Log In / Register | Feb 9, 2012

Cuppy's New CEO To Improve Operations and Meet Refund Obligations

Editor's note: After 18 days at the helm, Dale Nabors, new CEO of Cuppy's Coffee and affilliated companies, reports on next steps for the troubled chain.

Ramblings & A Lesson

WOW!!!  It has probably been two years since I first stumbled across BMM.  I remember the excitement I felt over this relatively new site with SO MUCH potential.  I remember reading BMM’s stated objectives:

ZEEs & All Biz Owners can Relate!

A little FRIDAY AFTERNOON HUMOR 

A man owns a small ranch in Texas. The Texas Hourly Wage Department claims he's not paying proper wages to his help and sends an agent out to interview him.

"I need a list of your employees and how much you pay them," demands the agent.

"Well" replies the rancher, "there's my ranch hand who's been with me for 3 years. I pay him $600 a week plus free room and board. The cook has been here for 18 months, and I pay her $500 per week plus free room and board.

"Then there's the half-wit who works here about 18 hours every day and does about 90% of all the work around here. He makes $10 a week, and I buy him a bottle of bourbon every Saturday night."

"That's the guy I want to talk to - the half-wit," says the agent.

"That would be me," replies the rancher

NexCen Eats Pretzel Time

Mrs. Fields To Focus on Cookies, Not Pretzels

NexCen Brands, Inc., franchisor of MaggieMoos and Marble Slab Creamery, has acquired Pretzel Time and PretzelMaker from Mrs. Fields Famous Brands for a combined purchase price of $29.4 million ($22.1 million cash + NexCen Common stock valued at approximately $7.3 million).  As of June 30, 2007 Pretzel Time had 327 franchised or licensed locations in the U.S. and 49 international locations.  

Commenting on the Acquisition:

NexCen President and CEO Robert W. D'Loren said:
"Pretzel Time and Pretzelmaker are representative of the types of acquisition opportunities that NexCen has targeted to grow our QSR vertical and to increase sales in our existing ice cream concepts. Our business model is based upon leveraging synergistic relationships between our brands to deliver value to our stakeholders. The addition of these companies to our QSR portfolio provides NexCen with an additional 376 doors for the delivery of quality branded products, and broadens our franchise offering for interested franchise investors".

2007 QSR-50

For those who are particularly interested in FOOD, QSR Magazine has released the 2007 QSR 50.  The publications annual ranking of quick-service restaurant brands, based on annual sales figures.  Topping the list this year:

  1. McDonalds
  2. Burger King
  3. Wendy's
  4. Subway
  5. Taco Bell

Arby's Aims To Buy Wendy's

Billionaire Peltz Considering $3.6 Billion Deal

NEW YORK (Blue MauMau) - Wendy's stock closed Monday at $33.69 per share, and SHOT UP $3.25 or 9.6% overnight as Billionaire investor Nelson Peltz, and his company Triarc takes AIM AT the 3rd largest hamburger chain in the U.S. --- WENDY'S! Peltz said he was ready to offer $37 to $41 per share for the company founded by Dave Thomas (links to flash presentation about Thomas) which would make the deal worth somewhere between $3.2 and $3.6 billion.

Triarc Companies, Inc. is a holding company and, through its subsidiaries, the franchisor of the Arby's and the owner and operator of over 1,000 Arby's restaurants located in the United States. With approximately 3,600 restaurants primarily in the United States, Arby's is the largest restaurant chain specializing in the roast beef sandwich segment and the 12th largest QSR chain overall.

The Next Big Thing?

Over the past several years PET related franchises have been popping up everywhere, ranging from pet supplies, to pet boarding, grooming and even scooping poop.  Here just a few of the many recent entries:

It is pretty easy to understand why this segment has seen so much growth when you consider:

Comfort Keepers: SOLD!

Allied Capital Buys Comfort Keepers for $44.3 Million

DAYTON, Ohio (Blue MauMau) - Allied Capital Corp. has agreed to provide the private equity firm of Webster Capital with up to $44.3 million to acquire CK Franchising, Inc., d/b/a Comfort Keepers. Allied Capital's investment will take the form of senior and subordinated debt, a revolving credit facility and a minority equity investment.

"Both companies have long histories of identifying strong comanies with significant growth potential and providing guidance and resources for growth," said Jim Both, president and CEO of CK Franchising. "This is an ideal marriage for CKFI and our franchise Owners."

Say Cheese!

What's Heartburn, the California Coast, the Big Dipper, the Little Dipper, a Yoga Teacher, Nasal Drain, A Green Sailor, and a French Kiss have in common?

Well unless you live in the Denver area you'll probably never guess - but CHEDD's Franchising Corporation is hoping to change that as they begin to franchise - Chedd's Gourmet Grilled Cheese.  Oh yeah, they are just a few of the Grilled Cheese sandwiches which you can get at Chedd's for $6.25 or for $2 more you can make it a meal.

CHEESE BIZ HOPING TO GO NATIONAL
Local Sandwich Entrepreneurs Look to Make a Grilling in Franchising
By AJ Miranda, Denver Post Staff Writer

Dirk Bruley and his wife, Wendy, opened their first Chedd's Gourmet Grilled Cheese restaurant in Denver's Uptown neighborhood in the spring of 2003. Now, with two locations and four years of experience, the Wisconsin-themed grilled- cheese joint, with its 35 cheeses, 12 breads and various meats and vegetables, is looking to go national.

New #1 at IHOP

Area Developer Acquires 148 Florida and Georgia IHOPs 

Sunshine Restaurant Partners LLC, an affiliate of Atlanta-based Argonne Capital Group LLC, has acquired 148 IHOP restaurants in Florida and southern Georgia from FMS Management Systems, Inc. 

With this acquisition the distinction of being IHOP’s largest U.S. area licensee and operator, will pass from FMS to Argonne.  In August 2004 another Argonne affiliate ACG Texas LP acquired 35 IHOP restaurants in Texas along with the rights to develop an additional 31 locations in the state.  Since the Texas acquisition ACG has opened or acquired 16 addtional locations and have 4 under development which will bring their total to 55.

The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed, however it was reported that FMS sales in 2006 were $189 million and that Argonne will retain FMS’s existing management team.  FMS opened its first IHOP restaurant in N. Miami Beach in 1961.

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