Focus Brands released 2016 financials for Moe’s Southwest Grill, McAlister’s Deli, and Schlotzsky’s. Growth was the prevailing theme for the three fast casual brands.
Moe’s opened 66 restaurants in 2016 and reported $668,040,198 in systemwide sales. New markets included Citrus Heights and Camp Pendleton, California, Austin, Texas, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and Kearney, Nebraska, and the brand will continue its aggressive expansion in 2017 with plans to develop new restaurants in significant markets, including Los Angeles, Orange County, and Riverside in California.
“This is a thrilling year to be a part of the Moe’s team,” says Bruce Schroder, president of Moe’s, in a statement. “Our rock star franchise owners are not only a great fit for Moe’s culture, but also provide promising growth potential as we commit to bringing our bold Southwestern flavors and welcoming environment that rocks to new markets.”
Moe’s is focusing its 2017 growth on added development in the Eastern half of the U.S., Focus says. Moe’s currently operates roughly 700 franchised locations across 39 states.
McAlister’s Deli, which recently celebrated the opening of its 400th unit, opened 33 restaurants last year, including stores in Texas, Florida, Indiana, Illinois, North and South Carolina, and in new markets, including Naples, Florida, Cleveland, Buffalo, New York, NW Indiana, and Blacksburg, Virginia. Commitments were signed to open future McAlister’s restaurants in Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois, Indiana, Georgia, and Alabama. The brand reported $591,303,426 in systemwide sales.
In 2017, McAlister’s plans to enter new markets in Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and Fort Myers, Florida, as well as Salt Lake City, Utah, and Tucson, Arizona. The brand will also add restaurants in Dayton, Tempe, Dallas, Chicago, and Northern Virginia.
“The McAlister’s Deli brand has set a foundation for long-term growth while building momentum for a significant year,” says McAlister’s president Paul Macaluso in a release. “We continue to be focused on top-line growth, excellent unit-level economics and finding the right franchisees to bring great dining experiences to our guests around the country.”
Lastly, Schlotzsky’s closed 2016 with 25 new openings and $331,660,468 in systemwide sales. The brand is aiming to saturate core markets in Texas, Oklahoma, Kansas, and Louisiana moving forward. Expansion into Arizona, New Mexico, Georgia, and Florida could be in the works as well.
“Schlotzsky’s had another exceptional year in 2016 and it was in large part due to attracting some of the most successful multi-unit franchisees in the country,” says Schlotzsky’s president Kelly Roddy. “We’re excited to bring our Austin-inspired menu with bold flavors into more cities as we continue to grow in 2017.”
There are currently more than 350 franchised and corporate locations across 43 states and abroad.
