Franchise Brands Turn Up the Heat with Growth Deals, New Menu Items and Global Developments
- Trump’s proposed 50% tariff on Brazilian imports could spike U.S. burger prices as beef supplies tighten and trade tensions rise.
- Main Post Partners has acquired a minority stake in Smoothie King to help accelerate the fast-growing franchise’s U.S. and global expansion.
- Eagle Merchant Partners has acquired a majority stake in Aligned Fitness to fuel Club Pilates expansion across the Southeast through strategic acquisitions.
- Wendy’s, Marco’s Pizza, and Popeyes are spicing up summer with limited-time deals and bold new flavors, including $1 biscuits, hot honey toppings, and a new Signature Sauce.
Higher Brazil Tariff Could Bump U.S. Burger Prices
President Donald Trump’s threatened 50% tariff on goods imported from Brazil would almost certainly boost prices for U.S. burger patties, traders and analysts told Reuters on Thursday. Trump said the tariff would kick in on Aug. 1, The Wall Street Journal reported.
The Reuters article noted that a 2% decline in U.S. beef production had prompted U.S. food producers to depend more on Brazilian imports, which more than doubled from January through May of this year compared to 2024. “If it [the tariff] does not get modified, you just cease the importation of Brazilian beef to this country,” Bob Chudy, a consultant for U.S. companies that import beef, told Reuters. “Not one pound will be economic at those levels.”
American meat companies have few alternative beef sources amid the widening trade war, although Australia, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay are possibilities. The U.S. companies have backed away from Mexican beef because of screwworm infestations, according to the news service.
When Trump raised tariffs on Brazilian goods by 10% in spring, the move triggered a decline in Brazilian beef imports, Reuters said. The United States is second only to China among Brazil’s trade partners.
Private Equity Group Invests in Smoothie King
Main Post Partners now holds a minority stake in the rapidly growing Smoothie King franchise, Restaurant Business reported this week. The private equity firm previously invested in Jimmy John’s, a fast-food sandwich franchise, and Flynn Group, a large franchisee with Applebee’s, Arby’s, Panera, Pizza Hut, Planet Fitness, Taco Bell and Wendy’s brands in its portfolio.
Since 2015, Smoothie King has tripled in size globally to almost 1,500 stores, with approximately 1,200 located in the United States. U.S. system sales grew 5.2% to $812 million in 2024, according to Restaurant Business’s sister company Technomic.
In a news release, Smoothie King stated the investment would accelerate the expansion of the brand. Details about the cost and percentage size of the Main Post Partners’ stake weren’t revealed.
Eagle Merchant Invests in Aligned Fitness
Atlanta-based Eagle Merchant Partners has taken a majority stake in Raleigh, N.C.-based Aligned Fitness. Aligned now operates 34 Club Pilates studios in three states and is on the hunt for further acquisitions. Club Pilates is one of eight brands within the portfolio of California-based franchisor Xponential Fitness.
Franchise Times quoted Aligned co-founder and CEO Jon Smith as saying he saw more potential for expansion in southeastern states but needed deeper pockets than those of his traditional banking partners. “… It was about bringing on a private equity firm that we thought kind of hit a couple targets for us. One being culturally, they were good fit. Eagle, being southeastern-based, we love that.” Another appealing factor, he said, was that Eagle Merchant Partners has a “tremendous amount of experience” in franchising, both as franchisor and franchisee.
Menus Amp Up Heat and Value
Three fast-casual restaurant brands are wooing customers with special flavors and prices. Here’s the scoop:
- Wendy’s gives customers more bang for only one buck in a limited-time breakfast biscuit deal. QSRmagazine.com reports that the $1 special starts today and includes the applewood smoked Bacon, Egg & Cheese Biscuit; the Honey Buddy Chicken Biscuit, crispy white-meat chicken plus honey butter; and the Sausage, Egg & Cheese Biscuit. The sale price is good while supplies last.
- Resuming its collaboration with Mike’s Hot Honey, Marco’s Pizza announced today that it will permanently offer hot honey as a topping, according to QSRmagazine.com. To add extra pizzazz to the menu change, the rapidly expanding pizza franchise announced Monday that its large Hot Honey Pepperoni Magnifico Pizza would be priced at $11.99 for a limited time. For a limited time, Marco’s menu will feature Mike’s Hot Honey dipping cup for use with breads, wings, pizza bowls and pies. Marco’s previously had teamed with Mike’s in 2023 for a limited-time accompaniment to its pepperoni pies.
- Tah-dah! Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen now has a Signature Sauce that blends the flavors of bell pepper, celery, onion, garlic and hot sauce, RestaurantDive.com reported today. To promote the Signature Sauce, which will be a permanent part of its menu, Popeyes also launched a Chicken Dipper limited-time snack – thin strips of white meat coated in Popeyes’ spicy batter – for $4.99.
