Article

It's spring in restaurantland and the stores are sprouting

At least four chains have announced plans for major growth initiatives, proving that expansion is the order of the day in the pizza and quick-serve sectors.

April 6, 2017 by S.A. Whitehead — Food Editor, Net World Media Group

At least four chains have announced plans for some big growth initiatives in the last week, proving that expansion is the order of the day in the pizza and quick-serve sectors.

Dunkin' into the Tar Heel State

Dunkin' Donuts plans to open a dozen new locations in North Carolina within the next few years. Two franchise groups are involved, including a new  player, HARA Foodservice, which is developing four locations around Charlotte in Hickory, Lenoir, Marion and Morganton. A news release said the group's first opening set is for next year.

Next year will is also the target for store openings by existing franchisee, Carolina Donuts, which is developing eight locations in the Winston-Salem area, in addition to a dozen sites in Florida and Tennessee and five locations recently acquired in the Winston-Salem area. 

"As we continue to work towards our long-term goal of developing 17,000 Dunkin' Donuts in the U.S., we also remain committed to providing great products, exceptional guest service and innovative marketing to our loyal guests across the country," Dunkin's Senior Vice President of Franchising and Development Grant Benson said in a news release.

North Carolina currently has about 300 Dunkin' locations, and the company is continuing to recruit franchisees in the Raleigh, Jacksonville/Sneads Ferry, High Point and Burlington/Mebane areas for outlets that range from free-standing restaurants and university sites to in-line sites and end caps.

Cousins and Bruster's ride the wave of sales success

Cousins Subs and Bruster's Ice Cream, are carving out new territories following some real successes with individual store sales.

Cousins' leadership said that having strengthened its unit-level economics and built a stronger core of franchisees, the chain is in great shape to expand.  The company is starting off with three partners taking up multi-unit initiatives in Wisconsin and Illinois as part of its rebranding and growth strategy, according to a news release. 

OM Group, led by veteran operators Amit and Kalpesh Patel, is the chain's first Chicagoland developer, with plans for 10 stores over the next four years. OM currently operates 50 quick-service restaurants and 40 gas and convenience store locations in the Midwest. 

"Though we will look for other acquisition opportunities anywhere in Wisconsin, our goal is to be a main franchise group of Cousins in the Chicagoland market," Amit Patel said in a news release.

Multi-unit owners Chad Ellett, Randy Fusch and Mike Gilbertson purchased two Cousins' corporate locations in Madison and Oregon, Wisconsin, with possibly one more in the future, as well as two stores set to open in the next two years between Madison and Rockford, Illinois. Likewise, father-and-son team, John Stewart Sr. and John Stewart Jr. bought Wisconsin locations in Sheboygan and Mequon. 
 
"With our remodeling and rebranding initiative underway, now is the right time to revive the brand through Midwest growth, specifically in the Chicagoland area," Cousins President and CEO Christine Specht said in a news release. "We've increased our same-store sales and average unit volumes, positioning us for multi-unit franchise investment."

Dessert-centric brand Bruster's has undertaken a growth strategy that brings its sweet treats to seven new markets after the chain posted an 8.8 percent same-store sales increase for the first quarter of 2017. New deals this year have shops going into markets that include San Antonio, Austin and Lewisville in Texas; Athens, Georgia; Nashville, Tennessee; Laurel-Columbia, Maryland; and Burlington-Waltham, Massachusetts.

Every one of these cities is a new market for the chain, according to a news release. Bruster's also is scooping up new territory in Southern California with an agreement for an Upland shop in addition to three currently operating in the area and another three set to open this spring. The ice cream brand also has set stakes in Phoenix and Pittsburgh with the addition of 12 stores last year nationwide.

"Many of these recent agreements are a direct result of our strong push to expand in the West and Southwest," Bruster's CEO Jim Sahen said in a news release. 

Young pizza chain gets set for takeoff

In pizza territory, fast casual chain Urban Bricks Pizza announced that it has more than 120 locations in development, just two years after the initial launch of the franchise, which was founded by a previous multibrand operator, Sammy Aldeeb.

Urban Bricks is a pizza brand that offers a drive-thru, a full bar and home delivery. Currently it has 11 open locations in Texas and Ontario, Canada, with another six under construction, as well as 25 committed leases and more than 120 committed stores through master franchise agreements.

The chain is breaking ground in Texas, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oregon, Missouri and Canadian provinces.

The chain makes its dough fresh daily from a recipe developed by World Pizza Champion Michele d'Amelio, a company press release said. The menu features build-your-own pizzas, salads, wings and gelato. 

Photo: iStock

About S.A. Whitehead

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Pizza Marketplace and QSRweb editor Shelly Whitehead is a former newspaper and TV reporter with an affinity for telling stories about the people and innovative thinking behind great brands.