In a major walk-back for the franchise industry, the National Labor Relations Board seeks to return to prior guidance on joint employer issues.

Think bricks and mortar retail is on the ropes? Don’t tell the CEO of Ace Hardware, who shared his strategies for boosting the hardware chain’s systemwide sales last year by 6.5 percent as part of our Franchise Times Top 200+ coverage.

New York’s food-focused James Beard Foundation is working to make food both more delicious and more sustainable with its Blended Burger Project. Adding mushrooms to burger creations is not only a more flavorful option with less calories; it saves time and money by replacing meat with plant-based proteins.

Hurricane Florence is just hitting the coast of North and South Carolina, and restaurant operators preparing for a rough week.

We glean countless stories and industry trends from our exclusive Top 200+ data that’s coming out in the October issue of Franchise Times—more, in fact, than we can fit in the magazine. One of many bright spots in the hospitality category is Red Roof Inn, which has added to its franchise development team as consumers are traveling more than ever.

In an effort to enhance growth among multi-unit franchisees, Buffalo Wings and Rings is testing a one-time franchise fee.

Great Clips’ 1,200 franchisees employ close to 40,000 people across the brand’s 4,300 locations, said Steve Hockett, CEO of the Minneapolis, Minnesota-based hair salon brand. “And their employees cannot be our employees,” continued Hockett. “It’s a huge distinction and there needs to be clarity.”

Longtime franchise finance executive Candice Caruso recently joined WSFS Bank to head up its SBA lending to small businesses, including the franchise sector.

Jania Bailey believes what the franchising world needs is another franchise disclosure document or FDD, but this time for brokers. Her company, FranNet, is launching what she calls the first broker disclosure document or BDD in franchising, meant to throw open the doors on the often hidden ways that third-party franchise brokers work.

You heard it here first: Renaming Rusty Taco to R Taco was a terrible idea, especially since Rusty was the name of the taco brand’s late founder, Rusty Fenton. As one of the first public-facing changes under the new Inspire Brands parent company, the 27-unit fast-casual brand has reverted to its old name—Rusty Taco.

“Giving awards for community service is one of the greatest things we can do,” Doc Cohen said from the stage during the 2018 Franchising Gives Back awards dinner Tuesday night, September 4. Cohen had just finished sharing some big numbers: $245 million and more than 2 million hours. That’s the amount, in dollars and time, IFA members and volunteers have donated to hundreds of community organizations and charitable groups.