Leading drive-thru franchise celebrates record-setting seven consecutive years of same store sales growth, plans to open 70+ new restaurants in 2018 and gears up for 900th restaurant
Checkers & Rally’s, the iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain, is gearing up for 70 restaurant openings in 2018, as well as hitting its landmark 900th restaurant late this summer. The fan-favorite, value-driven franchise known for “Crazy Good Food” is building on a record-setting 2017, when the brand opened 50 new restaurants and signed 44 new franchise partners. With 128 approved sites in the pipeline, the brand has more than set the pace for its monumental goal of 1,200 restaurants by 2020.
Much of this growth can be attributed to the new modular restaurant design – the innovative Checkers and Rally’s Model 4.0. With this design, modular units are constructed offsite in a controlled environment, and delivered to the location and set on a pre-constructed foundation. Franchisees who opt for the new restaurant design save on development costs, time spent securing city permits and construction postponements, and they’re able to avoid costly weather delays. So far, the brand has already had ten new modular restaurants open, with 20 more projected for the year.
“The 4.0 Modular design has been extremely successful for the brand because of the price certainty and simplicity it provides to the franchisee,” said Checkers & Rally’s Chief Development Officer Jennifer Durham. “The franchisees that have opted for the new design have been thrilled with both the return on investment and the opportunity to develop faster on smaller lots that would not have been considered for a restaurant otherwise.”
With returns on new restaurants it’s no surprise that 86 percent of the chain’s existing franchisees are looking to add restaurants to their portfolios.
“This past year has been such an exciting time for the Checkers & Rally’s system. Not only are we growing at a record pace, but much of this growth is through the new 4.0 Modular offering, which is energizing both new and existing franchisees,” said Durham. “With our 900th opening around the corner and a record number of restaurants set to open this year, we expect 2018 to be another big year for the brand, and we have no plans of slowing this momentum anytime soon!”
Based in Tampa, Fla., Checkers & Rally’s Restaurants, Inc., an iconic and innovative drive-thru restaurant chain known for its “Crazy Good Food,” exceptional value, and people-first attitude, operates and franchises both Checkers and Rally’s restaurants. With more than 870 restaurants and room to grow, Checkers & Rally’s is a proven brand with flexible building formats that is aggressively expanding across the country. Checkers & Rally’s is dedicated to being a place where franchisees and employees who work hard can create opportunity for themselves, their families, and their communities. In recent years, the brand has been awarded several of the industry’s most prestigious awards including: Ranking #140 on Entrepreneur’s 2018 Franchise 500, Top Food and Beverage Franchise by Franchise Business Review, 2016, 2017 and 2018 Best Franchise Deals, “Best Drive-Thru in America” by QSR Magazine, the “Hot! Again” award from Nation’s Restaurant News, and “#1 Most Craveable Fries” by Restaurant Business. For more information about franchise opportunities with Checkers & Rally’s, please visit www.checkersfranchising.com.
