Franchise Business Opportunities

Bizjournals.com:

The Association of Kentucky Fried Chicken Franchisees Inc. has elected its new president and executive committee.

Dan Yagoda, a South Florida franchisee, has been named president of the association, which represents 97 percent of KFC restaurants in the United States.

Yagoda, who owns three stores in Hialeah, Fla., has been affiliated with KFC since 1973 when he worked for his parents, Esther and Buddy Yagoda, the Louisville-based association said in a news release.

Yagoda has served on the Southeast KFC Franchisee Association board of directors, the KFC National Advertising Council and the KFC National Purchasing Cooperative board of directors.

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Mirror:

Pink Pump will celebrate the dual grand openings of its new Birmingham and Royal Oak locations with an art opening entitled, “Sweet Feet” featuring a bevy of both well-known, and up and coming female artists depicting their own takes on fashionable footwear.

All mediums will be represented from 6-9 p.m., Thursday, July 23, at the new Birmingham location, 150 W. Maple, with an opening for the artists all work will be for sale.

Complimentary pink champagne and light foods will be available for attendees.

Pink Pump (formerly Shoe Envy) has expanded it’s shoe and accessory boutique in Bloomfield Hills to two new locations in Birmingham — open now — and Royal Oak — open August 2009 — and is now franchising the Pink Pump brand. Pink Pump is owned Tawny Thieu, 28.

Business Mirror:

MAX’S Restaurant is continuing its planned local and international expansion this year including opening two locations in the United States, despite the tough economic times.

Robert Trota, president of Max’s Restaurant, told reporters on Wednesday that the company is opening a store in New Jersey and in Hawaii within the year to increase its presence in the US to eight outlets.

Currently, Trota said Max’s has two company-owned and four franchised outlets in the US. The two new branches will also be franchised stores.

Aside from the US, Trota said there are ongoing negotiations with prospective franchisees in the Middle East.

Locally, Trota said the company is opening at least six branches for the year, mostly inside the super malls that are set to open including Naga, Tarlac, Laoag and Calamba, Laguna. It will also open a branch in Calapan by the end of the year.

He said the company is growing by 6 percent locally, although he did not provide details.

“People are still spending that is why the company continues to grow,” he said at the sidelines of the Philippine International Franchise Conference and Expo 2009 on Wednesday at the Crowne Plaza Galleria Manila.

Max’s already has 119 outlets nationwide, 55 of them owned by franchisees.

Macau Daily Times:

The first Macao Franchise Expo (MFE) will be held from July 3 to 4 at the Macao Tower Convention and Entertainment Centre. MFE aims to promote franchising, chain store operations and brand agency through a series of activities that include product exhibition, business matching sessions and forums.

MFE has recorded a total of 78 exhibitors, with over 90 franchises, chain store and brand agency enterprises from Mainland China, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macau, Brazil, United States, Japan and other Southeast Asian countries.

Investment projects include renowned international products, food and beverage, hotels, fashion, accessories, electrical appliances and illumination. The Macao Economic Services, Macao Association of Banks and the business association of real estate were invited to provide support and advisory services including SME financing, interest subsidy, shop leasing and marketing. The organiser will also brief participants on business development of the franchising business. More.

AZ Central.com:

New York City transplants will soon be able to get their Tasti D-Lite fixes right here in metro Phoenix.

The first of an eventual string of 40 Arizona stores will begin dispensing more than 100 flavors of the popular frozen dessert this summer.

The stores are coming into a market that has been hit by recession and increased competition, especially from frozen-coffee products.

Made mostly from water, non-fat milk, sugar and corn syrup, the frozen non-yogurt dessert has developed a cult following in New York City, where it first appeared in 1987.

It has been parodied on “Seinfeld” and featured in episodes of HBO’s “Sex and the City” and NBC’s “The Apprentice.”

“I love this joint,” wrote New York blogger Andy H. on his Web site, thebrooklynnomad .com. “They beat the crap out of those other 2,352 fro-yo chains.”

The company is hoping the stores will also develop such fanatical fans in Arizona. Recently opened stores in Houston have quickly developed a following.

Tasti D-Lite was founded by Celeste Carlesimo and her father, Louis Carlesimo. It was acquired in 2007 by New York private-equity investor SPG Partners, which started franchising the concept.

Franchising.com:

KidzArt, an international children’s art enrichment franchise company, today announced the opening of its new master franchisee in Jakarta, Indonesia. In its efforts to continue building its international market, KidzArt added expansion in Asia is based on an increase in demand for children’s creative educational services.

Husband and wife team, Vincentius Suyanto and Indahwati Ng have purchased exclusive rights to operate and market branded KidzArt locations.

KidzArt has a unique curriculum that provides drawing instruction for students, from preschoolers to teens. The program offers a constructive, creative outlet that encourages self-expression and communication. No prior arts training or experience is necessary to participate. Classes are small, up to 15 enrollees, to maximize the amount of attention paid to each student.

According to KidzArt president, Shell Herman, “It’s wonderful to continue KidzArt’s expansion into the Asia’s growing market which is ripe for children’s art enrichment. We’re thrilled to be the first art education franchise business in Indonesia and look forward to developing their children’s creativity, expression and confidence, as well as a long and prosperous relationship with Vincent and Indah, our new Master Franchisees. We are confident in their backgrounds and ability to grow the KidzArt concept throughout Indonesia.”

Inquirer.net:

The local franchising industry expects to grow by 5-10 percent this year, with many franchise brands poised to expand both here and abroad.

Robert Trota, president of the Philippine Franchise Association, said the organization’s members were still registering growth amid the economic downturn.

“The franchise business has a 90-percent success rate, and all our members say they still have growth. The business is thriving, expanding,” he said.

Trota revealed that Japanese fast-food chain Tokyo Tokyo was set to open a branch in the United States in the next three months, while local flavored French fries pioneer Potato Corner would soon be setting up shop in California.

“There’s no slowdown in overseas expansions,” he said.

Of all overseas markets, he said the United States was the easiest for local brands to break into because of language and culture factors. More.

The Franchise Magazine:

By investing in a London House franchise, Simon Moppett has turned his life around and now has complete control of his work/life balance.

Juggling spending time with his young family while working shifts as a nightclub manager was difficult for Simon Moppett who often came home in the early hours of the morning. Eager to rectify the situation, Simon decided to start his own business and in February launched a London House franchise. Now he is able to spend quality time with his two-year-old son and wife and is on course for a first year turnover in the region of £30,000.

“I had been a nightclub manager for 16 years,” reflects Simon. “I really enjoyed the work because I was always on the go and it was a fun environment to work in. However, working split shifts became difficult when I married, because my priorities changed and spending time with my family came first. Read on.

The National:

BinHendi Enterprises expects to sign at least 10 franchises for its home-grown Japengo Cafe chain of restaurants in neighbouring GCC countries by next year, its president said yesterday.

Mohi-Din bin Hendi, the president of the Dubai-based retail group, which has a portfolio of more than 60 brands and 100 stores across the country, said the company would be signing up at least 10 franchises by the end of the year. “We’ll start with our neighbouring countries, then we’ll go out. The Far East is on our agenda and the US is on our agenda,” Mr bin Hendi said. The group would keep its focus on the GCC region until western economies improved, he said.

BinHendi began the process in the middle of last year, making it one of the few UAE-based retailers to start franchising out its own brands. Usually, most local retail groups bring franchises of successful retail chains from the West, such as Starbucks and Hugo Boss, into the UAE.

“Retail is something quite new in the region,” said Laurent-Patrick Gally, a retail analyst with Shuaa Capital. “Although we have had shopping malls for several years, the concept of organised retail, and developing your own brand, is quite new.”

Read more.

Chain Leader:

Following the demise of a franchise agreement with Aiting (Vicky) Shih and Sirius International Food and Beverage Group, announced earlier this year, Johnny Rockets Group, Inc. today announced the availability of Taiwan as an available franchising territory for the popular chain of classic American restaurants.

With a projected market bearing of more than twenty of the authentic all-American eateries on the Taiwan island, the Company has made exclusive rights available for both single and multi-unit franchise agreements. Of special interest to potential Franchise Partners are high-trafficked lifestyle arenas, including the new Dream Mall and the multi-purpose Taiwan 101 building.

“We know that there is a demand for our brand in markets as diverse and progressive as Taiwan,” stated Steve Devine, Senior Vice President of International Development for Johnny Rockets. He added, “And, now that this much sought-after territory is again available, we are very optimistic about the entry of our classic, yet relevant, brand into the Taiwanese culture.”