Author: Rebecca

Marketing Your Franchise in the Time of Social Distancing

By Michele Rempel, Managing Partner, Westvyne

As the owner of a marketing and website design company, I’ve had many intense conversations with business owners over the last few weeks. Some have had to close their doors as “non-essential,” while others have seen their revenues drop dramatically. A few have even seen an increase in business. What they all have in common is a question about what they should be doing with respect to marketing. You may have the same question, so here is a summary of what I have told our clients and anyone else who has asked:

Stay active. If your doors are closed or you have reduced business, it may feel weird or futile to continue posting on social media or sending out emails. Resist the urge to stop. More people than ever are on their phones, tablets and computers and are scrolling through Facebook, Instagram, emails, TikTok, etc. Remind them that you’re still here. Reassure them. You owe that to everyone.

Grow your audience. I’ve been telling everyone to make a concentrated effort to increase the number of connections you have on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, etc. On Facebook, this is mostly achieved through placing an ad or sharing your page with friends, but on Instagram you can follow people/businesses in your geographic area and you’ll see many follow you back. Ask to connect with people on LinkedIn. Get your business out in front of more people right now. You’ll have a larger audience when your business is back up to speed.

Be real. Your customers and prospects are feeling weird right now too. Let people know what’s going on with your business and your employees. Consider recording a short video on your phone or on Zoom to talk about what’s happening. For example, we have a client who is the owner of a cleaning franchise. We helped her make a video in which she talked about what they are doing to keep their clients and employees safe. Her clients and prospects have appreciated the information and the time she took to reassure everyone.

Offer tips or helpful information. A few of our clients offer spa treatments and massages, but they are closed right now. So, they are offering self-care tips and educating their clients about products and techniques they can use while they are at home. Some are even inviting people to group Zoom calls to stay in touch and answer questions.

Thank your staff and customers/ clients. If you have had loyal customers or have experienced people buying gift cards for future use, etc., take the time to thank them on social media. You don’t have to name names necessarily, but letting people know you appreciate your customers’ loyalty and help goes a long way. In the same vein, if you have some employees that you would like to highlight, now is a great time to do so!

Make sure your Google My Business listing is updated with your current hours or status. If you’re offering delivery or curbside pickup, you can add that as well. Take some time to upload photos or refresh your listing. Send an email or post a message on Facebook asking loyal customers to leave you a Google or Facebook review. Don’t forget that you can post to Google My Business as well!

Search for your business on Google, Bing and Yelp and review how your business is showing up. Not coming up with the information you want? Take the time to update your listings or let your franchisor know that you need to update some details.

Do a website review. Go through your website with a fine-toothed comb. See anything that needs to be updated? Ask people who aren’t part of your business to give you their perspective. Does it ask the right questions? Does it look current? Is it clear and concise? Do photos need updating? If you have the ability to make updates, take the time to do that. If it’s up to your franchisor, make a list now and have a discussion with the powers that be.

Don’t be afraid of humor. Yes, these are serious times, but I have been amazed and delighted at some of the creativity and laughter generated by clever people at this time. Laughter helps heal and humor reveals the human behind a brand. (And if you’re unsure about posting or sharing something, ask a couple of trusted people first).

Bottom line: Now is a great time to intensify your marketing efforts and look at your marketing channels, online listings and offline materials with fresh eyes. Grow your audience, be real, say thank you, laugh a little and stay healthy! Grow your audience, be real, say thank you, laugh a little and stay healthy!

About Michele Rempel

Michele Rempel is the founder and managing partner of Westvyne, a marketing and website design firm based in California and Illinois. For almost a decade, she and her team have been guiding their clients in what to say, how to say it, where to say it, and who to say it to in order to attract and retain customers.

For more information about Westvyne, visit www.westvyne.com.

Mathnasium Soars in Entrepreneur Magazine Rankings

LOS ANGELES, CA – April 23, 2020 – Mathnasium Learning Centers, LLC recently ranked highly on two prestigious 2020 Entrepreneur magazine lists that target potential franchisees.

Mathnasium ranked No. 7 on Top 100 Franchises for Less Than $150,000 (Top Low-Cost). Mathnasium is the highest-ranking educational franchise on the Top Low-Cost list. Other companies ranked in the top 10 include The UPS Store, 7-Eleven and other household names.

Mathnasium also continues its swift ascent on Entrepreneur’s Fastest-Growing Franchises list, where it ranks No. 21 for 2020 – rising from No. 27 in 2019 and No. 33 in 2018. The top-ranked educational franchise, it scored higher than famous brands such as Holiday Inn, Pizza Hut and Ace Hardware.

Top rankings in the globally respected business publication signal excellent value and are highly sought-after. Both lists are based on Entrepreneur’s annual Franchise 500®, a highly competitive industry benchmark that analyzes over 1,100 companies. Earlier this year, Mathnasium rose to No. 29 on the 2020 Franchise 500® list, up from No. 40 in 2019.

To achieve a high rank, a company must score exceptionally well on measurements of brand strength, franchisee support, costs and fees, financial strength and stability, and company size and growth. Mathnasium began franchising in 2003, making its rapid climb to the top a remarkable success story.

Mathnasium expanded its service offering earlier this year with the introduction of Mathnasium@home. Mathnasium @home delivers live, face-to-face math instruction, through the internet, to parents who can’t bring their children into a physical center. The company expedited the global rollout of @home, ensuring that children can access the company’s signature Mathnasium Method™ from anywhere with an internet-connected computer.

Top 100 Franchises for Less Than $150,000 appears in Entrepreneur’s go-to print guide for expert advice on new business opportunities, Startups magazine.

About Mathnasium

The world’s leading math-only education franchise, Mathnasium teaches math so that children understand it, master it, and love it. The Mathnasium Method™ has transformed the lives of children in grades 2-12 since 2002. With more than 1,000 learning centers worldwide, Mathnasium is ranked #2 in Forbes’ Best Franchises to Buy in America for 2019.

SOURCE Mathnasium Learning Centers

Auntie Anne’s® to Celebrate National Pretzel Day with Free Pretzels

LANCASTER, PA, April 24, 2020 – Auntie Anne’s®, the world’s largest hand-rolled soft pretzel franchise, is celebrating National Pretzel Day on April 26 by giving away 25,000 free pretzels to frontline workers. In addition to nominating a frontline worker to receive a pretzel-pick-me-up, fans can claim their own National Pretzel Day offer when they download the Pretzel Perks app.

Pretzel fans can nominate their friends and family members who are frontline employees beginning Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26 at AuntieAnnes.com/Nominate. Auntie Anne’s will randomly select 25,000* of these frontline workers to receive a free Original or Cinnamon Sugar pretzel offer, as a way to show appreciation to all those keeping us safe and healthy during this time.

Additionally, all Pretzel Perks app users will receive an offer for a free Original or Cinnamon Sugar Pretzel with the purchase of any pretzel item, valid beginning Friday, April 24. To receive this exclusive National Pretzel Day offer, pretzel lovers should download and sign up for the Pretzel Perks app by Sunday, April 26. The offer has an extended expiration to allow fans plenty of time to redeem it.

“At Auntie Anne’s, National Pretzel Day is our favorite day of the year,” said Heather Neary, president of Auntie Anne’s. “We wanted to take this opportunity to share a little pretzel love not only with our fans, but also with all the frontline workers doing their best to keep us safe and healthy. From healthcare professionals and first responders, to restaurant employees and warehouse workers, we wanted to recognize their hard work and say thank you.”

To find an Auntie Anne’s location, visit auntieannes.com/locations. Auntie Anne’s hand-rolled soft pretzels come freshly baked in a variety of flavors including Original, Cinnamon Sugar, Sweet Almond, Sour Cream & Onion, Roasted Garlic & Parmesan, and Pepperoni. For guests on-the-go, Auntie Anne’s offers portable Pretzel Nuggets, Pretzel Dogs, and Mini Pretzel Dogs. With seven dipping sauces and a variety of drinks to accompany each pretzel, Auntie Anne’s is bound to hit the spot any time, any day.

About Auntie Anne’s®

With more than 1,800 locations in 48 states and more than 25 countries, Auntie Anne’s mixes, twists and bakes pretzels to golden brown perfection all day long in full view of guests. Auntie Anne’s can be found in malls and outlet centers, as well as in non-traditional spaces including universities, airports, Walmarts, travel plazas, military bases, and food trucks. Fans can now also order their favorite pretzels for catering and delivery. For more information, visit AuntieAnnes.com, or follow on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. To receive the latest offers – including a free pretzel for your birthday – download the My Pretzel Perks app.

*The free pretzel giveaway is divided into three sweepstakes as follows: 500 pretzels each for residents of Florida and New York and remaining 24,000 pretzels to all other US residents. See below for more information.

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Sweepstakes begins on April 24, 2020 at 8:00 a.m. ET and ends on April 26, 2020 at 11:59 p.m. ET. Open only to legal U.S. (excluding Florida and New York)* residents who are 13 years of age or older. Children must get their parent or legal guardian’s permission to enter. See Official Rules at https://auntieannes.com/-/media/auntie-annes/national-pretzel-day/2020sweepstakes including additional eligibility restrictions, prize descriptions/restrictions/ARVs and complete details. Many will enter, only 24,000 will win. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Void where prohibited. Sponsor: Auntie Anne’s Franchisor SPV LLC 5620 Glenridge Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30342.

Florida: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to FL residents only 13 + (minors must have parental consent). See Official Rules: https://auntieannes.com/-/media/auntie-annes/national-pretzel-day/2020sweepstakes_FL.  Only 500 will win. Odds of winning dependent on the number of eligible entries received.

New York: NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to NY residents only 13 + (minors must have parental consent). See Official Rules: https://auntieannes.com/-/media/auntie-annes/national-pretzel-day/2020sweepstakes_NY. Only 500 will win. Odds of winning dependent on the number of eligible entries received.

SOURCE Auntie Anne’s

Seniors Helping Seniors® Looks to Hire 1,500 Caregivers Across System

READING, PA – Seniors Helping Seniors®, an in-home care franchise that primarily hires senior caregivers, is seeing increased demand for its services amid COVID-19. With seniors being the most at-risk group, and coronavirus presenting a major concern in nursing homes, the brand has seen a 14% increase in website traffic.
“Seniors are one of the most high-risk demographics in the COVID-19 pandemic, and the mandatory quarantine guidelines can take a toll on their mental health and wellbeing,” said Daniel Jan, VP of Operations for Seniors Helping Seniors®. “Plus, with nursing homes presenting a major risk if an outbreak occurs, more people are moving their senior loved ones into an in-home setting to minimize exposure and ensure safety.”
The increased demand for Seniors Helping Seniors® in-home services is allowing the company to create 1,500 caregiver jobs in markets across the country, providing job opportunities for seniors who are out of work due to COVID-19. Because Seniors Helping Seniors® primarily hires seniors as caregivers, the brand is uniquely positioned to help seniors, on both the giving and receiving side of care.
Seniors Helping Seniors® was founded in 1998 by husband-and-wife team Kiran and Philip Yocom, to provide loving and compassionate in-home care to seniors. Kiran, who grew up in India, was inspired by Mother Teresa and the work she was doing in the country. After years of donating her weekly allowance to The Sisters of Charity, Kiran became a follower of the Catholic nun and worked alongside her to help with humanitarian efforts. This work solidified Kiran’s belief in providing loving and empathetic care to seniors and provided the foundation for Seniors Helping Seniors®. Kiran moved to the U.S. in 1995 and married Philip shortly after that. In 1998, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in Reading, Pennsylvania as a non-profit. In 2006, the Yocoms decided to leverage Philip’s franchising experience and opened the business for franchising.
“The senior community needs our help, now more than ever. We are very fortunate to be able to continue to provide our services through loving and compassionate care to seniors and offer job opportunities for those that have lost work due to the impact of this pandemic,” said Kiran. “Bringing Love into the lives of Seniors with Dignity and Respect® is at the core of our business model. We all have the power to bring love, dignity and respect into the lives of seniors; that’s why love is in our care. It’s not just about logistical care like cooking a meal or vacuuming; it’s about the relationships that we create between client and caregiver.”

About Seniors Helping Seniors®
Seniors Helping Seniors® was founded by husband-and-wife duo Kiran and Philip Yocom. Kiran, who grew up in India and later worked to advance humanitarian efforts alongside Mother Teresa. After moving to the U.S. in 1995 and marrying her husband Philip, the Yocoms felt called to provide loving care to seniors and to cultivate an exchange of gifts at every generational level. Together, the Yocoms founded Seniors Helping Seniors® in 1998, opening the brand up to franchising in 2006. With a mission to be the most respected and rewarding homecare provider in the U.S., Seniors Helping Seniors® stands apart from as the only company that prioritizes hiring active seniors to provide care services to their less-active counterparts. Seniors Helping Seniors® aligns caregivers and care recipients based on the abilities and needs of both by offering a wide range of care services. Seniors Helping Seniors® has grown to over 200 locations in 30-plus states and seven international locations, with 125 franchise partners. For more information on Seniors Helping Seniors®, visit https://seniorshelpingseniors.com/.

Media Contact:Jennifer Hoch
312-526-3996
info@1851franchise.com
SOURCE Seniors Helping Seniors

Kitchen Tune-Up Pledges: “No Tunie Left Behind”

ABERDEEN, SD – (April 1, 2020)  Kitchen Tune-Up is turning up franchisee support and client offerings to offset the impact of COVID-19.

To reduce the ramifications of the novel coronavirus on business operations and to decrease the spread of germs, Kitchen Tune-Up has implemented several new programs and protocols including new DIY options, virtual estimates and updated sanitation practices.

“We are in uncharted territory, but our team at the Home Office is making strategic decisions to ensure our franchise owners not only survive this pandemic, but emerge stronger,” said Heidi Morrissey, President of Kitchen Tune-Up. “The secret to our success is listening to the needs of our franchise owners, updating systems and processes based on those needs and maintaining constant communication and transparency with our franchise system.”

Despite coronavirus restrictions, Kitchen Tune-Up has continued to innovate. The company is now offering virtual project estimates in place of in-person meetings. Plus, Kitchen Tune-Up has introduced DIY services ranging from cabinet redooring to garage shelving and storage projects. Through virtual connectivity with people at home, Kitchen Tune-Up franchisees can provide their clients the necessary guidance on products, tools and directions to accomplish tasks on their own. DIY programs have served as a great engagement tool between Kitchen Tune-Up clients and franchise owners.

“Our new programs and protocols were created with the goal of keeping both our clients and the Kitchen Tune-Up family comfortable, safe and engaged during these difficult times,” added Morrissey. “It is imperative that we have all of our franchisees and their team members in mind and adjust our support and operations around their needs as the environment we live and work in changes for the time being. I am proud of how our home office team and franchise owners have come together to remain incredibly relevant in the communities we serve.”

As added precaution, franchisees are implementing extra sanitation practices – like wiping down surfaces before and after work is complete – to ensure the health and safety of their clients and team members. These additional practices apply to all employees and working on behalf of any Kitchen Tune-Up location. The Kitchen Tune-Up Home Office has sourced hand sanitizers and cleaning products that franchise locations are not able to find locally.

Finally, to ensure that during these unprecedented times there is “No Tunie Left Behind,” Kitchen Tune-Up is forgiving minimum royalty fees for any franchise owner (also known as a “Tunie”) affected by a mandated government shutdown.

Kitchen Tune-Up offers kitchen remodeling for residential and commercial customers. Services for both client bases include the company’s famous Tune-Up, a proprietary wood reconditioning process, as well as cabinet painting, redooring, cabinet refacing, and custom cabinets. While many kitchen remodeling services can take weeks, leaving kitchens inaccessible, Kitchen Tune-Up can finish its work in as little time as one to five days.

About Kitchen Tune-Up

Founded in 1988, Kitchen Tune-Up specializes in five ways to update kitchens and cabinetry. Services include its signature 1 Day Tune-Up, cabinet painting, cabinet refacing, cabinet redooring, and new cabinets.  With more than 190 franchised territories nationwide, Kitchen Tune-Up has been named to Entrepreneur’s Franchise 500 list in 2020. Kitchen Tune-Up offers personalized service and incredible results that are structured around customer service Trustpoints to ensure a hassle-free experience from start to finish.

For more information about Kitchen Tune-Up, please visit www.kitchentuneup.com. To inquire about franchise opportunities, visit www.ktufranchise.com.

Industry Leader Amanda Clark Joins Papa John’s As CDO

Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) today announced the appointment of Amanda Clark as its Chief Development Officer. Ms. Clark will lead the company’s strategy to continue expanding its restaurant footprint in North America and internationally.

“Amanda is a passionate leader with a proven track record of driving growth at one of the restaurant industry’s biggest success stories over the past 10 years,” said Papa John’s President and CEO Rob Lynch. “I had the pleasure of working with Amanda during my time at both Procter & Gamble and Taco Bell, and I’m thrilled to welcome her to Papa John’s. Her energy, ideas and expertise will help us to achieve our goal of driving continued net unit growth through expansion in both the US and around the world.”
As Chief Development Officer, Ms. Clark will oversee franchise development and sales, building design and new concepts, and the programs and personnel that provide ongoing facilities support to existing restaurants.
“I believe Papa John’s is on a path to be one of the great brand turnaround stories, and I’m excited to a be a part of it,” said Ms. Clark. “I’m passionate about helping companies grow. Continuing to open more units is one of the key metrics that define the health of a restaurant brand. I’m looking forward to working with Rob and the leaders of Papa John’s to write the next chapter in the company’s history.”

Ms. Clark joins Papa John’s from Taco Bell, where she was Executive Vice President of Restaurant Experience. In her role there, she oversaw the entire customer experience of Taco Bell’s 7,000 restaurants, including design, consumer facing technology, merchandising, customer marketing, new concepts and company development. She served in other leadership roles during her nearly seven years at Taco Bell, including Senior Vice President, North America Development, where she helped Taco Bell deliver more net new units during those two years than any other QSR chain in North America. In addition, Ms. Clark served as General Manager for Taco Bell Canada, where she delivered record double digit same store sales growth for two years in a row. She also built the first free-standing Taco Bells in Canada for the first time in 17 years. Prior to joining Taco Bell, she worked at Procter and Gamble for nearly 12 years on some of P&G’s biggest brands, such as Olay, Pampers and Oral-B.

About Papa John’s
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John’s International, Inc. (NASDAQ: PZZA) is the world’s third-largest pizza delivery company. In 2019, consumers rated Papa John’s No. 1 in product and service quality among national pizza chains in the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). For 18 of the past 20 years, consumers have rated Papa John’s No. 1 in customer satisfaction among national pizza chains in the ACSI. For more information about the company or to order pizza online, visit Papa John’s at www.papajohns.com.

Driven Brands Announces New CFO Tiffany Mason

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Driven Brands, North America’s leading group of automotive aftermarket brands, today announced Tiffany Mason is joining the company as its new Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer effective March 2, 2020.
“I am thrilled to welcome Tiffany to the Driven Brands family,” said Jonathan Fitzpatrick, Chief Executive Officer at Driven Brands. “Tiffany is a proven senior financial executive and leader, and will play a vital role in the continued success of Driven Brands as the nation’s largest family of automotive aftermarket service companies.”
In her role, Mason will oversee all finance, accounting and IT functions for Driven Brands while working across the business to drive continued strong performance, further strengthen the Driven shared service platform, and drive its organic and acquisition growth agenda.
“I can’t imagine a more exciting time to join Driven Brands,” Mason said. “The company has built a powerful platform for growth and has an energetic and talented team. I look forward to leading the finance organization and helping position the company for continued success.”
Before Driven Brands, Mason served as interim CFO at Lowe’s, where she also led the Treasury, Investor Relations, Tax, M&A, and Corporate Planning departments. Before joining Lowes, Mason was vice president, SEC reporting at Bank of America. She brings over 20 years of finance experience, from her early career foundation in accounting to roles in treasury, investor relations, and financial planning and analysis.

About Driven Brands
Driven Brands™, headquartered in Charlotte, NC, is the parent company of some of North America’s leading automotive aftermarket brands including Take 5 Oil Change®, Meineke Car Care Centers®, Automotive Training Institute™, Maaco®, CARSTAR®, ABRA®, Uniban™, 1-800-Radiator & A/C®, and PH Vitres d’Autos™. Driven Brands has over 3,100 centers across the United States and Canada, and combined, all businesses generate more than $3.1 billion in system sales and service approximately 9 million vehicles annually. For more information, visit drivenbrands.com.

IFPG Welcomes New Editorial Director, Jill Abrahamsen

Parlin, NJ – IFPG, a leading franchise broker network, announced the addition of Jill Abrahamsen to its staff. In her role, Abrahamsen will serve as Editor-in-Chief of Franchise Consultant Magazine and manage other new and upcoming initiatives. “I am thrilled to join this innovative team,” says Abrahamsen. “They (IFPG) are always looking for new ways to add value for members, and I’m excited to be part of that.”
Franchise Consultant Magazine, which launched in January 2020, was created to build strong relationships between IFPG Members. “Our goal is to give consultants in-depth knowledge of the brands they represent, so they can identify and deliver the right candidates to franchisors,” says Don Daszkowski, IFPG Founder. Daszkowski’s vision for the magazine is a “quick read,” with a limited page count. “We want to offer quality over quantity and use storytelling as a way to educate consultants. We recruited Jill for her ability to bring the brands to life,” he says.
Abrahamsen’s career spans more than 20 years in editorial, graphic design, and marketing roles. As founding Editor-in-Chief of Franchise Dictionary Magazine, Abrahamsen set the tone for a new standard in franchise publications. A key player in the launch of Design NJ, she created the magazine’s successful image and led its design for six years.
Ranked number one in its category by Entrepreneur, IFPG has gained a stellar reputation as the leading franchise broker network for its high level of service and innovative programs.

Checkers & Rally’s Names Frances Allen CEO

TAMPA, Fla. – Checkers & Rally’s, an iconic and innovative drive-thru quick service restaurant chain, announced today that Frances Allen has been named Chief Executive Officer and a member of the company’s Board of Directors, effective February 17, 2020. Ms. Allen succeeds Rick Silva, who has decided to leave the company after 13 years as CEO and President.
Ms. Allen comes to Checkers & Rally’s with a proven track record of success in the restaurant industry and deep expertise across brand strategy, menu and marketing, franchising, restaurant technology, and restaurant operations, among other disciplines. Most recently, Allen served as Chief Executive Officer of Boston Market, where she implemented a multi-faceted transformation plan setting up the brand for future growth. Prior to Boston Market, Allen served as President of Jack-in-the-Box from 2014 to 2018, where she held full strategic and operational responsibility for the 2,200-unit, $3 billion hamburger quick service restaurant chain, generating superior results and upgrading the quality of the menu. Allen’s prior leadership experience includes successful tenures as Chief Brand Officer and Chief Marketing Officer at Denny’s Corporation, where she helped lead a successful turnaround and repositioned the brand as “America’s Diner,” and as Chief Marketing Officer of Dunkin’ Donuts USA, where she played a key role in elevating the brand from a regional to a national player. She has also held leadership roles at Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications, PepsiCo, and Frito-Lay.
Kevin Mailender, member of the company’s Board of Directors and Partner at Oak Hill Capital, said: “We are delighted that Frances will be leading Checkers & Rally’s through its next leg of growth. She is an accomplished leader in the restaurant industry. Her wealth of experience with leading brands and impressive set of skills will be highly valuable to our business and its outstanding franchisees. With a demonstrated ability to develop and inspire winning teams, Frances is the right leader to guide Checkers & Rally’s to its full potential.” Mr. Mailender added, “On behalf of the entire Checkers & Rally’s family, I would like to thank Rick Silva for his partnership and many years of leadership. Rick has played a key role in positioning the system for long-term success, and we wish him well on his future endeavors.”
Ms. Allen said: “I am thrilled to be joining this unique brand with so much potential for growth. Checkers & Rally’s will continue its tradition of putting the customer first and serving its communities by delivering high quality, craveable food at exceptional values. There is much work to do, but I am eager to build on the company’s recent momentum and set out on this exciting journey alongside Checkers & Rally’s passionate employees and talented franchisees.”
About Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants
Based in Tampa, Florida, Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants, Inc. operates and franchises Checkers® and Rally’s® quick service restaurants. For over 30 years, Checkers & Rally’s has been known for its delicious craveable food, convenient drive-thru service, exceptional value, and a people-first approach. With nearly 900 restaurants and room to grow, Checkers & Rally’s is a proven brand with flexible building formats that is aggressively expanding across the country. In recent years, the brand has been awarded several of the industry’s most prestigious awards including: Ranking #88 on Entrepreneur’s 2019 Franchise 500, Top Food and Beverage Franchise by Franchise Business Review, 2016, 2017, & 2018, Best Franchise Deal and “Best Drive-Thru in America” by QSR Magazine, the “Hot! Again” award from Nation’s Restaurant News, and “#1 Most Craveable Fries” by Restaurant Business. For more information about franchise opportunities with Checkers & Rally’s, please visit www.checkersfranchising.com.

Coolgreens Welcomes Mary Beth McGehee as VP of Business Development

OKLAHOMA CITY – Robert Lee, CEO of Coolgreens – the healthy lifestyle eatery that “feeds your life” – announced today that Mary Beth McGehee has joined the team as vice president of business development.
McGehee brings more than 20 years of experience in selling office coffee and vending services to her new role at Coolgreens. She started her career with Aramark Refreshment Services where she worked for 23 years and was chosen as Aramark’s first key account manager to span seven states. Also during this role, she achieved average annual sales of $1,412,000 on plan of $1,100,000. Then, prior to joining Coolgreens, McGehee worked as the Hospitality Channel Manager for Accent Food Services where she was involved in all aspects of their program.

“I was drawn to Coolgreens after I learned about the Coolgreens Market – smart fridges that serve quick, delicious and affordable options for on-the-go,” McGehee said. “This quality of food does not exist in the traditional vending industry, so I couldn’t be more thrilled than to be on the ground floor of this groundbreaking innovation! We have a goal to open 150 locations in the next 18 months and I’m ready to use my expertise to help make that happen.”

As VP of business development, McGehee will seek spaces within office buildings, medical and corporate campuses, airports, rail stations, college campuses and mixed-use developments where the Coolgreens Market would thrive.

“Mary Beth is a visionary leader that has a proven track record of success in maximizing business growth,” Lee said. “We are excited to have her join our team and have no doubt that she will play an instrumental role in the growth of Coolgreens.”

For more information, please visit Coolgreens.com.

About Coolgreens
Coolgreens is a healthy lifestyle eatery committed to making the communities it serves a better place to live by creating healthy, fresh, made-to-order creations. The menu caters to a variety of lifestyles and diets, featuring signature salads, wraps, grain bowls and sandwiches. Founded in 2009, Coolgreens currently has nine locations throughout Oklahoma City, Tulsa and Dallas-Fort Worth. Coolgreens was recognized on QSR Magazine’s 40/40 List for 2020, was named one of Fast Casual’s 2019 Top 100 Movers & Shakers and one of USA Today’s Best Airport Grab-And-Go Dining destinations.