Franchise

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Corporate Office

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen was founded in 1979 in Arlington, Texas, by Aubrey Good and current CEO Doug Rogers. Good and Rogers wanted to start a restaurant that used fresh ingredients and cooked menu items from scratch, similar to homemade food. The company is known for having twice as many chefs as other restaurants as cooking from scratch takes more time.

Today, Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has more than 160 locations in 23 states, with 60 of these locations being franchised operations. The company is owned by Oak Investment Partners and Catterton Partners. In April of 2017, the company became a subsidiary of Darden Restaurants, Inc. The Cheddar’s headquarters in Irving, Texas, was dismantled and some workers took positions at Darden headquarters in Orlando, Florida.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen has won several food awards, including Zagat’s 2012 #1 Full Service Restaurant Chain and Top Rated Food Award. The company also was rated #1 in Consumer Reports under the Best Pub or Grilled Food category in 2009.

In January 2023, the CEO of Darden’s stated that Cheddar’s was about to become the company’s second-largest and most popular restaurant chain.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen maintains a corporate office in Orlando, Florida.

Cheddar's Scratch Kitchen

History

In January 2023, the CEO of Darden’s stated that Cheddar’s was about to become the company’s second-largest and most popular restaurant chain.

Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen maintains a corporate office in Orlando, Florida.

MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream Corporate Office

MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream was founded in 1989 in Kansas City, Kansas, by Juel and Katherine Tillery. The store is named after a cow that the couple’s daughter liked. Franchising started the next year and the business expanded quickly.

The company is different from other ice cream shops in that they serve ice cream in a fun, light hearted environment. Today, all company stores are franchised operations of the Global Franchise Group. The company currently has about 400 locations, with plans to expand to 1,000 locations, but no date is set for achieving that goal.

MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream offers a premium brand of ice cream containing 14% butterfat and is known for their wide variety of items that can be mixed into the ice cream or served on top, including crushed candy bars, fudge, sprinkles, brownies, and cookies.

MaggieMoo's Ice Cream

History

El Taco Tote Corporate Office

El Taco Tote was founded in 1988 in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico, by current CEO Jose Pacificio Heras. The company opened their first location in America in 1994 in El Paso, Texas. Franchising began in 2003.

Today, the company has more than 24 locations in the Western states of the US and 8 locations in Mexico. El Taco Tote is different from other taco restaurants in that customers build their own tacos, rather than order preselected items.

El Taco Tote offers a wide variety of authentic Mexican cuisine in a casual dining experience. In addition to tacos, the company offers taco plates and a wide variety of meats including fish, pork, chicken , lamb, and shrimp. Catering is also available, with many locations also offering delivery.

The company often does fundraisers to help local students pay for college tuition.

El Taco Tote

History

The company often does fundraisers to help local students pay for college tuition.

Sonny’s BBQ Corporate Office

Sonny’s BBQ was founded in 1968 in Gainesville, Florida, by Floyd “Sonny” Tillman and his wife Lucille. The original name was Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q. The name was changed in 2013. The company began franchising in 1977. One franchisor, Robert Yarmouth, and his cousin Jeff, purchased the company in 1991. Robert Yarmouth remains CEO of the company.

Today, the company has 113 locations in 9 states. The company is best known for its unique BBQ recipe, ribs, chicken, and pork. In addition to food, the company also offers coffee mugs, bottled BBQ sauce, T-shirts, and caps with the company logo.

In 2015, the company sold off 9 out of its 10 company-owned locations in Florida, in hopes of better managing their other locations.

Sonny’s BBQ offers a “Random Act of BBQ” each August in honor of Tillman’s birthday. The company provides free BBQ meals with help from community volunteers or community groups. In addition to gift cards, the company also offers catering services.

In February 2020, the company added a Chief Kindness Officer position, designed to promote random acts of kindness.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, Sonny’s closed dine-in seating and encouraged delivery and take out orders.

Company headquarters are located in Maitland, Florida.

Sonny's BBQ

History

In 2015, the company sold off 9 out of its 10 company-owned locations in Florida, in hopes of better managing their other locations.

In February 2020, the company added a Chief Kindness Officer position, designed to promote random acts of kindness.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic of 2020, Sonny’s closed dine-in seating and encouraged delivery and take out orders.

Company headquarters are located in Maitland, Florida.

Shipley Do-Nuts Corporate Office

Shipley Do-Nuts was founded in 1936 by Lawrence Shipley, in Houston, Texas. Shipley spent a great deal of time perfecting what he believed was the perfect donut. The original price for a dozen donuts was 5 cents. By the 1940’s, the donuts had become to popular that the company began selling them in retail locations.

Today, Shipley Do-Nuts has 400 locations in 6 states, with plans to have 500 stores or more by the year 2020. What sets Shipley Do-Nuts apart from the rest are that the company not only bakes them fresh each day, they bake small batches so most customers will enjoy a hot, fresh donut that is minutes old, rather than hours old.

The company also offers a wide range of beverages including coffees, espresso, cappuccinos, and iced coffee drinks. Franchising began in the 1950’s. Shipley Do-Nuts also offers catering and pre-orders for large groups.

Shipley Do-Nuts