The Melting Pot Seeks Return to Memphis, Tenn.

TAMPA, Fla., Sept. 25, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Melting Pot® Restaurants, Inc., the world's premier fondue restaurant and a leading polished casual dining franchise, announced today that it is actively seeking franchisees to bring its interactive dining experience back to Memphis, naming the city as a target for future franchise development.

The Melting Pot closed its Memphis restaurant located at 2828 Wolfcreek Pkwy. in August 2014 and now has an opportunity for the right franchisee partner to potentially re-open the former location or open a new Melting Pot restaurant at a new site in the market. Memphis is one of a number of select markets throughout the U.S. where the company is looking to recruit qualified new franchisees. Currently, The Melting Pot has three Tennessee restaurants located in Gatlinburg, Knoxville and Nashville.

"As the premier fondue restaurant of choice for nearly 40 years, The Melting Pot offers a unique business opportunity for entrepreneurs," said Mike Lester, president of The Melting Pot. "Our proven business model and simple operations combined with strong average unit volumes make our concept the perfect investment opportunity for both experienced and first-time restaurant operators. We've seen a strong interest in our brand in Memphis and we're looking forward to bringing our one-of-a-kind polished casual dining experience back to the community."

The Melting Pot also has strong ties to Memphis since the city is home to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, The Melting Pot's long-time national charity partner. Each year, The Melting Pot raises funds for St. Jude through the annual Thanks and Giving campaign and sends top-fundraising team members from across the nation to Memphis to tour the hospital and serve chocolate fondue to St. Jude patients and their families at a special fondue party. Since becoming a partner in 2003, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. has raised more than $8.6 million for St. Jude.

The Melting Pot made a strong showing in the 2014 Nation's Restaurant News Consumer Picks Survey ranking sixth out of 38 concepts in the casual dining segment. In the varied menu/specialty sub-segment of the casual dining industry, The Melting Pot ranked first in the categories of cleanliness, service and likelihood to recommend. Overall in the casual dining segment, the brand ranked second in cleanliness, second in service and fourth in likelihood to recommend.

The Melting Pot operates 135 restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and has more than 25 locations in development internationally. The concept is known for offering an assortment of flavorful fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrees served with signature dipping sauces. The menu features a variety of a la carte selections, highlighting customizable options that invite guests to enjoy one, two, three or more courses as they select any combination of individually-priced cheese fondues, salads, entrées and chocolate fondues. 

To further fuel its national expansion, the company is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host a webinar on Thursday, Oct. 2 at 11 a.m. (EDT). To register, please visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/518037810.

The Melting Pot is seeking entrepreneurs with business backgrounds and/or preferably restaurant experience who are passionate about the brand and want to be their own bosses. Franchisee candidates should have a credit score of 650 or higher, a minimum net worth of $750,000 and liquid assets of at least $325,000 per unit. Depending on the real estate site selected, franchisees can expect the total investment for one restaurant to be approximately $977,000 to $1,436,000. Single-unit and multi-unit franchise opportunities are available with an initial franchise fee of $45,000 per unit.

To learn more about ownership opportunities with The Melting Pot, contact Ashley Pollard, franchise development manager for The Melting Pot, at 800-783-0867 ext. 152 or [email protected] or visit www.meltingpotfranchise.com.

To learn about fondue history and facts, check out The Melting Pot's fondue infographic.

About The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. 
With 135 restaurants in North America, existing locations across 35 states, Canada and Mexico and more than 25 locations currently in development, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. is the premier fondue restaurant franchise and a leading polished casual dining franchise. Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot has offered a memorable dining experience for nearly 40 years. Guests enjoy a choice of fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrees combined with dipping sauces. The menu also includes cheese fondues, salads, fine wines and chocolate fondue desserts. The Melting Pot is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit http://www.meltingpot.com.

About Front Burner Brands
Front Burner Brands is a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. It is affiliated with the corporate owners of and its management services extended to The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., founded in 1975 with more than 135 locations in North America and more than 25 locations currently in development, Burger 21 with 14 locations open in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Virginia, and more than 20 in development in eight states, and GrillSmith with five locations in the Tampa Bay area. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.

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SOURCE The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.