Leading Polished Casual Fondue Restaurant to Host Webinar April 23 to Fuel National Expansion
The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., the world’s premier fondue restaurant and a leading polished casual dining franchise, announced today it has signed a franchise agreement to develop its first restaurant in Little Rock, marking the brand’s entry into Arkansas. Currently, The Melting Pot has more than 130 restaurants across 35 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, and Southeast Asia, and more than 20 locations in development internationally.
“We’re excited to further expand our national presence with the signing of our first franchise agreement in Arkansas,” said Dan Stone, vice president of franchise development for Front Burner Brands. “We look forward to working with our new franchise partner to introduce Little Rock residents to our one-of-a-kind, polished casual dining experience.”
Allen Hurst plans to develop The Melting Pot’s first Arkansas location in Little Rock, which is slated to open by early 2016. Hurst will relocate his family from Denver, Colo., to the Little Rock area, where he aims to develop additional restaurants in Arkansas and neighboring states over the next five years.
“When looking into franchise opportunities, I was attracted to the support offered by Front Burner Brands and the unique dining experience found at The Melting Pot,” said Hurst. “My wife and I were first introduced to the brand when we dined at the Denver location for our 15th wedding anniversary, and we were amazed by the food and exceptional service. We look forward to the opening of our first Melting Pot restaurant and eventually expanding the brand’s presence in new markets throughout Arkansas.”
Underscoring its 2014 achievements, The Melting Pot was ranked sixth out of 38 concepts in the casual dining segment of the Nation’s Restaurant News 2014 Consumer Picks Survey. In the varied menu/specialty sub-segment of the casual dining industry, The Melting Pot ranked first in the categories of cleanliness, service and likelihood to recommend. Overall in the casual dining segment, the brand ranked second in cleanliness, second in service and fourth in likelihood to recommend.
The Melting Pot operates more than 130 restaurants in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Southeast Asia and has more than 20 locations in development internationally. The concept is known for offering an assortment of flavorful fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrees served with signature dipping sauces. The menu features a variety of a 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, entrees and chocolate fondues.
The Melting Pot is seeking entrepreneurs with business backgrounds and/or preferably restaurant experience who are passionate about the brand and want to be their own bosses. Franchisee candidates should have a credit score of 650 or higher, a minimum net worth of $750,000 and liquid assets of at least $325,000 per unit. Depending on the real estate site selected, franchisees can expect the total investment for one restaurant to be approximately $959,000 to $1,436,000. Single-unit and multi-unit franchise opportunities are available with an initial franchise fee of $45,000 per unit. 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 fuel national expansion, The Melting Pot is hosting a live webinar on Thursday, April 23 at 2 p.m. (EDT). To register, please visit https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/6991775015032499713 or contact Shak Turner, director of franchise development for The Melting Pot, at 800-783-0867 ext. 105 or sturner@meltingpot.com.
To learn more about ownership opportunities with The Melting Pot, contact Shak Turner, director of franchise development for The Melting Pot, at 800-783-0867 ext. 105 or sturner@meltingpot.com or visit www.meltingpotfranchise.com.
To learn about fondue history and facts, check out The Melting Pot’s fondue infographic.
With more than 130 restaurants across 35 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Southeast Asia and more than 20 locations currently in development internationally, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. is the premier fondue restaurant franchise and a leading polished casual dining franchise. Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot has offered a memorable dining experience for 40 years. Guests enjoy a choice of fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrees combined with dipping sauces. The menu also includes cheese fondues, salads, fine wines and chocolate fondue desserts. The Melting Pot is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit http://www.meltingpot.com.
Front Burner Brands is a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. It is affiliated with the corporate owners of and its management services extended to The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., founded in 1975 with more than 130 restaurants in North America and Southeast Asia and more than 20 locations currently in development and GrillSmith with five locations in the Tampa Bay area. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.
