Franchising
Pizza Hut, Taco Bell franchisee adds Hawaiian Bros to portfolio
July 5, 2023
Kansas City-based Hawaiian Bros signed its fourth franchise agreement with Ohana Restaurant Group LLC, owned by Zach Fugate and cousins Nick and Nathan Blasi, in Wichita, Kansas. The newly formed Ohana Restaurant Group LLC franchised the Springdale, Arkansas location and will develop seven additional Hawaiian Bros restaurants across four markets. Fugate, who leads the Pizza Hut division of Fugate Enterprises, which owns 150 Pizza Huts and 75 Taco Bells, is the designated principal for Hawaiian Bros, responsible for operations and real estate site selection.
"I was looking for a new concept that aligns with our principles and allows for growth," Fugate said in a company press release. "It starts with how Hawaiian Bros treats their people and that translates into a maniacal focus on operations. That simplicity leads to best-in-class drive thru times and high AUVs, and we know people are looking for great food fast. Hawaiian Bros delivers that, which made partnering with them an easy decision."
Nick and Nathan Blasi are licensees and dealers of marine watercraft, operating multiple retail locations in Wichita.
"We wanted to grow our business into something more and it made sense to partner with Zach, with his history in the restaurant business," Nick Blasi, VP of Ohana Restaurant Group, said in the release. "We are so excited to join this brand with our family."
Hawaiian Bros has 39 restaurants open in seven states across the country.
