurt. On May 10, moms can choose from their store’s selection of flavors, including last summer’s sellout favorite, Dairy Free Pink Lemonade.
(From Fast Casual)