What are the main stories making news in and around franchising this week?

 30 June 2023

Pizza Hut Australia sold to US-based Flynn Restaurant Group

In recent news, the Australian arm of the Pizza Hut brand has been sold to Flynn Restaurant Group, who are the largest franchisee restaurant group in the US.

The group currently has 2,357 restaurants across brands Wendy’s, Arby’s, Appelbees, Taco Bell, Pizza Hut and Panera, which are all in the US, with this purchase being the first step outside of the American market.

As an outsider looking in, I’d suggest this is great news for the brand overall in Australia and particularly for franchise partners currently in and going forward with the brand moving out of private equity hands and into a specialist quick service restaurant operator with resources and a commitment to building brand equity and long-term growth. 

City Cave has opened their first USA location

Home-grown salt therapy, health and wellness brand, City Cave, has opened their first location in the US.

The first location in Florida at Fort Lauderdale has been in the works for some time to get open and trading as the brand plotted its entry into the lucrative US market.

This is the first location in what is planned to be 3,000 sites in the country. If you’ve been following the brand, you may recall that earlier this year, we reported that the previous Global CEO of Subway had invested in and joined the brand, in particular to spearhead that US growth endeavour.

Pizza Capers co-founder joins Gnocchi Gnocchi Brothers

The SEQ based Gnocchi brand has announced that they have gained a new ‘Big Brother’ in the form of Pizza Capers founder Anthony Russo.

Anthony co-founded and grew the Pizza Capers chain to 120+ locations prior to selling  the brand to Retail Food Group around 10 years ago.

As reported in Business News Australia, the brand is looking to Russo as a hands-on investor and mentor  to guide them on expansion in SEQ initially, to grow their reach in their local market, before a push south into the Sydney market.

Ultimately, a growth target over 5 years of 40-60 locations is considered on the table by Russo given the hard work establishing the brand already being done.

Franchise Everything PodCast Launched

An amazing podcast has just launched about everything and anything franchising in the Australian market.

Yes, this is a bit self-serving, but it’s pretty darn good so why not.

We’re talking to franchise owners, franchise founders, CEO’s, recruitment managers, supplier product managers, field and marketing managers and more. 

These are people stories at heart of what, why, when and how, along with tips and insights into making a great fist of franchising.

The first 7 episodes have already launched in the last week or so, so you have plenty to sink your teeth into.

Check it on Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music, YouTube and more…

Listen or watch on;

Spotify: See HERE

Apple Podcasts: See HERE

Amazon Music: See HERE

Youtube Podcast Playlist: See HERE

And we’d love your support with likes, reviews and subscribing to support us, and the wonderful people whose stories we will tell.

Episode 1

Episode 2