Tasti D-Lite is continuing its rapid expansion plans with the announcement of three area development agreements with commitments for 65 locations in Dallas, Las Vegas, and East Coast beach towns in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware.

Area developer Francisco Gomez-Palacio has plans to open at least 25 units in Dallas and Tarrant Counties in Texas over the next 10 years. He will personally operate at least one of the units. After emigrating to the U.S. from Mexico in 1998, Gomez-Palacio founded the telephone company Latino Communications. He will use his cultural experience to recruit qualified businessmen living in Mexico as well as U.S. residents to become Tasti D-Lite franchisees. He will also offer these franchisees guidance in financing, insurance, and education for their children through his relocation company, Vente LLC.

Area developer Aliza Elazar-Higuchi has signed on to open at least 15 units throughout Clark and Nye Counties in Nevada with plans to personally operate three of those units. After serving as an officer in the Israeli Army and studying in Israel and Japan, Elazar-Higuchi became an interpreter and ambassador of Goodwill for Rotary International. Over the past 12 years, however, she has teamed up with family members to own and operate 20 retail stores throughout Nevada, including three City Life USA stores—an accessory concept developed and designed by Elazar-Higuchi, her husband, Tetsuo, her brother, Eli, and her brother-in-law, Pini. While all family members will bring superior customer service and business acumen to the Tasti D-Lite brand, Pini will also lend his expertise as an interior designer.

Area developer Ben Pascal will open at least 25 units in Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Delaware over the coming years. Pascal plans to personally operate four of the units, two of which are slated to open in Annapolis, Maryland, and Baltimore by the end of 2010. At just 26 years old, Pascal is part owner of Realty Executives International, as well as a project manager for his grandfather’s real estate company Pascal Development. In addition to owning several residential rental properties in the Baltimore area, he continues to buy, rehab and sell additional homes every year.

“We’re excited to bring these new area developers on board. Each comes to the Tasti D-Lite team with an extensive background in business, a thorough understanding of his or her market, and a passion for the Tasti D-Lite brand,” says Jim Amos, Tasti D-Lite’s chairman and CEO. “This is a tremendous opportunity for Tasti D-Lite to expand its Northeast presence to new and untapped markets, and introduce its wide variety of healthier treats and snacks to brand new demographics.”