Global Franchise Group (GFG) LLC, the strategic brand management company and franchisor of Great American Cookies, Pretzelmaker, Marble Slab Creamery, and MaggieMoo’s Ice Cream & Treatery, announced that it has acquired the Hot Dog on a Stick (HDOS) brand. California-based HDOS currently operates 78 corporate-owned stores and 14 franchise locations in the U.S., as well as internationally in Brazil, Korea, and the Philippines. GFG acquired the brand on August 21, 2014.
“GFG is thrilled to add the iconic Hot Dog on a Stick concept to our portfolio of thriving brands,” says president and CEO of Global Franchise Group, Chris Dull. “GFG has a proven history of managing and growing quick-service restaurant brands, and we see a bright future for HDOS. We believe HDOS’ business model is custom made for multiunit franchise ownership, which coupled with our franchising expertise, GFG’s business-savvy franchisees and our brand-building track record, we expect to see immediate traction.”
With the integration of HDOS, GFG will add a corporate store vertical to its business, in addition to manufacturing and franchising. The addition of this business will grow GFG from 110 employees to 715, and will make GFG a significant leaseholder in mall-based real estate. The company plans to build sales with the existing corporate locations, while expanding the global footprint of HDOS through franchising.
HDOS launched in California in 1946 on a beach in Santa Monica. In 1973, it opened its first mall location in Salt Lake City, Utah, which is still in operation. The brand is most known for its made-to-order hot dog on a stick product, hand-mashed lemonade, smiling customer service, and, of course, its signature uniforms.
