Key facts
- Barberitos plans to open five new franchise locations in Alabama. Barberitos currently has 45 restaurants open with five more planned for 2026.
- Layne's Chicken Fingers will open its 50th restaurant in Lubbock, Texas.
- Volley Automation relocated its headquarters from the Bay Area to Denver.
- Volley Automation will open a new 35,000 sq. ft. facility this fall.
- iniBurger emphasizes 100% Angus beef, halal certification, and real cheese in its ingredients.
- KFC is launching a Supergirl-themed summer menu on June 8.
- KFC will offer a limited-edition Krypto Collectible Bucket starting June 10.
- Slutty Vegan has signed franchise agreements for expansion in Washington, D.C. and Atlanta.
- Replay Sports Cards has signed a franchise agreement to expand into Tampa, Florida.
- Red Bull Basement provides AI tools and equity-free funding to first-time founders.
- The Red Bull Basement World Final is scheduled for 2026.
- Tabañero launched a new collection of seven Florida-inspired BBQ sauces.
Multiple brands across the food and service industries are announcing expansion plans and new product launches. Barberitos, a fast-casual chain recognized on Fast Casual's 2026 Top 100 Movers & Shakers List, has signed a five-unit franchise agreement to expand into Birmingham and Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The company currently operates 45 restaurants with five more slated for 2026. Layne's Chicken Fingers is celebrating a significant milestone with the upcoming opening of its 50th restaurant in Lubbock, Texas, which will include giveaways and a collaboration with Texas Tech's NIL program. Slutty Vegan, a plant-based burger brand founded by Pinky Cole Hayes, has secured new franchise agreements for expansion into Washington, D.C. and Atlanta, with experienced operators set to lead these ventures. iniBurger, a Bay Area fast-casual brand, is setting new ingredient standards, emphasizing 100% Angus beef, halal certification, and real cheese across its iniBurger, iniWings, and iniSliders concepts. KFC is introducing a Supergirl-themed summer menu on June 8, featuring new sauces, a Kryptonian Kooler beverage, and blind bag collectibles, including a limited-edition Krypto Collectible Bucket available from June 10. Tabañero has launched a new collection of seven Florida-inspired BBQ sauces, formulated with cleaner ingredients and approximately half the sugar and calories of leading brands. Farm Rich is expanding its snack-sized offerings with new flavors designed for summer. In the home services sector, College H.U.N.K.S. Hauling Junk & Moving has signed a franchise agreement for a location in Midland, Michigan, as part of its national growth strategy. Replay Sports Cards, America's first national franchise for sports cards, has signed an agreement to expand into Tampa, Florida, with a former mechanical engineer as the operator. A PostalAnnex location in Miami, Florida, has changed ownership, with new owners aiming to continue the business's 20-year legacy. Amped Fitness, a Florida-based fitness brand, plans to open a new club in Melbourne, Florida, in Summer 2026, focusing on high-energy training and community. Ford's Garage is launching a limited-time summer menu featuring BBQ-inspired dishes and seasonal drinks. In a different sector, Volley Automation, a developer of robotic parking systems, has relocated its headquarters from the Bay Area to Denver, citing Colorado's engineering talent, affordability, and geographic access. The company is set to open a new 35,000 sq. ft. facility this fall. Red Bull Basement, a global innovation incubator, is funding startup ideas by providing AI tools and equity-free funding to first-time founders, with its World Final scheduled for 2026.