Newk’s Eatery

Newk’s Eatery Offers Franchisees Next Generation Fast Casual: Food and hospitality are the cornerstones of this growing brand.

Jackson, Mississippi–based Newk’s eatery offers the next generation of fast-casual dining. Its signature components of a scratch-made approach to the menu, open kitchen, and a roundtable offering free, gourmet condiments along with great unit-level economics will serve as a base for future growth. Its new Generation Two restaurant design reflects the chain’s mission to serve the finest ingredients with the utmost hospitality in an upscale environment.

The Generation Two design features a number of improvements. Pendant lightning and plush upholstery emphasize Newk’s position as an upscale fast-casual brand. A new floor plan offers increased intimacy in the seating areas, and the design takes into consideration the cost of upgrading older restaurants—a very important consideration as the chain plans to retrofit many of its existing units, the majority of which are franchised. The leadership team hopes the design will continue Newk’s growth trajectory while keeping build-out costs minimal.

The dining area is built around the signature roundtable, where guests can customize their meals with complimentary toppings and add-ons, such as condiments, sweet pickles, oven-roasted garlic, breadsticks, and other items.

The food is not the only good thing Newk’s has going. Newk’s 2017 Franchise Disclosure Document shows that company stores open for at least 18 months had an average unit volume of $2,384,459. The total investment necessary to begin operations of a Newk’s restaurant franchise is $932,000 to $1,131,000, and the FDD also discloses the expense structure for corporate restaurants and can be obtained during franchise candidate discovery process. In the past three years, Newk’s has added more than 130 new restaurant commitments. During that same time frame, Newk’s has grown from 65 restaurants to 116, or 78 percent new restaurant growth.

Newk’s has a flexible menu designed for timeless appeal with three primary components: grilled and toasted sandwiches, fresh tossed salads, handcrafted pizzas, and made-from-scratch soups. These were chosen to provide maximum adaptability to changing costs, tastes, and regional preferences.

Newk’s is looking for experienced franchise owners with a track record of success opening and running multiple-unit foodservice operations. Qualified candidates will have a minimum of three years of experience and will be financially and operationally capable of developing at least three to five Newk’s Eatery locations. Franchise candidate must have at least $1.5 million in liquid assets—meaning cash, stocks, bonds, or other easily liquid assets.

Those who meet these requirements and who join the Newk’s team as franchise owners will be in good company. They’ll receive the benefits of being part of a highly experienced team that is geared for growth. They’ll be equipped with the systems and procedures they need to launch and grow quickly. And they’ll have the support and guidance of a team that understands their needs and the tools they need to introduce the innovative Newk’s Eatery brand into their markets and to continue to build their businesses for years to come.