Expansion Roundup: Brands Celebrate 2024 Successes, More

As the year dwindles down to its final days, several brands are taking inventory of just how far they’ve come—and just how far they’re going.

Here are three of the latest brands to share expansion news:

• Ascent Hospitality Management: The parent company of Perkins American Food Co. and Huddle House closed out 2024 with nearly 100 franchise agreements, marking record-breaking growth. In November, the brand debuted its Perkins Griddle & Go model in St. Isidore, Ontario. The quick-service format provides “an elevated cafe experience” in a compact footprint and streamlined design. Since the concept was launched, the brand signed nearly 30 units, including 10 locations across New Jersey and multiunit agreements in Texas and Calgary, Alberta. Huddle House, meanwhile, signed its largest franchise agreement in brand history with 20 new units in Texas.

• Johnny Rockets: The burger concept saw 11 international openings in 2024, with two locations in Chile, two in Bali, Indonesia, four units in Mexico, two in Brazil and one ghost kitchen in the United Arab Emirates. Nontraditional locations at Fantislandia II Theme Park in Chile, Juazeiro de Norte Airport in Brazil, Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport in Bali, and Aeropuerto Internacional Felipe Angeles and Aeropuerto Internacional de Ciudad Juarez in Mexico were part of the growth. Currently, international locations account for approximately 55% of Johnny Rockets worldwide and are a key growth area for the brand. Jake Berchtold, COO of FAT Brands’ fast casual division, says the brand continues to cement itself in “key growth countries” like Brazil, where the brand currently has over 40 locations, plus Mexico, where there are almost 25 locations.

• PJ’s Coffee: The New Orleans-based coffee chain has plans to grow its unit count in Georgia, with plans for a dozen locations in the next seven years across the Atlanta metropolitan area. A local franchise family will introduce 10 locations, while existing franchisees plan for two additional locations. The brand envisions a future with over 75 PJ’s Coffee locations throughout the Atlanta metro area, it says, making it a cornerstone of PJ’s national growth strategy. Georgia currently hosts a PJ’s Coffee location in Greensboro and construction will soon begin for its next one in Rome.

Earlier this month, Pizza Hut also shared a potential recipe for growth, with a new design featuring pickup lockers, kiosks and a drive-thru.