Melting Pot Leverages King of Prussia Mall Success to Launch Hotel-Focused Growth Model
With record sales after relocating next to the Hyatt House and with hoteliers looking for creative ways to connect with the local communities and leverage existing restaurant space, Melting Pot places focus on hotel conversion program.
TAMPA, Fla., May 23, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- The strength of sales volume at its King of Prussia Mall location (outside of Philadelphia) located next door to a Hyatt House, has driven CEO Bob Johnston to focus a portion of the brand's future development in or near other hotel properties.
"What we have found is two-fold. First, if a Melting Pot is the restaurant inside of a hotel, it will bridge that hotel to the community – giving neighbors the ability to experience an unforgettable experience at our restaurant. Additionally, when situated next door or in the shared parking lot of a hotel, we have created a boost from the hotel business. We are taking both insights and leveraging to expand our franchise growth attention to hoteliers and hotel property owners," he said.
For more than 40 years, Melting Pot Restaurants have been providing diners with an experiential meal and hotels have been providing travelers a home with experiential promotions. Now, Melting Pot will marry the two together. Within the new design of the Melting Pot Restaurant is two things: an elevated bar experience and a dining experience fit for the traveler. Both compliment the brand's couple and larger party dining experience, too, which also align with a hotelier's mission.
"Instead of a hotel restaurant that no one knows, hotel owners can leverage our legacy brand to build community buzz and instant customers," said Collin Benyo, franchise growth specialist.
The nearly 100-unit brand will continue to grow in dense markets throughout 2023 and 2024, opening traditional units, however, Johnston says the hotel restaurant conversion or the leveraging of hotel owner land will be a key focus of the brand's extended growth.
"Hoteliers are not only qualified franchisees in financial nature, they are also sophisticated operators," he said. "Our brand's ease of operations and unmatched support will give them the tools to extend the sales of their hotel, connect them to the neighborhood and community, and provide them with a restaurant business they can be proud to own."
First time restaurant franchise hoteliers will be guided through the process with an unmatched level of support. Melting Pot offers an abundance of support to help get new franchisees off the ground running. The brand's leadership team will even help forecast the sales potential within that area. Additionally, they also provide construction and design support, and have an in-house team dedicated to assisting with new construction projects and renovations. There's an ample amount of training provided, which includes prior-to-opening, at-opening and subsequent to-opening.
"We have a team of seasoned experienced restaurant veterans who help our franchisees," he says. "They're not there just dealing with compliance issues. They're there helping that franchisee maximize the business potential of their location."
Everyone on their executive leadership team also knows each franchisee personally and directly. As part of that, the leadership team makes themselves available to franchisees at all times to help them continue scaling their business.
In 2022, nearly 75% of open restaurants achieved all-time sales records, highlighting the brand's growing demand. The Melting Pot team is working to meet or exceed the 125-unit mark in 2026, in addition to working with hoteliers, the brand is targeting expansion in Memphis, Houston, Charleston, Fort Worth, Chattanooga, Montgomery and more.
About Melting Pot
Founded in 1975, Melting Pot has offered a unique fondue dining experience for more than 45 years. As the premier fondue restaurant franchise, Melting Pot has 94 restaurants in 31 U.S. states and Canada. Known for offering a variety of fondue cooking styles and unique entrées, Melting Pot's menu also features cheese fondues, salads, fine wines, spirits and chocolate fondue desserts. Fondue fans can join Melting Pot's Club Fondue for exclusive promotions, special events and advance holiday reservation privileges. Melting Pot is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit http://www.meltingpot.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Melting Pot, please visit http://www.meltingpotfranchise.com.
About Front Burner
Headquartered in Tampa, Front Burner is the restaurant management company for Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., the new casual whimsical dining concept Melting Pot Social and fast-casual concept Oronzo Honest Italian! Melting Pot currently has more than 96 restaurants in 31 U.S. states and Canada. Melting Pot Social opened its first location in July 2021 in Asheville, NC. Oronzo opened its first location in Tampa, FL. in June 2020 and will open a second location in the area in October of 2021. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.
Media Contact
Julie Maw, Mainland, 3125263996, [email protected]
SOURCE Melting Pot
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