01/10
Omaha-based chain of drive-thru coffee shops Scooter's Coffee features 600 locations today and plans on operating over 1,000 by 2024. According to CEO Todd Graeve, the coffee brand that saw same-store sales increase by 55-60% between 2019-2021 is all about simplicity
02/10
Co-founded in Fayetteville, Arkansas in 2003 by Tom Gordon and Greg Smart, Slim Chickens didn't start franchising until 2013. A whole lot has changed since then, with the chicken chain bringing in $265 million in system sales between 2019-2021. Today, there are over 140 Slim Chickens locations
03/10
Acquired by CEO Michael Haith in 2016, Teriyaki Madness has enjoyed plenty of success in recent years. The Asian cuisine-centric chain reported a system sales increase of 117.2% ($94 million) from 2019-2021, and now boasts over 100 locations
04/10
Known for loaded burritos filled with ingredients like shrimp or steak, Bubbakoo's Burritos was founded in 2008 by Bill Hart and Paul Altero. When current CFO Chris Ives joined Bubbakoo's four years ago, the brand operated 17 stores. Today the chain boasts over 60
05/10
Walk-On's Louisiana-inspired menu is enticing enough as it is, but CEO Brandon Landry believes the right company and employee culture is absolutely key to his brand's success—and it all starts on day one
06/10
Acquired by private equity firm Brentwood Associates in 2019, Chicken Salad Chick actually resisted delivery services prior to 2020, today, delivery and online orders account for 15% and 20% of Chicken Salad Chick's sales. The food brand also grew its systemwide sales 66.3 percent between 2019 and 2021 and now operates just under 300 locations
07/10
Jersey Mike's recently crossed the 2,000 location threshold, but the sub-chain's leadership is all about providing operators with individualized attention. CEO Peter Cancro, President Hoyt Jones, and other senior executives frequently attend town hall meetings with franchisees and visit stores
08/10
Based out of Youngstown, Ohio, Handel's Ice Cream is all about providing its customers with the absolute best value for their hard-earned dollars. More specifically, CEO Rich Matherne says that means "the best ice cream on the planet, made fresh daily at each location
09/10
Tropical Smoothie Cafe's menu is known for delicious smoothies, sandwiches, and wraps, but when it comes to expansion, the brand prioritizes three factors to build strong relationships with franchisees
10/10
As its name suggests, Nothing Bundt Cakes specializes in bundt cakes of all shapes and sizes. On the business side, though, CEO John Cappasola says nothing is more important than the customer experience