Franchise

Foot Locker Corporate Office

Foot Locker has its roots in the 1963 purchase of the Kinney Shoe Corporation by F.L. Woolworth Company. Under Woolworth’s direction, Kinney branched out into specialty stores Stylco in 1967, Susie Casuals in 1968, and Foot Locker in 1974.

Foot Locker was the most successful of the ventures and by the 1990’s Foot Locker was responsible for 70% of Kinney Shoe Corp’s sales.

The Woolworth Corporation, parent company of Kinney Shoe Corp., changed its name to Venator Group in 1998. The same year Venator Group announced the closing of all Kinney Shoe Corp stores except the high-performing Foot Locker stores.

In 2001 Venator Group changed its name to Foot Locker, Inc., reflecting the company’s top performing brand.

Today Foot Locker operates 3,335 stores under the names Foot Locker, Lady Foot Locker, Kids Foot Locker, Champs Sports, Footaction, and CCS in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The company also franchises stores in the Middle East and the Republic of Korea. Foot Locker has 44,000 employees worldwide and had $5.62 billion in revenue in 2012.

Foot Locker, Inc.

Foot Locker was the most successful of the ventures and by the 1990’s Foot Locker was responsible for 70% of Kinney Shoe Corp’s sales.

History

In 2001 Venator Group changed its name to Foot Locker, Inc., reflecting the company’s top performing brand.

Avnet Corporate Office

Avnet was founded in 1921 by Charles Avnet, a Russian immigrant, when he began buying surplus radio parts and reselling them. During the Great Depression, he shifted from retail to wholesale.

In the early 1930’s Avnet began to manufacture car antennas and car radio kits. During World War II Charles Avnet and his son, Lester Avnet, established Avnet Electronic Supply.

In 1960 Avnet acquired British Industries Corporation and went public on the New York Stock Exchange. That year Avnet reached $1 million in net income.

By 1975 the company had earnings of $35 million, and in 1979 reached $1 billion in earnings.

In 1993 Avnet acquired a rival distributor, Hall-Mark Electronics Corporation, for $344.6 million.

During the 1990’s Avnet expanded to Europe through several acquisitions of European companies.

Today Avnet is the world’s largest franchised distributor of electronic components and subsystems. The company has a presence in more than 50 countries, has almost 20,000 employees worldwide, and had $25.7 billion in revenue in 2012.

Avnet, Inc.

Avnet was founded in 1921 by Charles Avnet, a Russian immigrant, when he began buying surplus radio parts and reselling them. During the Great Depression, he shifted from retail to wholesale.

In the early 1930’s Avnet began to manufacture car antennas and car radio kits. During World War II Charles Avnet and his son, Lester Avnet, established Avnet Electronic Supply.

In 1960 Avnet acquired British Industries Corporation and went public on the New York Stock Exchange. That year Avnet reached $1 million in net income.

History

By 1975 the company had earnings of $35 million, and in 1979 reached $1 billion in earnings.

In 1993 Avnet acquired a rival distributor, Hall-Mark Electronics Corporation, for $344.6 million.

During the 1990’s Avnet expanded to Europe through several acquisitions of European companies.

AAMCO Corporate Office

Robert Morgan and Anthony A. Martino founded AAMCO in 1963 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The name comes from the initials of Martino’s name plus Co for company. Martino liked this as, not only did it use his initials, but it also placed his business higher in the yellow page rankings of its day, since those were done alphabetically. The original name of the company was AAMCO Auto and Truck Repair. Quickly realizing the complexity and failure rate of automatic transmissions of the times, Martino quickly decided to drop the “Auto and Truck Repair”, and focus solely on transmissions, where the company would stay focused until 2007.

After 2007, the company again realized that, with the modern transmissions of today being more reliable, they should include more car care options. The name of the company is now AAMCO Transmissions and Total Car Care.

AAMCO is a transmission-repair company that operates as a franchise, with the first franchise opening in New Jersey in 1963.

Morgan and Martino also founded MAACO, an auto body shop franchise. Martino eventually ended his affiliation with AAMCO to manage MAACO.

Morgan was the first CEO of the company and was succeeded by his son, Keith Morgan.

In 2006, American Capital, Ltd. bought AAMCO Transmissions.

In January 2017, American Driveline Systems, the franchiser of the AAMCO and Cottman Transmission & Total Auto Care brands, was acquired by Transom Capital Group.

AAMCO ranked near the top in the Entrepreneur site of the top 500 Franchises in America in 2023.

In September 2022, a former black executive of AAMCO filed a discrimination lawsuit.

The company now has more than 500 franchises across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, 5,000 employees, and $450 million in revenue in 2022.

AAMCO

History

AAMCO is a transmission-repair company that operates as a franchise, with the first franchise opening in New Jersey in 1963.

Morgan and Martino also founded MAACO, an auto body shop franchise. Martino eventually ended his affiliation with AAMCO to manage MAACO.

Morgan was the first CEO of the company and was succeeded by his son, Keith Morgan.

In 2006, American Capital, Ltd. bought AAMCO Transmissions.

In January 2017, American Driveline Systems, the franchiser of the AAMCO and Cottman Transmission & Total Auto Care brands, was acquired by Transom Capital Group.

AAMCO ranked near the top in the Entrepreneur site of the top 500 Franchises in America in 2023.

In September 2022, a former black executive of AAMCO filed a discrimination lawsuit.

The company now has more than 500 franchises across the United States, Canada, and Puerto Rico, 5,000 employees, and $450 million in revenue in 2022.

Dairy Queen Corporate Office

Dairy Queen has its roots in the 1938 development of soft-serve ice cream by John Fremont McCullough and his son Bradley. They convinced a friend and customer of theirs, Sheb Noble, to serve this new soft-serve in his ice cream store and he sold 1,600 dishes of it within two hours.

The McCulloughs and Noble went on to open the first Dairy Queen in 1940 in Joilet, Illinois.

The company was an early pioneer of the franchise system and used it to open 10 stores by 1941, 100 by 1947, 1,446 by 1950, and 2,600 in 1955.

Dairy Queen became International Dairy Queen Inc. in 1962, known as IDQ.

IDQ bought the Orange Julius chain in 1987.

IDQ was bought by Berkshire Hathaway in 1998.

Today, IDQ is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, a company owned by Warren Buffet.

Today Dairy Queen has 5,700 stores in 19 countries.

Dairy Queen

The McCulloughs and Noble went on to open the first Dairy Queen in 1940 in Joilet, Illinois.

The company was an early pioneer of the franchise system and used it to open 10 stores by 1941, 100 by 1947, 1,446 by 1950, and 2,600 in 1955.

History

Dairy Queen became International Dairy Queen Inc. in 1962, known as IDQ.

IDQ bought the Orange Julius chain in 1987.

IDQ was bought by Berkshire Hathaway in 1998.

Today, IDQ is a wholly owned subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, a company owned by Warren Buffet.

Today Dairy Queen has 5,700 stores in 19 countries.

Wendy’s Corporate Office

Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, loved the KewPee Burgers so much, he decided to make a similar restaurant chain.

Wendy’s Old Fashioned Hamburgers was founded in 1969 in Columbus, Ohio. Thomas named the restaurant after his fourth child, Melinda Lou “Wendy” Thomas. The chain features square hamburger patties and Frosties, which are milkshakes thickened with starch. Thomas liked the idea of square burgers that stuck out from the bun. He believed customers would be impressed with the quality of the meat they could see.

In 1970, Thomas opened a second location in Columbus. This location would add the first modern drive-thru window in 1971 that used speakers, rather than waitress on rollerskates.

In 1972, the first franchise is sold.

By 1976, there are 500 restaurants and the company goes public on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol: WEN.

In 1978, the 1000th location opens.

In 1979, Wendy’s was the first chain to introduce a salad bar.

By 1983, there are 2500 locations.

In 1985, the company merges with Tim Hortons.

By 1987, there are 5000 locations.

In 2002, founder Dave Thomas dies.

In 2006, the company headquarters is moved to Dublin, Ohio, where they remain today.

In 2008, the company merged with Triac, owner of Arby’s.

In 2011, the company sold its majority share of Arby’s to the Roark Capital Group due to lackluster sales. The company continues to hold an 18.5% interest in Arby’s.

In 2014, the company decided to close all locations in Russia and begin doing business in India instead, with the first restaurant in Gurgaon.

On May 26, 2016, the company announced that Todd Penegor would replace Emil Brolick as CEO and President. Gunther Plosch will succeed Penegor as CFO.

In July 2016, Wendy’s warned customers that their computer system had been hacked and that customers’ debit card and credit card information was stolen from approximately 1,025 of their restaurants located in the US.

The company is beta-testing a meatless burger made from black beans in an attempt to lure in vegan and vegetarian customers.

In January 2018, the company announced the opening of its 500th international location in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Due to the coronavirus and subsequent quarantine, the parent company of Wendy’s filed for bankruptcy July 1, 2020.

Flynn’s Restaurant Group acquired Wendy’s in March 2021.

In December 2022, Wendy’s stated that it would do a corporate “overhaul” with possible job cuts.

Today, Wendy’s is the third largest hamburger fast food chain in the world with nearly 7000 restaurants worldwide.

Wendy's

Dave Thomas, founder of Wendy’s, loved the KewPee Burgers so much, he decided to make a similar restaurant chain.

History

In 1970, Thomas opened a second location in Columbus. This location would add the first modern drive-thru window in 1971 that used speakers, rather than waitress on rollerskates.

In 1972, the first franchise is sold.

By 1976, there are 500 restaurants and the company goes public on the NASDAQ under the ticker symbol: WEN.

In 1978, the 1000th location opens.

In 1979, Wendy’s was the first chain to introduce a salad bar.

By 1983, there are 2500 locations.

In 1985, the company merges with Tim Hortons.

By 1987, there are 5000 locations.

In 2002, founder Dave Thomas dies.

In 2006, the company headquarters is moved to Dublin, Ohio, where they remain today.

In 2008, the company merged with Triac, owner of Arby’s.

In 2011, the company sold its majority share of Arby’s to the Roark Capital Group due to lackluster sales. The company continues to hold an 18.5% interest in Arby’s.

In 2014, the company decided to close all locations in Russia and begin doing business in India instead, with the first restaurant in Gurgaon.

On May 26, 2016, the company announced that Todd Penegor would replace Emil Brolick as CEO and President. Gunther Plosch will succeed Penegor as CFO.

The company is beta-testing a meatless burger made from black beans in an attempt to lure in vegan and vegetarian customers.

In January 2018, the company announced the opening of its 500th international location in Guatemala City, Guatemala.

Due to the coronavirus and subsequent quarantine, the parent company of Wendy’s filed for bankruptcy July 1, 2020.

Flynn’s Restaurant Group acquired Wendy’s in March 2021.

In December 2022, Wendy’s stated that it would do a corporate “overhaul” with possible job cuts.

Today, Wendy’s is the third largest hamburger fast food chain in the world with nearly 7000 restaurants worldwide.