Latest news with #franchisee
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Papa John's makes popular limited-time pizza a permanent menu option
Papa John's is making a popular limited-time menu item named after basketball legend Shaquille O'Neal a permanent offering. The fittingly extra-large pizza, dubbed the Shaq-a-Roni, is cut into eight foldable, shareable slices. The restaurant launched it in 2020. The 7-foot-1 NBA Hall-of-Famer O'Neal owns nine Papa John's restaurants as a franchisee. He also serves as a brand ambassador for the restaurant and is on the company's board of directors. 'Now, fans can enjoy this bold, cheesy masterpiece anytime they crave it,' the restaurant said in a statement. O'Neal said: 'The Shaq-a-Roni isn't just a pizza — it's a slam dunk. I'm pumped that it's now here to stay. It's big, it's delicious, and it brings people together — just like pizza should.' To celebrate the occasion, O'Neal is sending pizzas to organizations that support youth entrepreneurship and leadership in communities nearest and dearest to him, which include Orlando, Miami, Los Angeles, Baton Rouge, Las Vegas and Atlanta. 'At Papa John's, we're elevating the classics that have set us apart to deliver even more value to our customers,' said Papa John's Chief Marketing Officer Jenna Bromberg. 'Since it was first introduced five years ago, the Shaq-a-Roni has offered the craveable flavors pizza fans can find only at Papa John's. Now, it's here to deliver XL-sized value every day!' The pizza is now available year-round at $15.99 across Papa John's locations.
Associated Press
02-06-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Handel's Roars Into Summer with New Frosted Animal Cookie Ice Cream
Limited-Edition Flavor Available at Participating Locations Starting June 3 YOUNGSTOWN, OH, UNITED STATES, June 2, 2025 / / -- This year marks a sweet milestone for Handel's Ice Cream, as the iconic brand celebrates its 80th anniversary of scooping up joy. To kick off summer in a nostalgic style, Handel's is unveiling its newest limited-time flavor, Frosted Animal Cookie. The flavor is a playful twist on a classic treat that's sure to spark childhood memories, featuring a cake flavored ice cream base with a vanilla frosting ripple and frosted animal cookies mixed in. Guests can scoop up this limited-time flavor starting June 3 at participating locations while supplies last. 'Frosted Animal Cookie takes a beloved childhood treat and transforms it into a scoop that's both playful and nostalgic,' said Hillary Frei, Chief Marketing Officer of Handel's Ice Cream. 'As we celebrate 80 years of Handel's, there's no better time to share a joyful flavor that captures the spirit of summer and brings out the kid in all of us.' The idea for the new flavor came from franchisee Joseph Ogden, who owns and operates the Thousand Oaks and Oxnard locations in California. After seeing his brother, niece and her husband successfully open several Handel's shops in Utah, Ogden was inspired to open his own stores in Northern Los Angeles. During his training in Ohio, he pitched the concept for Frosted Animal Cookie, inspired by his childhood field trips to the zoo and the frosted cookies his grandmother used to share with him. 'I wanted to create something that felt like a bite of childhood,' said Ogden. 'Frosted Animal Cookie is fun, colorful, and packed with nostalgic flavor. It reminds me of the cookies my grandma used to give me after a day at the zoo. I'm proud to see it come to life and be part of Handel's 80th anniversary celebration.' Handel's regularly showcases franchisee-submitted flavors, kicking off 2025 with Sticky Fingers and Raspberry Dream Cream. Frosted Animal Cookie continues that tradition of flavor-forward thinking and community spirit. Guests can enjoy the new flavor and other Handel's favorites in a dish, cone, or shake. For those looking to take some home, Handel's also offers its ice cream in pints at participating locations. 'Our franchisees are deeply passionate about the brand and love creating moments that stick with people,' added Frei. 'It's exciting to see their creativity come to life in flavors that fans can enjoy nationwide.' For more information, including the latest news on the 80th anniversary, visit or follow them on Facebook or Instagram. About Handel's Ice Cream Handel's Ice Cream has been in the business of making and selling ice cream, in stores every day, since 1945. Founded in Youngstown, Ohio, Handel's legacy was created by Alice Handel and Lenny Fisher, who grew the brand from a single Scoop Shop into a flourishing chain using abundant ingredients and upholding a commitment to quality. Our ice cream is made one batch at time, by hand at each location. There are 48 flavors available daily and more than 140 flavors that rotate seasonally. Handel's has been named #1 Ice Cream on the Planet by National Geographic, one of the Top 10 Best Ice Cream Businesses by USA Today, and one of the Top 500 Restaurants in America by Nation's Restaurant News, and the brand is also recognized by TasteAtlas for one of the top 100 Most Iconic Ice Creams of the World. Handel's is ranked in Franchise Times ' Top 400 list, recognizing the largest franchise systems in the United States, and its 'Fast & Serious,' a list of the smartest-growing franchises for the year. The brand was also ranked on Fast Casual's Movers & Shakers 2025 list, while Jennifer Schuler, CEO of Handel's, was named one of the top 25 industry executives, an honor recognizing exceptional leadership and innovation in foodservice. Handel's is also recognized as a Top 500 Franchise by Entrepreneur Magazine. Handel's currently has over 150 locations across 15 states and is growing. To learn more about Handel's franchise opportunities, visit Brianne Barbakoff Ink Link Marketing [email protected] Visit us on social media: LinkedIn Instagram Facebook Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
Hardee's at risk of closing more locations
A major Hardee's operator is at risk of losing all 76 of its restaurants after the fast food giant accused it of repeatedly breaking the rules. Paradigm Investment Group, which runs Hardee's locations across Alabama , Florida , Mississippi , and Tennessee , filed a lawsuit after the company threatened to terminate its franchise agreement. Hardee's claims Paradigm refused to follow key brand standards — like offering third-party delivery, joining loyalty programs, and keeping locations open from 6am to 10pm. Some stores reportedly closed at 2pm, skipping dinner hours entirely. The franchisee also allegedly failed to pay tech fees, racking up more than $230,000 in unpaid charges, according to court documents. In its defense, Paradigm says Hardee's knew about and accepted the changes, which it claims were necessary to keep the restaurants afloat. If Hardee's prevails, Paradigm could lose all its restaurants and be forced to pay $13 million in damages in damages. Hardee's, which has 1,800 restaurants in the US, has struggled for years, amid a sales slump, restaurant closures and franchisee bankruptcies . The company has closed 200 over the past decade, and 150 since 2021. Hardee's is the 10th largest fast-food burger chain in the US in terms of total sales. Each Hardee's store generates much less revenue than the likes of McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King. Paradigm has been a franchisee since 2000 and calls itself 'one of the most profitable and successful operators in the Hardee's brand.' However, its business practices have been a red flag in Hardee's eyes since 2021. Each Hardee's restaurant make less than $1.2 million a year, with worldwide sales being just under $2 billion, according to Restaurant Business . Another major franchisee, Summit Restaurant Holdings, closed 39 of 108 restaurants after filing for bankruptcy protection in 2023. While Hardee's has continued to crumple, its competition has also been sinking. McDonald's sales dropped 3.6 percent in its first quarter , while Burger King suffered a 1.3 percent North America sales dip after its franchisee Consolidated Burger Holdings filed for bankruptcy protection . Other fast food chains that have fallen victim to inflation and restaurant closures include Subway and Jack in the Box.
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Business
- Daily Mail
National burger chain at risk of closing MORE locations after explosive fallout with major franchisee
A major Hardee's operator is at risk of losing all 76 of its restaurants after the fast food giant accused it of repeatedly breaking the rules. Paradigm Investment Group, which runs Hardee's locations across Alabama, Florida, Mississippi, and Tennessee, filed a lawsuit after the company threatened to terminate its franchise agreement. Hardee's claims Paradigm refused to follow key brand standards — like offering third-party delivery, joining loyalty programs, and keeping locations open from 6am to 10pm. Some stores reportedly closed at 2pm, skipping dinner hours entirely. The franchisee also allegedly failed to pay tech fees, racking up more than $230,000 in unpaid charges, according to court documents. In its defense, Paradigm says Hardee's knew about and accepted the changes, which it claims were necessary to keep the restaurants afloat. If Hardee's prevails, Paradigm could lose all its restaurants and be forced to pay $13 million in damages in damages. Hardee's, which has 1,800 restaurants in the US, has struggled for years, amid a sales slump, restaurant closures and franchisee bankruptcies. The company has closed 200 over the past decade, and 150 since 2021. Hardee's franchisee Paradigm Investment Group is at risk of losing restaurants after filing a lawsuit against the fast food chain Hardee's is the 10th largest fast-food burger chain in the US in terms of total sales. Each Hardee's store generates much less revenue than the likes of McDonald's, Wendy's and Burger King. Paradigm has been a franchisee since 2000 and calls itself 'one of the most profitable and successful operators in the Hardee's brand.' However, its business practices have been a red flag in Hardee's eyes since 2021. For example, refusing to participate in loyalty programs may frustrate customers who cannot accumulate points when they visit certain restaurants. The company sent a notice to the franchisee requesting the policies change last year. However, Paradigm did not make the changes and Hardee's declared the franchisee was in default of its agreements in January. 'They were ramming things down our throat which weren't in the franchise agreement,' Paradigm CEO Don Wollan told the Franchise Times. Hardee's sent Paradigm another notice in February and threatened to terminate its agreements on April 15, the day after they filed the lawsuit. Each Hardee's restaurant makes less than $1.2 million year, and its yearly worldwide sales are just under $2 billion Paradigm was right to say Hardee's has been struggling financially. The chain has closed more than 200 restaurants over the past 10 years, including a beloved South Carolina location. Each Hardee's restaurant make less than $1.2 million a year, with worldwide sales being just under $2 billion, according to Restaurant Business. Another major franchisee, Summit Restaurant Holdings, closed 39 of 108 restaurants after filing for bankruptcy protection in 2023. While Hardee's has continued to crumple, its competition has also been sinking. McDonald's sales dropped 3.6 percent in its first quarter, while Burger King suffered a 1.3 percent North America sales dip after its franchisee Consolidated Burger Holdings filed for bankruptcy protection. Other fast food chains that have fallen victim to inflation and restaurant closures include Subway and Jack in the Box.
Independent Singapore
25-05-2025
- Independent Singapore
Diner got charged $5.30 for chicken rice instead of $4.30 for not being 'clear' with his order
SINGAPORE: A diner claimed on social media that he was charged for a pricier chicken rice set meal even though he never requested it, and was later blamed by the stall staff for not being clear with his order. In a post shared on the r/askSingapore subreddit on Saturday (May 24), the diner said the incident occurred at a chicken rice stall in a local kopitiam where he had been a regular for the past two years. He wrote, 'I simply said 白鸡饭 打包 (white skinned chicken rice takeaway). The menu says it's $4.30. He then charged me $5.30, and I asked why.' In response, the staff told him, 'You didn't say normal or set, so I made the set.'' When he pointed out that he never asked for the set, the staff insisted that the order was already made and couldn't be changed. 'I told him, 'I want the normal one.' But he kept repeating, 'You didn't say, I made already. Can't change.'' 'I didn't pay. I walked away. He started shouting and cursing till the whole kopitiam was staring at me.' He added that this wasn't how the stall usually operated. For the past two years, it has always been run by an elderly uncle. 'It was an elderly, equally unfriendly chap, but he would at least ask if I wanted to upgrade to the set. I think that is normal to ask for an upsell, which I usually say no to,' he said. 'But today, the elderly chap isn't there. It's a pair of guys [I've] never seen before. I think the franchisee might be rotating staff around, maybe to improve sales. I don't think I'm in the wrong, am I?' the diner wrote, asking fellow netizens for their thoughts. 'We should not be encouraging this kind of behaviour from hawkers.' In the comments section, a lot of people agreed that the diner did the right thing by standing his ground. Some of them expressed that they were glad the diner didn't just accept it quietly and walk away with the wrong order. They pointed out that a lot of people would have just paid the extra dollar to avoid any awkwardness, but the fact that he spoke up showed courage. One individual said, 'Kudos to you! The stall must have pulled this off multiple times since the majority will not confront when caught in this situation. It's not about the $1 difference or being unable to pay the extra.' Another commented, 'You're not in the wrong. We should not be encouraging this kind of behaviour from hawkers. Let him scream, it will only reflect poorly on him, as now the entire coffee shop knows what he did.' A third added, 'Yes, you never say set. He was trying to pull a fast one. He probably got away with many others, but not you. Good job.' A few others also mentioned that this kind of situation seems to be happening more frequently. One shared, 'It's becoming pretty common now. My side here also has a chicken rice stall, and the same thing happened twice, once to me, once to my wife. I warned her, be specific when ordering from that stall.' In other news, a local employee has shared on social media that a newly hired colleague is being relentlessly bullied in the company group chat based on her looks, and is now questioning whether she should speak up or remain silent to protect her own workplace relationships. The employee, who works in an international company made up of both local and expatriate staff, said that the local team shares a casual group chat typically used for lighthearted banter. 'We usually engage in lighthearted small talk, and everyone is genuinely nice to each other; buying snacks for each other, and taking the initiative to celebrate birthdays, just a friendly environment overall,' the employee said. However, she revealed in her Reddit post on Tuesday (May 20) that the tone of the chat shifted noticeably following the arrival of the new colleague, whom the employee described as 'a little chubby and admittedly not very good looking.' Read more: SG worker shares new colleague is being bullied, asks if she should step in Featured image by Depositphotos (for illustration purposes only)
