Food & Beverage

Fazoli’s signs franchisees in Florida, Pennsylvania, Virginia

Provided

February 1, 2021

Fazoli's has signed three franchisees to add seven locations to its pipeline throughout the Florida Panhandle, Virginia and Pennsylvania, according to a press release.

The Pennsylvania agreement marks Fazoli's first ever development in the state. The first of Fazoli's seven locations is expected to open in late spring 2021.

"After a challenging year for the restaurant industry, we proved to everyone that Fazoli's remains a best-in-class brand with staying power," Fazoli's CEO Carl Howard said in the release. "We closed out eight straight historical months with double-digit month-over-month sales and traffic during a global pandemic, and new and existing franchisees have taken note of our brand's success.

"As we gear up for a record-breaking number of openings in 2021 with 10 to 15 new locations expected to open during the calendar year, we're keeping franchise interest at an all-time high."

Fazoli's launched its 2020 franchise incentive program in June, which encourages quick-service or fast-casual restaurant operators to convert shells into a Fazoli's. With the conversion incentive, franchisees can sign a five-year term, versus the typical 15-year commitment, with zero down payment, zero franchise fees and zero royalty fees in the first year. Fazoli's also relaxed its conversion requirements so operators can get a 2,000- to 3,500-square-foot restaurant open for under $350,000.

Additionally, after a year of digital sales growth of 560.7% in delivery sales and 295.4% in online order sales, Fazoli's is developing three prototype concepts designed to capitalize on its rising off-premise revenue. A 1,700 double drive-thru prototype, a 2,200- and 2,500-square-foot prototype are in the works to cater to prospective franchisees looking for smaller options.