Founded in 1988 in Lexington, Kentucky, Fazoli’s has 220 locations in 27 states, making it the largest Italian QSR chain, according to FAT Brands, which acquired the restaurant brand for $130 million in 2021.
It wasn’t that long ago that FAT Brands went on a whirlwind spending spree, acquiring nine restaurant brands in an 18-month period as part of an all-out blitz to build out its platform.
FAT Brands, which spent around $1 billion on acquisitions from 2020 to 2022, is now focusing less on growing its portfolio and more on the development of its 18 brands. Its goal is opening 150 new restaurants in 2024, said Taylor Wiederhorn, chief development officer of FAT Brands.
Taylor Wiederhorn, the chief development officer of FAT Brands
“2024 will be the year we focus more on executing our game plan and getting as many stores open as possible,” he said. “The thing that I love seeing is that more of our franchisees are coming back and wanting to co-brand with us or add one or even two of our other concepts to their portfolio.”
The latest franchisees to follow the trend of diversifying with another FAT Brands concept is Briwin Restaurants. The Alberta, Canada-based restaurant group signed a development deal to open 25 Fazoli’s in Canada over the next 10 years. The deal is the Italian restaurant chain’s second international venture following another franchisee, Jorge Rodriguez Lockwood, developing Fazoli’s in Puerto Rico, which the company announced last year.
Jaswin Vekaria formed Briwin Restaurants for the Fazoli’s units. Vekaria operates eight Fatburger locations in Canada along with its own pizza chain concept, Prestopie Pizzeria.
Wiederhorn said the group is eyeing a larger development plan for Fazoli’s in Canada, starting in Alberta and working its way west to develop in Calgary, Saskatchewan and Vancouver before expanding east into Ontario.
Jaswin Vekaria, who formed Briwin Restaurants for the Fazoli’s units, operates eight Fatburger locations in Canada along with its own pizza chain concept, Prestopie Pizzeria.
“We have experienced tremendous success with our Fatburger locations, which has led to our continued growth in Canada. It was a natural step in our growth journey to partner with FAT Brands to open another concept in their portfolio in the country,” said Vekaria, the president Briwin.
Founded in 1988 in Lexington, Kentucky, Fazoli’s is No. 201 brand on the Franchise Times Top 400 with systemwide sales of $291 million in 2022. It has 220 locations in 27 states, making it the largest Italian QSR chain, according to FAT Brands, which acquired the restaurant brand for $130 million in 2021.
Menu offerings include freshly prepared pasta entrees, sub sandwiches, salads, pizza and desserts along with unlimited signature breadsticks.
FAT Brands’ collection of restaurant concepts include Round Table Pizza, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Twin Peaks, Great American Cookies, Smokey Bones, Hot Dog on a Stick, Buffalo’s Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Native Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Elevation Burger, Yalla Mediterranean and Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse.
FAT Brands’ portfolio consists of 2,300 units worldwide.
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“Fazoli’s has about 67 corporate locations in the U.S. and is well-positioned to grow internationally because it’s the largest and really the only QSR Italian restaurant chain and the Italian food category is something that people eat everywhere,” said Wiederhorn.
“Although 2023 was a challenging year for Fazoli’s in terms of overall growth, with a lot of external factors restaurant operators were faced with and are still facing, I’m really excited about the prospects of growing the brand in Canada and in other countries,” he said.
Wiederhorn said FAT Brands is in active discussions with other franchisees about potential development deals in Mexico and India.
“Those are our most active discussions but we’re also targeting specific markets in the Middle East with UAE and Saudi having the highest probability for us,” he said.
Wiederhorn said an enticement for Frazoli’s franchisees is the option of building smaller prototype restaurants. The new 1,700-square-foot restaurant models present a cheaper build option than the standard 2,200- to 2,800-square-foot restaurants, he said, while still offering drive-thru and dine-in.
“There is nothing like Fazoli’s in the quick-service restaurant category. They provide fresh, made-to-order food, all at a great value,” Vekaria said.