The Midwest-based Culver’s restaurant chain added 28 new restaurants in 2012 that included its first venture into South Carolina. This compares with 20 openings in 2011 and 12 in 2010. Culver’s will finish the year with 473 restaurants operating in 20 states.“Culver’s mission is to make sure each guest leaves happy. This is true both in restaurant and online,” said David Stidham, vice president of marketing for Culver’s. “Our new website tells our unique story like it’s never been told before.”
“Our existing franchise partners had a good year in 2011 and that, coupled with lower interest rates, encouraged them to expand this year,” says Phil Keiser, President and Chief Operating Officer. “We’ve also seen more new people interested in being part of the Culver’s brand and owning their own business.”
Culver’s will enter Florida in 2013 with at least three restaurants planned in the Fort Myers, Naples and Sarasota areas. “We’re looking forward to bringing the Culver’s experience to guests in Florida,” says Keiser. “We know there are many people from the Midwest in those areas who know the Culver’s brand. They’ll be great ambassadors for our food and hospitality.”
Culver’s reaffirmed their Midwest roots opening five new restaurants in Michigan, as well as four in Iowa and Wisconsin. The chain also added three new restaurants in Arizona and two in Utah. Five of the new restaurants were attributed to the Culver’s Mentor program whereby members of a franchisee’s management team partner with their current franchisee to open their own Culver’s. Total restaurant openings in 2013 should exceed 2012.
Additionally in 2012, 27 current restaurants were updated with either a refresh of their interior or a complete re-imaging of both their interior and exterior. “It’s important to keep the interior and exterior of our restaurants fresh and up to date because our guests have told us that in addition to quality food and hospitality the look of our facilities is important to them,” adds Keiser. Twenty-five more reimage/refresh projects are planned for next year.
Culver’s serves fresh food, always cooked to order, with genuine family values to each and every guest. Culver’s is an expanding franchise system with more than 470 independently owned and operated restaurants in 20 states. The restaurants’ award-winning customer service is based on small-town, Midwestern values, genuine friendliness and an unwavering commitment to quality and freshness. Signature items include the ButterBurger®, made from fresh, never frozen Midwest-raised beef and Fresh Frozen Custard, including the famous Flavor of the Day program. For more information, visit www.culvers.com.
