After identifying a technology update, the real work begins.

With more than half of its sales now leaving the restaurants, Fazoli’s is preparing a second generation off-premises strategy, which CEO Carl Howard suggested may come at the expense of arch rival Olive Garden.

The 341-location Blaze is taking aim at the “big three” pizza competitors in a new ad campaign that pits its new, larger pizza against the same old pizza. Good luck.

There are media circuses, and then there’s the extravaganza of grandstanding surrounding the passage this week of Assembly Bill 5 in California.

When members of the Franchise Action Network storm Capitol Hill tomorrow to lobby Congress, they will have two main targets, as instructed by the government affairs pros at the International Franchise Association who prepped them Tuesday afternoon. Encourage your state’s representatives and senators to vote NO on the PRO Act, and YES on the Trademark Licensing Protection Act.

Just Between Friends was founded with giving back as a key component of the franchise model, noted its co-founder and CEO Shannon Wilburn at last night’s Franchising Gives Back awards event in Washington, D.C., but it takes more to create a sustainable charitable effort.

On the heels of its first franchise agreement, a 10-unit deal with former Qdoba franchisee Greg Willman and 316 Investments, Naf Naf inked several agreements for a total of 25 restaurants.

Updating technology is a necessary headache, but navigating this era of intense evolution can be tricky.

Greg George is not shy about predicting the future for Carolina Hemp Company, the first acquisition under the newly formed Empire Franchise Group umbrella.

Franchise Times has changed the name and the structure of its annual spring finance conference in order to better serve its audiences: Senior executives from leading franchise companies and franchise lenders and investors. Now called The Franchise Investment Conference, this exclusive event will debut in 2020.

Cinnabon is a standout on this year’s Franchise Times Top 200+ ranking, to be published in October, leading the treats category by far with systemwide sales up 8.3 percent and surprising those who have proclaimed the death of the shopping mall.

Every month I’m plucking the key details from dozens of multi-unit franchise development agreements to give you everything you need to know to stay informed and, of course, keep an eye on what the competition is doing. That's The Wire, from Franchise Times.