Kerry Pipes

CEO Joe Thornton applies a collaborative approach to expanding Scooter's Coffee

Azalia Hoelting always dreamed of a television career. She spent more than 15 years in the field. She wrote and produced for broadcasts and ultimately worked as a promotion director for several TV stations. She honed her craft for developing and implementing marketing strategies that helped grow ratings and revenue. But the world of franchising was just around the corner.

The Multi-Unit Franchising Conference (MUFC) has become the conference for franchisees, franchisors, and suppliers to gather, talk shop, do business, and have some fun.

From airports to food trucks (and, it seems, just about everywhere in between), franchise brands are looking high and low to identify nontraditional locations that can carry out the brand’s promise. At the same time, franchise brands are more focused than ever on taking their customer experience to the next level, enhancing the journey so that customers join the loyal ranks of raving fans. These are both hot topics in franchising right now, so we decided to dig in to discover what strategies are working and what kinds of results franchisors are getting.

Scott Zide's journey to franchising launched as soon as he graduated from college. He and a friend opened two Mr. Goodcents franchise locations in St. Louis, and he was hooked on franchising.

Richard "Richie" Huffman opened the first Celebree School preschool location in 1994 when he was 26 years old. He may not have realized it at the time, but he was launching a company that would eventually turn to the franchising growth model in 2019 and now has more than 120 locations open or in development. Celebree School operates in six states and has more than 1,300 employees system wide with an enrollment of more than 4,500 children.

Laurie Curtis believes authenticity and a genuine connection to guests are at the core of a successful marketing strategy. She’s brought that mindset with her during her first year as CMO with Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux.

The International Franchise Association (IFA) is partnering with Fortem International, a leading global event organizer, to launch the largest franchise exhibition ever held. The newly created IFA World Franchise Show will take place at the Miami Beach Convention Center on May 9-10, 2025.

Alabama-based entrepreneur Jignesh Patel has struck up a deal to bring Curry Up Now restaurants to Alabama. Patel is a Raceway franchisee who was attracted to Curry Up Now’s Indian fast-casual cuisine and concept. He’ll start with three locations in the Birmingham area and has plans to expand further into Jefferson and Shelby Counties.

Alex Kukich, Bob Flynn, and Stella Vavas Sabracos met at a Dill Dinkers Discovery Day and quickly recognized that together they could bring the indoor pickleball concept to markets in Maryland and Delaware. Their new development deal with the brand calls for at least 30 locations with a specific focus on the Delaware and Maryland beach towns.