At the recently concluded Multi-Unit Franchise Conference in Las Vegas, a common thread throughout was the unique problems the coronavirus pandemic has created for all kinds of businesses. In fact, most of the speakers wove throughout their presentations consideration of the challenges – and opportunities – that COVID-19 served up to franchisees and, in particular,…
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Facing a continued staffing crisis and growing labor costs, many businesses are looking beyond the next hire. Consider the barista who never calls in sick or the coffee-making bots that brew up to 300 portions per shift, work 24/7 and never take breaks, except for refilling or cleaning. In many ways, the crippling U.S. labor…
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April 22, 2021 marked day four of Dealmakers Week, presented by Franchise Times. It was also the day the magazine announced its 2020 Deal of the Year. Not surprisingly, the award went to Inspire Brands for its $11.3 billion purchase of Dunkin’ Brands. On hand to receive the award was David Pipes, Inspire Brands chief…
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Every two months, the staff at DDIFO convenes an editorial meeting to decide the theme, focus and content of the next issue of Independent Joe. As we contemplate and discuss various possibilities, we do so with one eye on the timeliness of the potential subject matter. Our discussions are always geared toward which subjects could…
Read More »Less than a year after employees at one unit of a QSR chain in Portland Oregon voted to unionize, a third store in the Burgerville franchise won NLRB approval in December as a separate bargaining unit. Three of the brand’s 42 stores across the Pacific Northwest are now organized as micro-unions and recognized by the…
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Congress is getting ready to welcome scores of new members from both parties in the wake of the recent midterm elections. But while some of the faces and names will change, lawmakers in Washington are expected to take up the debate anew on some core issues for Dunkin’ and other franchise owners across the land.…
Read More »We noted that the Small Business Administration in conjunction with the SCORE Association will be hosting a virtual conference to celebrate small business week on May 1 through May 3. The array of webinars available, all of which are free and open to the public, can be accessed here. And finally, the monthly Miller Pulse…
Read More »Miller Pulse released their February restaurant sales and profit tracking report earlier this week. According to the report, QSR segment same store sales rose .6% in February versus one year earlier, with average ticket up 2.8% and traffic down 2.2%. The two year trend was weaker in February than January, which signaled a more difficult…
Read More »There continues to be much debate around the country about the wisdom of increasing minimum wages and how big an increase can be before it becomes detrimental to the local economy and the very workers the increase is supposed to help. Well, two recent studies of the impact on Seattle employees of the Seattle minimum…
Read More »Starbucks announced this week that it will begin offering health insurance coverage for the parents of its China employees who’ve been with the company for a minimum of two years. The new benefit limits coverage to parents less than 75 years old and comes as the company looks to double the number of stores in…
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