Leading Polished Casual Fondue Restaurant Drives Asian Franchise Development
The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., the world’s premier fondue restaurant and a leading polished casual dining franchise, announced that it is actively seeking franchisees to bring its interactive dining experience to Hong Kong.The Tampa, Fla.-based company plans to enter China for the first time with the development of at least five restaurants in Hong Kong and Kowloon. Additionally, The Melting Pot is targeting Macao and numerous cities in mainland China for expansion including: Guangzhou, Macao, Shanghai, Beijing and Shenzhen.
The Melting Pot operates more than 125 restaurants across 35 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the United Arab Emirates, and has more than 15 locations in development internationally. The concept is known for offering an assortment of flavorful fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrées served with signature dipping sauces. The menu features a variety of à la carte selections, highlighting customizable options that invite guests to enjoy one, two, three or more courses as they select any combination of individually priced cheese fondues, salads, entrées and chocolate fondues.
“The Melting Pot is a proven 40-year American franchise concept that is unlike any other. Featuring four distinct courses, guests dip menu items into heated fondue pots at the center of each table. The concept provides a very social and interactive dining experience that has proven to translate well to multiple countries,” said Dan Stone, chief business and people development officer for Front Burner Brands. “We provide our franchisees the necessary training and support to ensure success, as well as expert resources to assist with identifying the best sites for our restaurants. We are ready to do business in Hong Kong and are seeking qualified candidates to build a strong brand presence throughout Hong Kong and the People’s Republic of China over the next few years.”
In addition to Hong Kong and China, the top fondue franchise is focused on expanding its international footprint in select markets across Brazil, Canada, India, Japan, Mexico and South Korea. Earlier this year, The Melting Pot announced the opening of its first restaurant in Jakarta, Indonesia and most recently its first Middle Eastern location in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The company also plans to open its first restaurant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia before the end of 2015.
The Melting Pot was recently ranked No. 1 among 40 casual-dining restaurant chains in Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2015 Consumer Picks report, up from No. 6 out of 38 concepts last year. The Melting Pot ranked first in four out of 10 overall attribute categories, achieving top scores in cleanliness, service, atmosphere and craveability.
To further fuel its global development plans, the company is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host a franchising webinar on Friday, Nov. 13 at 10 a.m. (HKT). To register, please visit http://www.meltingpotfranchise.com/upcomingEvents.aspx. To learn more about ownership opportunities with The Melting Pot, contact Dan Stone, chief business and people development officer for The Melting Pot, at 800-783-0867 ext. 108.
The Melting Pot is seeking area developers with restaurant or hospitality experience who can commit to a minimum development agreement of three or more restaurants. Franchisee candidates or groups should have access to a minimum of $3 million USD in capital. At least one of the franchise owners must be fluent in English. Depending on the real estate site selected, franchisees of The Melting Pot in the United States can expect the total investment for one restaurant to be approximately $959,000 to $1,436,000 USD. The initial franchise fee ranges from $45,000 to $60,000 USD per unit depending on the number of units committed and there is a one-time training fee of $50,000 USD. As the brand celebrates its 40th anniversary in 2015, a 40 percent discount will be offered on the initial franchise fee for the first restaurant for all new franchise agreements signed in 2015.
To learn about fondue history and facts, check out The Melting Pot’s fondue infographic.
Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot has offered a unique fondue dining experience for 40 years. As the premier fondue restaurant franchise, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. has more than 125 restaurants in 35 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia, and the United Arab Emirates, and more than 15 international locations in development. For more information, visit www.meltingpot.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with The Melting Pot, please visit www.meltingpotfranchise.com.
