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Lisa Jennings
DALLAS The Red Mango frozen yogurt chain’s recently hired head of franchising outlined Wednesday an aggressive growth plan that includes the opening of 550 locations over the next five years, with the Dallas area and New York city as prime initial targets.
James Franks, formerly a director of franchising for Baskin-Robbins who joined Red Mango as vice president of franchising in March, this week announced a series of franchise seminars for the brand beginning in New York on May 4 and Dallas on May 11. Red Mango’s franchising arm is based in Dallas, though the franchisor is based in Sherman Oaks, Calif.
The company said it is looking for multiple-concept franchisees, as well as entrepreneurs and first-time business owners.
The two-year old Red Mango USA chain currently includes about 43 units in California, New York, Washington, Illinois, Hawaii, New Jersey, Nevada and Utah, about three-quarters of which are franchise owned.
This year, the chain is expected to add about 40 units, mostly franchised. However, four franchise locations in the Los Angeles area closed in recent months, which company officials blamed on poor real estate choices.
“Despite the economy, we’re experiencing the strongest franchise growth in our company’s history,” Franks said. “And our commitment to enter and expand in these markets with the right franchisee is already supported with our new franchise offices in Dallas. We will double the size of our franchise network this year, and our efforts in these target markets will be instrumental to that success.”
The first Red Mango store in Dallas is scheduled to open later this year. New York is home to 10 units, and company officials say there is room for more development there.
Following the seminars in New York and Dallas, the company plans to host similar events in Los Angeles, where the concept first debuted and there are nine stores, and in Seattle, where five Red Mango locations are open.
Contact Lisa Jennings at [email protected]
