Mr. Gatti’s Pizza thinks it Fit’s In

 

Legacy restaurant chains continue to evolve some take a step forward and some seem to take a step back.  In the case of Mr Gatti’s Pizza it’s like looking around for a place to grow and looking back at a non-traditional co-branded option is where the show fits best. 

That right, Mr Gatti’s Pizza, has expanded its franchise opportunities to include a convenience store option as a fresh food branded opportunity.  This is far from an innovative approach marks the first expansion of its premium pizza offerings to non-traditional locations for Mr Gatti’s Pizza.

Scott McIntosh, vice president of franchise development at Mr Gatti’s Pizza, stated, “In our 55-year history, Mr Gatti’s has continually innovated, and our latest model exemplifies this spirit by offering our franchisees enhanced revenue streams and operational flexibility,” …. “This new venture attaching our delivery and carryout (DELCO) format to convenience stores allows franchisees to capitalize on a compact, adaptable footprint, catering to today’s fast-paced consumer lifestyle with a premium, convenient dining experience. It’s a strategic evolution, ensuring our franchise partners not only grow with the brand but also lead the way in the ever-evolving food service industry.”

Yes, this is the same story we heard from Pizza Hut close to 30 years aga now according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.  Once again, this new (only for Mr Gattie’s Pizza) franchise model features a smaller, more flexible footprint, including a convenient pickup window designed to elevate the customer experience.

The legacy approach streamlines the ordering process, accommodating orders through a window or via the brand’s mobile app and online system. Initially, Mr Gatti’s strategic franchising efforts for the new concept will focus on Texas and the Southeast, with future expansion plans targeting the Southeast, Southwest, and Midwest regions.

Inspired by their stand-alone DELCO models, Mr Gatti’s new footprint model offers operators a chance to harness the company’s long-standing heritage and tried-and-true menu. The expected investment for this new model ranges from $374,000 to $652,866, mirroring the costs of current DELCO models. Designed for flexibility, the model caters to spaces ranging from 800 to 1,500 square feet, providing franchisees with a versatile and adaptable opportunity in locations including travel centers, airports, amusement parks and more.

The convenience store model is the latest addition to the existing portfolio of franchising opportunities, which includes Family Entertainment Center (FEC) and stand-alone DELCO formats. The company’s success with multiple models demonstrates its industry expertise and adaptability, reinforcing its position as an industry leader while upholding its strong brand reputation.

Foodservice Solutions® specializes in outsourced business development. We can help you identify, quantify and qualify additional food retail segment opportunities or a new menu product segment and brand and menu integration strategy.  Foodservice Solutions® of Tacoma WA is the global leader in the Grocerant niche visit us on our social media sites by clicking one of the following links: Facebook,  LinkedIn, or Twitter

Hello Once Again Non-Traditional Dining Formats Driving Growth

 

Just in case you have not been reading our blog.  Yes, we know that blogging is old fashion but so is elevating a foundation of knowledge.  Grocerant niche mix & match meal component bunding continues to drive top line sales and bottom-line profits in all sectors of retail foodservice according to Steven Johnson Grocerant Guru® at Tacoma, WA based Foodservice Solutions®.

Here is an just one example of how an award- winning Mediterranean fast-casual dining franchise, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, is taking advantage of the undercurrent of change driving customer migration within the restaurant sector.  The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill launched three new non- traditional dining formats developed to support the brand’s aggressive accelerated expansion plan. Including a to-go-only restaurant, a digital kitchen, and special venue buildouts designed for airports, universities, stadiums, and more, these new formats signify the brand’s commitment to innovation and guest satisfaction as well as its dedication to franchise owners.

Bob Andersen, President of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill, stated, “The development of our three new non-traditional formats began almost two years ago as we sought to identify changes in the habits and behaviors of our customers. Guest satisfaction has always been paramount to us, so we wanted to implement innovations that enhanced their overall experience while driving sales and profitability for our franchise owners,”

Anderson continued, “The new formats combine the best of both worlds for our brand; they offer the convenience of on-the-go dining for our customers while also giving existing and prospective franchise owners the opportunity to more cost effectively seize opportunities in prime areas while capturing more market share and increasing brand exposure.”

So, in addition to the convenience of off-premises dining, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill’s new non- traditional formats will expand the brand’s delivery and catering capabilities. They include:

§  The Great Greek To Go: Guests can quickly pick up a meal with this takeout-only format in busy retail and shopping areas. Compared to The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill’s standard 30-45- seat, 1,700-2,000-square-foot dine-in model, The Great Greek To Go features a footprint between 500 and 900 square feet with a service counter and minimal to no indoor The first Great Greek To Go opened last month at 8900 Baltimore Ave. in College Park, Maryland, minutes away from the University of Maryland.

§  The Great Greek Digital Kitchen: Diners can order online through the restaurant website or a third-party delivery platform and either have their food delivered or pick it up themselves from the Digital Kitchen Spaces are between 190 and 220 square feet. The first Great Greek Digital Kitchen is set to launch this month in Miami. Additional locations in Dallas-Fort Worth, Los Angeles, and San Diego are slated to launch before the end of 2023.

§  Special Venues: The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has developed buildout options for a variety of non-traditional venues, including airports and travel centers, colleges and universities, shopping malls, entertainment venues, stadiums, and more. Restaurants can range from 500 to 1,000 square feet and offer a service counter with optional communal seating, depending on the space. Rollout is slated for 2024.

Looking a customer ahead, these new formats arrive during the brand’s most successful year in company history. Year-to-date, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has signed 27 franchise agreements and opened 15 new restaurants with 10 more projected to open before the end of the year, including five non-traditional locations. “2023 has been a milestone year for our brand in terms of growth and we plan to leverage the momentum we’ve achieved this year into 2024 as we offer these new formats to both new and existing franchisees. The best is yet to come,” added Andersen.

Demonstrating its strength in the highly competitive fast-casual dining industry, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill has been recognized with several prestigious industry accolades this year. The brand was ranked among the top 75 brands in Fast Casual’s 2023 Top 100 Movers & Shakers report; recognized as a QSR 50 Contender and named among 15 Franchisors to Watch by QSR magazine; included on Franchise Times‘ Top 400 ranking of the largest U.S.-based franchises; and dubbed a Future 50 chain on Restaurant Business and Technomic’s list of the fastest-growing emerging concepts.

Additionally, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill was selected as a Fast 50 honoree by the South Florida Business Journal as part of its list of the region’s 50 fastest-growing private companies and recently made the inaugural Private 100 list, spotlighting the top private companies in South Florida by 2022 revenue.

The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill® is a part of the Big Flavor Brands™ foodservice division of Starpoint Brands™. Members of Starpoint Brands represent the very best in their industries and are the mark of quality for customers, providing the ultimate in service, reliability, and value.

Is your brand looking a customer ahead? The foodservice status quo is not static.

Are you looking for a new partnership to drive sales? Are you ready for some fresh ideations? Do your food marketing tactics look more like yesterday than tomorrow?  Visit GrocerantGuru.com for more information or contact: Steve@FoodserviceSolutions.us Remember success does leave clues and we just may have the clue you need to propel your continued success.