(Continued from page 7) INTERNATIONAL D.P. Dough Franchising has signed a multiunit agreement with franchisee group, Nine Doughs, to open nine restaurants in college towns throughout Ohio, Michigan, Indiana and Kentucky. The multi-year pact involves a number of investors in Nine Doughs who have a background in the music industry. resident Thomas Emmons will own and operate the Arizona locations. The restaurant is also expanding in Ohio and northern Kentucky, with two development agreements covering 13 stores. Owner/operators Kevin and Randy Daniel (who are brothers) have added eight stores to an existing agreement for five. IFA-sponsored Franchise Trade Mission Explores Central America From Sept. 20-26, a U.S. Franchise Trade Mission sponsored by IFA and Franchise Times visited Costa Rica, Guatemala and El Salvador. Thirteen IFA members joined the mission: Arby’s, Berlitz Franchising Corp., Bonchon Chicken, FASTSIGNS, Fuddruckers, Kona Grill, Mosquito Squad, Russo’s New York Pizzeria, Signal 88 Security, Sky Zone, Smashburger, Wayback Burgers and Xtreme Lashes. Mission participants received market briefings, went on site visits and participated in matchmaking meetings with pre-screened prospective franchisees. Many participants were impressed by the quality of investors, with one executive calling the Guatemala meetings the best in his 35-year career. To see more photos, visit www.ifafranblog.com/franchise-trade-missionexplores-central-america. MERGERS, ACQUISITIONS & ALLIANCES Doherty Enterprises has acquired 10 Applebee’s locations in the Miami area from Fort Wayne, Ind.-based Apple Sauce, Inc. The agreement increases the company’s Applebee’s locations from 99 to 109, bringing Doherty’s restaurant portfolio to 164 locations in four states. Cheng Cohen served as lead counsel for NRD Capital Management’s purchase of Frisch’s Restaurants. The purchase represents the firm’s first acquisition through its investment fund NRD Capital Partners. Pet Supplies Plus has created a public dog park on the grounds of the brand’s internal distribution center in Seymour, Ind. The franchise company has transformed part of the grounds into Pet Supplies Plus Canine Crossroads. HONORS & AWARDS MODE is one of the winners of the 2015 SCORE Awards, recognizing excellence in American small business owners. To select the 2015 SCORE Awards honorees, SCORE asked small business owners and mentors to nominate their business by sharing ways small businesses have made the world a better place and how meaningful relationships between SCORE mentors and clients have helped businesses prosper. Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants has reached a development agreement recently for five additional stores in the state of Washington. The new Dickey’s Barbecue Pit locations cover eastern Washington in the Spokane region. Owner/Operator Mark Engberson is partnering with Palouse Restaurant Group to open the five new stores. Dickey’s has also signed a deal to open four new locations in Chandler, Gilbert, Mesa and Queen Creek, Ariz. Phoenix MARKETING OUTREACH Fish Consulting has added a number of new clients: Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academies, World of Beer, Great Clips and Tin Drum Asiacafe. The Hollywood, Fla.-based public relations firm has also agreed to represent five brands within the Dwyer Group — Mr. Rooter, Glass Doctor, Aire Serv, Mr. Appliance and Rainbow International. Non-profit organization Tee It Up for the Troops has selected the first recipients of a grant designed to help military veterans open their own gyms. Hannah and Tristan Ambrozewski, both Iraq War veterans, will use a $125,000 grant and a $125,000 loan as start-up capital to open an Anytime Fitness gym near Fort Bragg in Fayetteville, N.C. Hannah Ambrozewski served as an intelligence analyst with the U.S. Army from 2005 to 2012, and Tristan Ambrozewski was also an Army intelligence analyst who now performs similar duties as a U.S. Department of Defense contractor. Anytime Fitness’ Heartfirst Charitable Foundation provided a grant to Tee It Up for the Troops, which then selected the Ambrozewskis as recipients from a pool of dozens of candidates. Captain D’s continues to raise money for the Share Our Strength’s Dine Out for No Kid Hungry campaign. The campaign connects kids in need with nutritious food and teaches families how to eat healthy and affordable meals. Captain D’s locations participated in the program during a fundraising drive during September. The company raised more than $30,000 for the charity in summer 2015 through 29 restaurants in Birmingham, Ala. More than 40 Ben’s Soft Pretzels locations are raising funds for the Intrepid Fallen Heroes Fund. For a minimum $1 donation, customers can add to a “battleship” that will be posted in local Ben’s Soft Pretzels bakeries. The program’s goal is to top fundraising efforts of nearly $17,000 from early 2015 that went to the same organization. Wienerschnitzel raised $125,000 at the annual fundraising gala for the company’s marquee charity partner, The Literacy Project, a non-profit organization dedicated to raising the reading skill levels of disadvantaged youth. Wienerschnitzel has also partnered with the McGrath family to raise awareness for Be the Match, a bone marrow organization. Rhowan and Bergen McGrath, the daughters of motocross champion Jeremy McGrath, started selling homemade lemonade at their father’s races to help raise money for Be the Match after their mother, Kim, was diagnosed with leukemia. Wienerschnitzel will continue to supply the McGrath Lemonade Stand with hot dogs for sale at each Lucas Oil off-road race event throughout 2015. The company will match funds raised up to $1,500 to benefit the organization. 8 FRANCHISING WORLD NOVEMBER 2015
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