The 12-unit New Orleans-based franchisor is expanding nationally, with hopes of tripling in size. In August 2011, VooDoo BBQ & Grill signed a deal to open eight restaurants in the Carolinas; it plans another location on the Mississippi Gulf Coast and is talking with potential franchisees for multi-unit expansions in Florida, Texas and the Northeast.…

The long, hot summer has been a boon for frozen treat chains. Three U-Swirl Frozen Yogurt cafes opened in July 2011, bringing to the total operating cafes in the system to 19. The new franchised units are in Orlando, Fla.; Tucson, Ariz.; and Boise, Idaho. Currently there are six corporate owned U-Swirl Cafes and 13…

Dairy Queen will open 15 stores in Guatemala by 2015. Franchisee Grupo Buen Rollo will open the first kiosk in Guatemala City in October. A second in-line store will open by the end of the year. With 13 million citizens, Guatemala has Central America’s largest population; DQ already has 11 locations in Panama. Minneapolis-based DQ…

Look for 10 new Applebee’s to emerge in Egypt. The chain has 147 restaurants in 15 countries outside the U.S.; its strongest presence is in Mexico, Canada and Saudi Arabia. Parent DineEquity is working with AMECO on the deal. In June,  DineEquity unveiled IHOP’s first international development foray, a multi-restaurant franchise deal to develop 40…

Burger King Restaurants of Canada has opened three LEED-certified service plaza units designed in its new 20/20 global restaurant format. BK plans 150 new 20/20 locations across Canada in the next few years, adding to its current 300 restaurants there. The 20/20 design offers various self-seating options in the front of the house; all of…

Wendy’s has fewer than 500 units overseas, but foresees growing to 8,000 units internationally—especially in China, Brazil and Russia.  It opened its first two units in Russia in June 2011; its Russian partner, Wenrus Restaurant Group, plans to open 192 units within nine years, including 50 by 2015. Wenrus may open 50 to 60 outlets in Ukraine…

Dunkin’ Brands went public in July 2011 and the chain is opening up about future plans. Over the next two years, the Canton, Mass., company plans to open as many as 250 Dunkin’ Donuts shops in the U.S., especially west of the Mississippi. The chain, which has been in a fight with Starbucks and McDonald’s…

Fast-food chains have been under fire for what goes into their kids’ meals. Now playground cleanliness is the focus of at least one mom traveling the country with cotton swabs and a camcorder. The Chicago Tribune reported last month on the road trip undertaken by developmental psychologist Erin Carr-Jordan, who said she has visited more…

The smoke has cleared in Albuquerque, N.M., and existing foodservice operators can breathe a little easier. They won’t have to add sprinkler systems to their restaurants, including their walk-in coolers and freezers. A proposed ordinance would have required all buildings under its purview to have completed retrofits as of next July, but the city council…

It’s been a long, hot, tough summer all around the country.  A number of companies have lent a hand to communities and organizations; four recently donated foodservice equipment through the “Today” show’s annual “Lend a Hand” traveling charity campaign. On June 16, 2011, Al Roker’s “Today” team presented donated equipment to Community Kitchens of Birmingham,…