Magnolia Bakery plans Chicago expansion through franchise program
The bakery currently has 12 locations across New York City, Chicago and Los Angeles.
Its only Chicago shop is downtown at 108 N. State St., where 30 employees work.
GET TO KNOW YOUR CITY
Find Local Events Near You
Connect with a community of local professionals.
Explore All Events
expand
'We are looking forward to expanding our footprint with additional retail bakeries in neighborhoods across Chicago,' said Magnolia Bakery CEO Bobbie Lloyd.
Courtesy of Magnolia Bakery
Magnolia will open its first franchise location in Salt Lake City next year, and is eyeing Chicago next.
Local neighborhoods targeted for Magnolia shops include River North, Fulton Market, Lincoln Park and Wrigleyville. The bakery aims to also open suburban locations in Naperville, Wilmette, Highland Park, Vernon Hills and Oak Park.
'We look at neighborhoods that have a mix of residential, tourism, entertainment, retail, office buildings and a cultural draw,' said Bobbie Lloyd, CEO and chief baking officer of Magnolia Bakery. 'We are looking forward to expanding our footprint with additional retail bakeries in neighborhoods across Chicago.'
Store sizes will vary from 1,200 to 2,000 square feet.
expand
Magnolia Bakery plans to expand its Chicago presence through a new U.S. franchise program.
Courtesy of Bryan Johnson Studio
Magnolia recently hired Jason Mattes as vice president of domestic franchise development to lead the company's franchise growth.
'With today's booming premium dessert market, coupled with Magnolia Bakery's high-quality products, this franchising initiative offers a unique opportunity for franchisees to deliver an elevated experience that stands apart from typical dessert franchises,' Lloyd said.
Sign up for the Business Journal's free daily newsletter to receive the latest business news impacting Chicago.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
an hour ago
- Business Insider
WK Kellogg Stock (KLG) Skyrockets 50% on Reports of $3 Billion Takeover
The stock of WK Kellogg (KLG) is up 50% in after hours trading on reports that chocolate maker Ferrero is offering $3 billion to buy the cereal company. Don't Miss TipRanks' Half-Year Sale Take advantage of TipRanks Premium at 50% off! Unlock powerful investing tools, advanced data, and expert analyst insights to help you invest with confidence. Make smarter investment decisions with TipRanks' Smart Investor Picks, delivered to your inbox every week. Ferrero, a privately held Italian company known for its Ferrero Rocher hazelnut chocolates, could finalize an acquisition of the breakfast foods company within days, according to media reports. Battle Creek, Michigan-based WK Kellogg, which makes cereals such as Corn Flakes and Froot Loops, was spun off as a standalone company in 2023. A separate publicly traded concern, Kellanova (K), now houses snack brands such as Pringles and Cheez-It. M&M owner Mars, also privately owned, agreed to buy Kellanova for $36 billion last year in a deal that has not yet been finalized. WK Kellogg stock has fallen about 1% this year, and the company has a $1.5 billion market capitalization. Packaged Foods Deal A Ferrero acquisition of WK Kellogg would be the latest example of consolidation in the packaged food industry. Many consumers have abandoned sugary cereals in favor of breakfast options that are considered healthier, while other shoppers have moved down to private label brands that are cheaper to buy. The purchase of WK Kellogg would expand European Ferrero's operations and reach in the U.S. market. In May of this year, the company announced a new slate of products aimed at appealing to American consumers, including peanut Nutella and Dr Pepper flavored Tic Tac candies. Is KLG Stock a Buy? The stock of WK Kellogg has a consensus Moderate Buy rating among seven Wall Street analysts. That rating is based on three Hold and four sell recommendations issued in the last three months. The average KLG price target of $16.71 implies 4.51% downside from current levels.
Business Upturn
an hour ago
- Business Upturn
Blue Cloud signs $8.9 million MoU with LedgerFi to digitize Zanzibar government services
By Aman Shukla Published on July 10, 2025, 08:30 IST Blue Cloud Softech Solutions Limited (BCSSL), a global name in cybersecurity and digital solutions, has signed a USD $8.90 million Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with UAE-India-based LedgerFi IT Solutions. This major partnership is set to support the Zanzibar Government's ambitious plan to fully digitize its public services through the eDUA Unified Digital Government Platform (UDGP). Under this collaboration, Blue Cloud will serve as the lead tech partner, handling the complete design and deployment of the UDGP platform. The project is being driven by the Zanzibar eGovernment Authority (eGAZ), and it aims to modernize how government departments, ministries, agencies, and private sector players deliver services. Citizens, residents, businesses, and NGOs can look forward to faster, more transparent, and secure access to a wide range of public services. The signing ceremony brought together leaders from Blue Cloud, LedgerFi, and the Zanzibar Government, highlighting a joint commitment to innovation and digital transformation. This $8.90 million project also reflects a long-term vision: to create a revenue-generating, self-sustaining digital model that could make Zanzibar a leading example of e-governance not only in Africa but on the global stage. Ahmedabad Plane Crash Aman Shukla is a post-graduate in mass communication . A media enthusiast who has a strong hold on communication ,content writing and copy writing. Aman is currently working as journalist at
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Yahoo
1 Monthly Dividend Stock Built to Handle Whatever 2025 Throws at Us
Written by Amy Legate-Wolfe at The Motley Fool Canada Some dividend stocks are built to run in bull markets. Others are built to survive storms. But very few can handle both with the kind of consistency Dream Industrial REIT (TSX: has shown. For investors searching for a dependable monthly dividend payer in 2025, this real estate investment trust (REIT) might be one of the few you can actually count on. Let's get into why. Dream Industrial REIT is a Toronto-based trust focused on owning and operating high-quality industrial properties in key urban markets. As of writing, the stock trades at around $12. The trust offers a monthly dividend of $0.05833 per unit, translating to roughly $0.70 annually. With a recent closing price of $11.95, that works out to a yield of about 5.9%. More importantly, that yield is backed by reliable cash flow. The trust's operations span Canada, the U.S., and Europe, and it owns over 320 properties. This kind of diversification is exactly what gives the dividend stock its edge. In a year that's already seen a mix of economic anxiety, stubborn inflation, and rate uncertainty, Dream Industrial's portfolio continues to generate strong rent growth and stable occupancy levels. In the first quarter of 2025, Dream Industrial reported net rental income of $91.7 million. That marked an increase of 6.8% compared to the same quarter last year. Funds from operations, arguably the most important measure of a REIT's ability to pay distributions, came in at $0.26 per unit, up from $0.24 last year. This means the trust is not only maintaining its payout but doing so with a healthy buffer. Another standout in the quarter was leasing. The REIT completed over 1.5 million square feet of leasing activity. Rental spreads on new and renewed leases reached highs of over 50% in Ontario and Québec. That means the dividend stock is signing new tenants at significantly higher rates than it was getting before, a clear sign of pricing power. Dream Industrial has also been busy expanding. In early 2025, it completed more than $460 million in property acquisitions. These deals have added to both scale and long-term value, especially in markets like Germany and Ontario, where demand for industrial space remains high. Despite this spending, the trust maintains solid liquidity, about $750 million in available credit, giving it flexibility to act on more opportunities. The trust is also actively preparing for the future. It's working on solar installations for its rooftops and preparing select sites to support data centre infrastructure. These initiatives could boost returns and attract high-quality tenants in the years ahead, especially as energy and digital storage needs grow. There was, however, a decline in net income year-over-year, falling from $74.6 million to $47.5 million. That drop was driven mainly by changes in property fair values, so paper losses, not cash-related issues. These accounting adjustments don't affect the trust's ability to pay distributions, and its funds from operations continue to rise. So far in 2025, the market hasn't fully rewarded the trust's performance. The share price is still down from previous highs, making the yield even more attractive for new investors. While market sentiment might be holding it back, the fundamentals are telling a much stronger story. Meanwhile, right now, a $5,000 investment could bring in annual dividends of $299 each year, or about $25 monthly. COMPANY RECENT PRICE SHARES DIVIDEND TOTAL PAYOUT FREQUENCY INVESTMENT TOTAL $11.67 428 $0.70 $299.60 Monthly $4,993.56 Dream Industrial REIT isn't going to double overnight. But that's not the point. If you want dependable monthly income and a business model that can adapt to economic twists and turns, this dividend stock fits the bill. With a high yield, strong tenant demand, and smart capital deployment, it's the kind of stock that doesn't just survive tough years, it quietly thrives through them. The post 1 Monthly Dividend Stock Built to Handle Whatever 2025 Throws at Us appeared first on The Motley Fool Canada. Motley Fool Canada's market-beating team has just released a brand-new FREE report revealing 5 "dirt cheap" stocks that you can buy today for under $50 a share. Our team thinks these 5 stocks are critically undervalued, but more importantly, could potentially make Canadian investors who act quickly a fortune. Don't miss out! Simply click the link below to grab your free copy and discover all 5 of these stocks now. Claim your FREE 5-stock report now! More reading 10 Stocks Every Canadian Should Own in 2025 [PREMIUM PICKS] Market Volatility Toolkit Fool contributor Amy Legate-Wolfe has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Dream Industrial Real Estate Investment Trust. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. 2025
