Major Franchise Deals Roundup - Chicken Salad Chick, Sparkle Grooming, Black Sheep Coffee and More

A Busy Week for Franchise Development Across Multiple Sectors

Multi-unit franchise activity picked up considerably this week, with deals spanning fast casual, grooming, hospitality, coffee, fencing, and full-service dining. The agreements range from regional expansions by established brands to first-time market entries by concepts looking to scale. Here's a rundown of the most significant deals signed.

Chicken Salad Chick Sets a New Record With 25-Unit Upstate New York Deal

Chicken Salad Chick inked what the company described as the largest multi-unit deal in its history a 25-location agreement covering Upstate New York. The franchisee group, whose names were not disclosed, plans to open restaurants across Albany, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, and the Upper Hudson Valley. Founded in 2008, Chicken Salad Chick now operates more than 330 locations across 22 states. The Upstate New York deal represents a meaningful push into the Northeast for a brand that has historically been concentrated in the South and Mid-Atlantic regions. Getting to scale in a new geography requires the right operator, and the fact that the company kept its record deal quiet on names suggests the group behind it prefers to let the development speak for itself.

Sparkle Grooming Continues Florida Push With 29-Unit Southern Deal

Sparkle Grooming, the dog care concept founded in 2022, is pressing ahead with its Florida expansion through a 29-unit agreement covering Broward, Miami-Dade, and Palm Beach counties. The deal was signed with Michael Fluegge, a former Massage Envy owner with significant franchising experience, who is partnering with Dr. Patrick Greco, a chiropractor and entrepreneur, on the development. With 14 units currently open, the 29-unit Southern Florida deal is a substantial commitment for a relatively young brand. The partnership between an experienced franchise operator and a healthcare entrepreneur reflects the kind of investor profile that emerging concepts in the personal care space tend to attract operators who see the category as recession-resilient and underserved in high-density markets.

Love & Honey Fried Chicken Heads to Florida, and 16 Handles Enters California

Two more brands are making first moves into new states. Love & Honey Fried Chicken, a Philadelphia-based fast-casual concept founded in 2017, signed a 20-unit agreement for Southeast Florida and the Orlando area. The franchisee's name was not released. The brand only began franchising in 2022 and currently has five locations, making this Florida deal a significant early step in its national growth story. New York-based frozen yogurt concept 16 Handles is entering California through four separate multi-unit agreements covering Orange County, Los Angeles, San Diego, and the San Francisco Bay Area two units each. The franchisees bring backgrounds in management consulting, brand licensing, technology, sales, and military service, reflecting the range of operators the brand is attracting as it expands its current 40-plus location footprint westward.

Ford's Garage, 76 Fence, and Black Sheep Coffee Round Out Domestic Deals

Ford's Garage, the vintage automotive-themed full-service restaurant concept with 34 units across eight states, signed a three-unit deal for Delaware. The agreement is a joint effort between Preston Automotive Group owners David Wilson Sr. and David Wilson Jr. and existing Ford's Garage operator 23 Restaurant Group. The automotive connection between the franchisees and the brand's theme is a natural fit. Pennsylvania-based 76 Fence is expanding into Ohio with two-territory deals in both Columbus and Cincinnati, while also adding a three-territory agreement in St. Petersburg, Florida. The brand, founded in 2020, now covers 129 territories across 11 states a rapid expansion trajectory for a home services franchise. Black Sheep Coffee, a London-based coffee franchise making its push into the U.S. market, signed a deal for a minimum of six locations in Miami Beach. The franchisee, described as an experienced supermarket operator originally from France, was not named. The brand's entry into South Florida through a multi-unit commitment rather than a single test location suggests confidence in both the market and the operator.

G6 Hospitality Expands Studio 6 Across the Southeast

On the hospitality side, G6 Hospitality parent company of Motel 6 and extended-stay brand Studio 6 signed an 18-hotel development deal with Natson Hotel Group, a Georgia-based franchisee that already manages more than 115 properties across multiple brands. The new locations will be developed across Georgia, Alabama, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee. G6 operates nearly 1,500 hotels under both brands, and the Studio 6 extended-stay format has been a growing focus as demand for longer-stay accommodations remains strong in secondary and tertiary markets.

International Deals - Great Greek Heads to the Caribbean, HB Protein Smoothies Crosses Into Canada

International franchise activity was also notable this week. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill signed a master franchise agreement with The Beharry Group a Guyana-based conglomerate with existing Yum Brands operations including KFC and Pizza Hut to bring the fast-casual concept to eight Caribbean and South American markets, including Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Trinidad and Tobago, and the Dominican Republic. The Beharry Group's scale and regional experience makes it a credible partner for a brand looking to establish itself across multiple island markets simultaneously. HB Protein Smoothies, an emerging Arizona brand with a single location in Scottsdale, signed its first international deal a multi-unit agreement for British Columbia, Canada. The franchisees, Jay and Carolina Orosa, are business consultants with The Franchise Insiders. The deal follows a five-unit Florida agreement signed in April, suggesting the brand is moving quickly despite its early stage.