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McAlister's Deli hoping to attract franchisees in Florida

The chain has opened locations in Orlando and Clermont and has three new restaurants slated for opening in 2016, in Fort Walton Beach, Naples and Miami.

April 14, 2016

McAlister's Deli is looking for partnerships with experienced multi-unit franchise owners as the brand continues its expansion into Florida, according to a company press release. The chain recently opened locations in Orlando and Clermont, has three new restaurants slated for opening in 2016, in Fort Walton Beach, Naples and Miami, and a goal of opening locations in key growth markets such as Tampa/St. Petersburg, Jacksonville and West Palm Beach.

"Florida represents an important part of McAlister's growth strategy and we're excited about the brand's continued expansion into the state," said Jeff Sturgis, McAlister's VP of franchise development. "The McAlister's Deli brand has become a top choice for some of the most successful multi-unit franchise owners in the country, so we're excited to watch the brand grow in these areas due in large part to the talent of our franchisees."

McAlister's has gained momentum with franchise development throughout the state with recent commitments in key growth markets, such as south Florida, southwest Florida, Orlando and the panhandle of Florida, in addition to an already existing presence in Tampa, Ocala, Gainesville and Destin, Sturgis said. As the company looks to open new restaurants, the brand is actively seeking qualified franchisees in metropolitan Jacksonville, Tampa, St. Petersburg, West Palm Beach, Boca Raton, and other territories throughout Florida. There are eight locations throughout the state.

McAlister's had a successful year of franchise growth in 2015 with $548 million in systemwide sales, the opening of 27 new restaurants — some in new markets, including Chicago, Rochester, and Orlando —  and nearly 60 commitments for new restaurants. This growth is fueled by both existing franchisees as well as new partnerships with experienced multi-unit franchise owners with notable portfolios, according to the release.

McAlister's currently operates more than 350 franchised locations in the U.S., across 27 states.