With the holiday shopping season about to begin, Fazoli’s will continue to provide shoppers with what CEO Carl Howard calls a “tremendous opportunity to receive a great dinning experience.” The popular Italian quick-service chain, ranked second overall among large national fast-food chains in the prestigious Zagat Survey, reported a 5.7 percent increase for October sales on the franchise side with a 2.6 percent increase reported on the company side. The entire system enjoyed positive traffic in the period. Additionally, franchisees have experienced 13 straight quarters of positive sales.
“While holiday shopping forecasts are generally positive, it’s clear that consumers remain extremely value driven,” Howard says. “That puts Fazoli’s and its franchisees in a very good spot.” He attributes Fazoli’s sales growth to its premium quick-service positioning.
“Diners looking for a great meal at a great price will continue to seek us out,” he says. “With table service, our family-friendly environment and the fact that guests never have to tip, we’re providing a $15 dinning experience for less than half that.”
Fazoli’s performance has created strong interest among potential franchisees.The brand has commitments for 12 new franchised restaurants, including several in travel centers. It recently opened its first college campus unit, located at Texas Tech University. An additional franchise unit will open this week in Morehead, Kentucky.
