Hot ChiknKitchn made a splashy debut at the International Franchise Expo June 2-4 in New York City. Co-founder Anthony Sarago said he hatched the idea to bring Nashville-style spicy chicken sandwiches to Virginia and beyond with Mike Sarago, his dad. “I walked around with my father during the pandemic,” the younger Sarago said, creating a business plan and a seven-item menu distinguished by pepper-infused sauces rather than dry rub—better for an even delivery of heat that’s easier on the stomach, the partners say. Dave Baer is on board, too, formerly with Domino’s and Jersey Mike’s, among other brands.
Graze Craze, which sells charcuterie boards and boxes via takeout and delivery only, was another new concept on display. United Franchise Group bought Graze Craze in August 2021 from founder Kerry Sylvester, a U.S. Air Force veteran who opened a test kitchen in Oklahoma City in 2018. She was introduced to UFG by a franchisee of Transworld Business Advisors, another UFG brand. Fifteen locations are open with 115 more in the pipeline.
The Vitamin Shoppe is an old brand, founded in 1977, but new to franchising after Franchise Group Inc. bought it in 2019. The folks at their booth had an unusually precise goal: “We expect 54 new stores this year,” said Melissa Altmix, who heads development. She touts their CBD line, developed with Martha Stewart and launched in December 2020. It’s exclusive to The Vitamin Shoppe and its Super Supplements store.
Imagine Arts Academy is a new concept brought forth by the people behind Mad Science, created in 1985. It launched in 2019, “just before COVID and it went spectacularly,” said co-founder Shafik Mina, before pandemic shutdowns scuttled the launch. They have a partnership with Crayola, part of the brand name, which he said was hard to achieve. “Knowing who we were at Mad Science, that showed our credibility, and a partnership with NASA. We worked with them for over two years to develop the partnership.
Southpaw Gym was founded by Victor Lashley, also known as “Coach Lash” and a New Jersey native. “But the brains of the operation is his wife, Stephanie,” said Elexander Fitzgerald with a laugh. He runs the corporate locations in New Jersey and stepped forward to man the booth at their first franchise show.
We’ll have more on these newcomers, and older-timers with expansion plans, in the next print edition of Franchise Times.