Orlando Sentinel There’s been a change of course for fast-casual dining chain Tijuana Flats. After nearly five years of franchising its Tex-Mex concept to markets throughout Florida and beyond, the Orlando restaurant company has said, no more. Tijuana Flats has gotten out of the franchise business,... More

Firkin The Firkin Group of Pubs continues to lead the pack as the fastest growing English pub chains in North America announcing the opening of thirteen new pubs by close of 2007. With the new locations, Firkin will double the number of pubs in the United States, growing from eight to 21 in just one... More

Business Scotsman A FIRM of franchised ink cartridge refill outlets is set to treble its annual revenue off the back of overseas expansion and the roll-out of a network of filling kiosks. Smart Cartridge, which was launched as a franchise operation by Edinburgh entrepreneur Suzie McCafferty five years... More

Money Central The owners of the New Horizons Computer Learning Centers franchise in San Antonio and Austin have bought out the New Horizons franchise in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. Financial terms of the acquisition was not disclosed. All three operations are franchises of Anaheim, Calif.-based New... More

Biz Journals Move over, Sanford and Son. A new junk operation has come to town. But this one uses online booking for pickups, and drivers use Web-enabled phones to schedule their routes. 1-800-Got-Junk? has opened its first New Mexico operation. The national junk removal company offers a way for customers... More

Qbr Natural beauty company Bush Essentials are taking their business to the next level, offering franchise opportunities across Australia for the first time. Local Gold Coast businessman Selwyn Hardwick will focus on the South Brisbane, Gold Coast, Tweed, Ballina and Lismore areas when he takes up his... More

Despite sounding like the hot new jeans outfit with a Marilyn Monroe twist, Gloria Jean’s is a global gourmet coffee franchise brand newly launched in South Africa by Pinnacle Point Holdings and Afriplan. The flagship shop is located in Fourways, Johannesburg, and a further 29 are planned over... More

Canada Sick of working for the man? Wanna be the man for a change, but are perhaps a little leery of assuming the risk that goes along with financing and managing a startup business? Becoming a franchise owner might be the solution — “might” being the operative word. Ontario FranNet... More

Snap-on Tools beat eight other top-flight finalists to win the gold title at the bfa’s gala luncheon at the Savoy Hotel yesterday (Thursday, 24th May). The Awards, sponsored by the Daily Express and HSBC Bank, honour the franchise sector’s annual £10 billion contribution to the UK economy. In accepting... More

Stuff Fast-food operator Restaurant Brands has served up more of the same in the first quarter of its new financial year – strong sales at its KFC outlets but sagging Pizza Hut figures. Sales across the group were $70.5 million for the 12 weeks to May 21, a 4.1 per cent improvement on figures... More

Biz Journals 7-Eleven Inc. is planning to convert its company-operated stores in the region to franchises as part of a national strategy to become a fully franchised business. The Dallas-based convenience-store chain has 951 stores in D.C., Maryland and Virginia, and 413 of them are currently franchises,... More

Economic Times NEW DELHI: Fortis Healthworld, the pharmacy chain of Fortis Healthcare, is taking the franchisee route to expansion.Fortis Healthworld CEO Aashish Pandit told ET: “In the first phase, we plan to have 150 franchisee outlets in North India alone by year end. We have been approached by... More