Jersey Mike’s and 19 More Restaurant News Headliners of the Past Week

Jersey Mike’s, Aaron Allen, Tulsi Indian Eatery, WaBa Grill, and Subway lead RestaurantNews.com’s top stories for the week ending March 3, 2024.

1) Celebrate Jersey Mike’s 14th Annual Month of Giving in March
Hoping to raise a record-breaking amount for charity this March, Jersey Mike’s Subs, known for its authentic fresh sliced/fresh grilled subs, asks customers to eat a sub and help a local cause. To celebrate the company’s 14th Annual Month of Giving fundraising campaign, Jersey Mike’s locations across the country are joining forces with more than 200 local charities.

2) Restaurant Competition: It’s Always Possible to Outperform Your Peers
Questions like “What’s next?” and “Where should we go from here?” arise a lot, especially for family-owned middle-market restaurant chains. It’s often the case that the CEO is so pressed with the day-to-day that it’s impossible to find the time to put everything on hold and work on defining (and documenting) what’s the vision for where the company should go, honoring the brand’s heritage and history while adding significant economic value across the portfolio of restaurants.

3) Fast-Casual Concept, Tulsi Indian Eatery, Kicks Off Franchise Sales Initiative
Tulsi Indian Eatery is making waves this spring with the launch of its highly anticipated franchise model. The one-of-a-kind vegetarian and plant-based concept is 20 years in the making, with the first location launched in the middle of the pandemic on August 27, 2020, and opening several more locations since then. The company is now expanding through its franchise model.

4) Competition Heats up at WaBa Grill During Inaugural Grill Master Competition
WaBa Grill, one of the nation’s leading healthy rice bowl chains, has proudly wrapped up a significant part of its multifaceted Back to Basics development initiative: the inaugural Grill Master Competition. The internal competition featured 200 WaBa Grill cooks in a high-stakes cooking contest to earn the coveted Grill Master title.

6) Nick the Greek Proudly Celebrates 70th Restaurant With New Location in Fair Oaks, California
Nick the Greek, a Northern California-based chain serving up authentic Greek street food, has proudly opened its 70th restaurant! The new location in Fair Oaks, California, is operated by experienced multi-unit franchisee Nicholas Taptelis, who has partnered with the brand since 2019 and operates six additional Nick the Greek locations in Northern California and Texas.

7) Shark Tank’s Buena Papa and EKUI Plus Announce United Arab Emirates Partnership to Open Franchises
Buena Papa Fry Bar has announced a strategic partnership with EKUIPlus, a distinguished consulting firm known for its expert leadership in franchise and retail management. Under the seasoned guidance of the Partner Nicolas Rubeiz and their local representative in the U.S., Jean Claude Gureghian, EKUIPlus will spearhead the introduction and expansion of Buena Papa franchises across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the broader Middle East.

8) SAMBAZON Launches First Ever Franchising Program
SAMBAZON, the pioneer and recognized global leader in organic and Fair Trade certified Açaí, has launched franchising opportunities for both multi-unit and single-unit operators looking to diversify their holdings with the most dominant player in the rapidly-growing Açaí bowl and smoothie space.

9) Nathan’s Famous Continues International Expansion in 2024
Nathan’s Famous, the American tradition serving New York favorites for more than 100 years, announces their continued international expansion in 2024. The brand, which recently opened virtual kitchens in Belgium and France, multiple full-service franchised restaurants in Mexico City, and two franchised restaurants and a food truck in Egypt in 2023, currently operates in 19 countries globally.