Franchise

TCBY Corporate Office

TCBY (The Country’s Best Yogurt, originally This Can’t Be Yogurt) was founded in 1981 by Frank D. Hickingbotham in Little Rock, Arkansas. The company began franchise operations the next year. Today, the company has more than 470 locations around the globe. TCBY is the world’s largest seller of soft serve frozen yogurt and yogurt dishes.

The company was purchased by Mrs. Fields Cookies in 2000 and the company became Mrs. Fields Famous Brands. TCBY offers both hard serve and soft serve frozen yogurt in a wide variety of flavors, along with drinks such as yogurt smoothies.

TCBY began offering a new type of pricing and service where customers serve themselves, mixing flavors and adding toppings as they like, then paying by the ounce, rather than by scoop, size, or per price of toppings. This service began in Utah and is spreading to other locations.

TCBY

History

Dippin’ Dots Corporate Office

Dippin´Dots was founded in 1987 by Curt Jones, a graduate student from Southern Illinois University Carbondale. Jones discovered that if he mixed ice cream with liquid nitrogen and flash froze it, the ice cream took on a different flavor, as well as shape. Jones´first operation was located in his parent´s garage.

Since the product must be kept frozen at extremely cold temperatures (typically -40F) it cannot be sold outside of store locations. Dippin´Dots acquired a patent for its unique ice cream in 1992, essentially freezing out the competition.

The company filed for bankruptcy in late 2011. It was purchased by Scott and Mark Fischer, co-founders of Chaparrel Energy, in 2012. The Fischers have stated that they hope to increase the number of store locations from 1,600 to 2,000 within 5 years.

Dippin' Dots

History

Chuck E. Cheese Corporate Office

Chuck E. Cheese’s was founded in San Jose, California in 1977. The company is a chain of American family entertainment and food restaurants. Co-founded by the creator of Atari, Nolan Bushnell, Chuck E. Cheese’s was the first restaurant to integrate food, live entertainment for children, games, and a play center inside one business. The original name was Chuck E. Cheese’s Pizza Time Theatre.

The company began franchising in 1979 and has been sold several times over the years. Today, Chuck E. Cheese’s is owned by CEC Entertainment Concepts, who also owns Peter Piper Pizza.

In July 2018, the company initiated a “pay once play all day” program, rather than rely on tokens. This has been a very successful program, with all participating franchises reporting increased revenue.

Chuck E. Cheese’s has more than 600 locations in the U.S. The company had annual revenue in 2015 of $922 million. The restaurant chain most often hosts birthday parties for children, which feature costumed figures of performing animals and arcade games.

Chuck E. Cheese's

The company began franchising in 1979 and has been sold several times over the years. Today, Chuck E. Cheese’s is owned by CEC Entertainment Concepts, who also owns Peter Piper Pizza.

History

Smoothie King Corporate Office

Smoothie King was founded in 1973 in Kenner, Louisiana, by Steve Kuhnau. While working at an ice cream shop, Kuhnau discovered he was unable to enjoy the milk shakes and other treats because he was lactose intolerant. This inspired him to create similar items using fruit juice and frozen fruit that anyone could enjoy.

Today, the company has more than 600 franchised locations. Kuhnau sold the business to current CEO Wan Kim and Standard Chartered bank. Smoothie King has been named the #1 franchise by Entrepreneur magazine more than 17 times since it began operations.

Smoothie King had annual revenue in 2014 of $160 million. The company began international franchising with the first location opening in South Korea in 2003.

Smoothie King

Smoothie King had annual revenue in 2014 of $160 million. The company began international franchising with the first location opening in South Korea in 2003.

History

Famous Dave’s Corporate Office

Famous Dave’s Barbeque was founded in Hayward, Wisconsin, in 1994 by Dave Anderson, an Ojibwe native who later headed the federal Bureau of Indian Affairs. What began as a roadside BBQ restaurant has now developed into 200 locations in the U.S., one in Canada, and one location in Puerto Rico.

Famous Dave’s went public on the NASDAQ and can be found under the ticker symbol: BBQ. The restaurant has received more than 700 awards over the years for their secret barbeque sauce, including the 2012 People’s Choice Best Wings Award, the 2014 People’s Choice Best Barbeque, and the 2014 People’s Choice Best Catering Award.

In addition to restuarant’s, Famous Dave also sells its BBQ sauce, cornbread mix, and pickle chips in many major grocery store chains.

Famous Dave’s parent company, BBQ Holdings, wants to add other venues to its names, such as a breakfast restaurant or pizza.

Famous Dave’s maintains a corporate office in Minnetonka, Minnesota.

Famous Dave's

History

In addition to restuarant’s, Famous Dave also sells its BBQ sauce, cornbread mix, and pickle chips in many major grocery store chains.

Famous Dave’s parent company, BBQ Holdings, wants to add other venues to its names, such as a breakfast restaurant or pizza.

Famous Dave’s maintains a corporate office in Minnetonka, Minnesota.