Latest news with #Franchise500®
Business Wire
10 hours ago
- Business
- Business Wire
Gong cha Enters Arizona With New Multi-unit Deal, Marking First Stores in the State
BOSTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Gong cha, the world's leading bubble tea brand with nearly 2,200 locations in 29 international markets, and more than 240 stores in the U.S. across 21 states and Washington, D.C. and Puerto Rico, is entering the Arizona market for the first time through a multi-unit franchise agreement with Blu Tea Arizona. The agreement will bring new stores to Tempe, Mesa, and Chandler, expanding Gong cha's growing presence across the Western U.S. as part of its strategy to reach 500+ U.S. locations over the next 3 years. 'When we first explored diversifying our franchise portfolio with a beverage concept, we were looking for a category leader with strong demand, a best-in-class product, and a scalable model,' said Fernando Ochoa, President of Blu Tea Arizona. Blu Tea Arizona is operated by an experienced franchisee group that has successfully developed Gong cha locations in other markets. This marks their third territory expansion with the brand, a move that reflects both strong unit performance and the ease of scaling the Gong cha model. With a flexible store format, low startup costs, and a highly engaged fan base, Gong cha continues to attract multi-unit operators looking to grow within the premium beverage category. ' When we first explored diversifying our franchise portfolio with a beverage concept, we were looking for a category leader with strong demand, with a premium product, and a scalable model, ' said Fernando Ochoa, President of Blu Tea Arizona. ' Based upon this, we chose to partner with Gong cha. Our success in other markets has affirmed our confidence in the brand, and we see a strong opportunity to continue to scale into Arizona with a multi-unit deal. We plan to grow quickly with multiple stores across the Phoenix region. ' With year-round warm weather, strong segment awareness around bubble tea, limited direct competition, and a high density of residents within the brand's target demographic, Arizona is an ideal market for Gong cha's continued U.S. growth. More than 22% of the state's population falls between ages 15 and 29—Gong cha's core audience—creating strong conditions for long-term success in the market. The Phoenix expansion is part of Gong cha's broader roadmap to reach 500 U.S. locations by 2028. ABOUT GONG CHA Founded in Taiwan in 2006, Gong cha is a global bubble tea brand known for its premium product, simple and scalable operational model, and strong corporate support. Today, it has nearly 2,200 locations across 29 international markets and is one of the fastest-growing bubble tea brands in the U.S. and abroad. The brand #1 in the Tea category in Entrepreneur magazine's prestigious Franchise 500® list for the fourth consecutive year (2022, 2024, 2024, 2025). Learn more about Gong cha and its franchise program at
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Grasons Named One of Entrepreneur's 2025 Top Franchises for Less Than $100,000
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz., June 3, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Grasons, a leading estate sale and business liquidation service provider, has been named one of Entrepreneur magazine's Top Franchises for Less Than $100,000 for 2025. This recognition highlights Grasons' dedication to offering a low-barrier path to franchise ownership while delivering strong support, training, and growth potential. With a network of over 60 franchise locations across the country, Grasons continues to expand its reach in the rapidly growing secondhand and estate sale marketplace. "Being named one of Entrepreneur's top low-cost franchises is a proud achievement for our entire team," said Craig Tyler, Brand Leader of Grasons. "We've designed our model to make business ownership attainable without compromising on the quality of support and service we provide to our franchisees and the communities they serve." Franchises on the list are ranked based on their performance in the 2025 Franchise 500®, which evaluates more than 150 data points including costs and fees, size and growth, franchisee support, brand strength, and financial stability. "Low-cost doesn't mean low opportunity—these franchises prove that entrepreneurship can be accessible to nearly everyone," said Entrepreneur Editor in Chief Jason Feifer. "These brands have mastered the art of creating efficient business models that deliver real value to both franchisees and customers without requiring massive initial investments." To view Grasons in the full ranking, visit: About Grasons Grasons is the nation's trusted estate sale and business liquidation company, providing professional services to families, real estate professionals, probate attorneys, and business owners. The brand is known for its compassionate, hands-on approach to helping individuals downsize, relocate, or manage the assets of loved ones. Grasons is part of the Evive Brands family of service-based franchise companies. For more information, visit Media Contact: Rhonda Grundemann Director of Communications, Evive Brands rgrundemann@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Grasons Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Kilwins Appoints Brad Williams as Vice President of Franchise Operations
PETOSKEY, Mich., May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Kilwins, the beloved American confectionery brand known for its hand-crafted chocolates, premium ice cream, and warm, nostalgic in-store experiences, announces the appointment of Brad Williams as vice president of franchise operations. In this role, Williams will develop strategies and support systems to drive profitability, consistency, and long-term success across all Kilwins franchise locations. With more than 30 years of experience in franchise leadership, Williams brings a proven track record of driving meaningful results. He has held senior leadership roles with household-name brands including Taco Bell, The Krystal Company, Wingstop, and most recently, Checkers and Rally's, where he led operations across 580 franchise locations nationwide. "Brad is a seasoned leader with a deep understanding of franchise operations and a heart for people," said Brian Britton, President and CEO of Kilwins. "Throughout his career, he has built a strong reputation for launching systems that improved franchisee support, elevating customer satisfaction, and driving sustained business growth. His leadership style is rooted in servant leadership, and his teams are consistently recognized for performance and low turnover. His vast expertise will be instrumental as we continue to grow our brand and bring Kilwins to more communities across the country." Outside of the office, Williams is a proud Army National Guard veteran, cancer survivor, and tornado survivor—experiences that have shaped his perspective on resilience, humility, and purpose. "I'm thrilled to join Kilwins, a brand that not only delivers exceptional products but also creates joy in every community it serves," said Williams. "I look forward to working alongside our franchisees to drive operational excellence, support their success, and ensure that every Kilwins location delivers the same high-quality experience customers have come to know and love." Kilwins, founded in 1947, has built a reputation for delivering high-quality confections and exceptional customer service. With more than 173 locations in 28 states, the company continues to expand its footprint while maintaining its dedication to traditional craftsmanship and community engagement. For more information about Kilwins and franchise opportunities, visit About Kilwins: Kilwins is renowned for its hand-crafted chocolates, creamy fudge, caramel apples, brittle, and super-premium ice cream, all made with the finest ingredients. Kilwins has been making people happy since 1947, providing customers with warm, friendly service and a nostalgic confectionery experience. Customers can enjoy watching fudge being paddled on a marble table and caramel cooking in a copper kettle, all in an open kitchen setting. The brand has 170+ locations and growing, and has earned industry recognition, ranking #1 in category in Entrepreneur magazine's Franchise 500® for 9 consecutive years. Kilwins is truly "Sweet in every Sense since 1947®." For more information about Kilwins, visit To learn more about franchising opportunities, visit View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Kilwins Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
13-03-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Stratus Building Solutions Finds Third Time's a Charm
Commercial Cleaning Franchise Named Fastest Growing by Entrepreneur LOS ANGELES, March 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- For the third consecutive year, Stratus Building Solutions has been awarded with the title of the Fastest Growing Franchise by Entrepreneur magazine, adding a total of 1,152 new franchisees to their system. Moreover, Stratus is pleased to be recognized as the #1 Commercial Cleaning Franchise for the second consecutive year as well. Overall, the highly competitive 2025 Franchise 500® rankings positioned Stratus as the 23rd ranked brand. Founded in 2006, Stratus Building Solutions has become an industry leading franchise with a proven model of offering training and support to franchisees while staying committed to safe, efficient cleaning and janitorial practices. With over 4,500 units across the U.S. and Canada, Stratus specializes in everything from carpet and window cleaning to hard floor care and disinfecting and are recognized as one of the elite brands in franchising. 'You can't have success without a solid foundation, and we've got a dedicated, passionate team leading the way,' said Doug Flaig, CEO of Stratus Building Solutions. 'We're building a company and a culture that people want to be a part of. I couldn't be prouder of the great work our franchisees have put in and the dedication that makes Stratus stand out not only in commercial cleaning but the franchising industry as a whole.' These rankings come from data collected during the annual Franchise 500 application process. In Entrepreneur's continuing effort to best understand and evaluate the ever-changing franchise marketplace, the company's ranking formula continues to evolve as well. The editorial team researches and assesses several factors, including costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. Each franchise is then given a cumulative score based on an analysis of more than 150 data points, and the 500 franchises with the highest cumulative scores become the Franchise 500® in ranked order. To learn more about franchising opportunities with Stratus Building Solutions, visit To see the complete Franchise 500® rankings, go to Mike Toper
