Melting Pot looks to stir up expansion

TAMPA — The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. plans to expand its fondue restaurant chain footprint throughout the United States and Canada. Domestically, the company is looking to recruit new franchisees in several cities, including Anchorage, Alaska; Little Rock, Ark.; Fresno, Calif.; Hartford, Conn.; Des Moines, Iowa; New York City; Chattanooga, Tenn.; Charleston, S.C.; and Portland, Maine; as well as Houston and El Paso, Texas. The chain is also focusing its expansion efforts in cities across Canada, including Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver.

As part of the brand's growth plan, The Melting Pot is also offering to sell existing restaurants to franchisees.

“With nearly 30 years of experience in franchising, The Melting Pot is a proven concept that provides franchisees with the tools and support needed to help them achieve success,” Mike Lester, president of The Melting Pot, says in a press release. “Our proven business model and simple operations combined with strong average unit volumes are just a few reasons why The Melting Pot is an attractive investment opportunity for entrepreneurs.”

The Melting Pot was recently ranked by Nation's Restaurant News as the sixth best of 38 concepts in the casual dining segment in the Consumer Picks Survey. The fondue franchise expects to sign a number of new franchise agreements before the end of 2014 and open at least four new restaurants by 2015.

Interested franchisees should have a credit score of 650 or higher, a minimum net worth of $750,000 and liquid assets of at least $325,000 per unit. Depending on the real estate site, franchisees can expect the total investment for one restaurant to be $970,195 to $1.42 million. Single-unit and multiunit franchise opportunities are available with an initial franchise fee of $45,000 per unit.

Founded in 1975, the fondue restaurant chain operates more than 135 restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico, and has more than 25 locations in development internationally.