| Snapshots
Automotive Franchise Systems has moved to a new 56,000-square-foot facility in Warren to accommodate the increased growth of its franchising operations. The new facility, at 5523 E. Nine Mile Road, will house 45 employees (up from 30) to support nearly 200 U.S. franchisees. Privately held AFS has experienced double-digit annual growth in earnings and franchise units each year since its inception in 2003. .
KFC faces arches rival in China
For nearly two decades in China, the KFC logo has enticed the hungry with the promise of juicy, crispy chicken. Now, Yum Brands Inc. -- which owns KFC and Pizza Hut as well as Taco Bell, Long John Silver's and A&W All-American Food Restaurants in the United States -- has some competition for the cravings of Chinese diners. McDonald's, which has 800 restaurants in operation in China, is ramping up development in the country. "The businesses are years apart maturity wise, but we believe Yum's business can remain the primary driver of corporate profitability and McDonald's' business can become a measurable contributor to its own," said J.P. Morgan analyst John Ivankoe in a note to investors, after he met with both companies' teams in China last week. At Yum, the China business helped hasten a recovery after a string of problems in its U.S.
CoStar's Retail News Roundup: Sept. 23 to Sept. 29, 2007
This week in the Retail Roundup, CoStar reports on expansions and new concepts at Barney's, Pumpkin Patch, Who.A.U., Dick's Sporting Goods, and Dollar Tree; closings at Home Depot; bankruptcy at Bombay; new retail developments in VA, FL, GA, CA, MA, IN, MI, and NH; Acquisition activity at Hampton, Rouse's, Stripes, Party City, Finish Line and more; sustainability efforts at Hannaford, Costco and Tully's; new personnel at NAI Freidland, and more. Did you miss last week's CoStar Advisor retail story covering a dynamic property type, Retail Resorts? Follow this link to read, "RETAIL RESORTS: Exploring a Dynamic Property Type. In addition to appearing every week in the national news and retail news section of our web site, you may also receive the Retail News Roundup via email by contacting the editor, Sasha Pardy, at spardy@CoStar.comAlso, click hereto subscribe to CoStar's dedicated Retail RSS Feed.
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