Johnny Rockets Furthers Its One-Brand, Four-Expressions Trajectory With Announcement Of First Retail Distribution Agreement

"Johnny Rockets at Home" Brings Classic Food and Fun into Brand Fans' Homes

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Oct 07, 2014, 09:15 ET

ALISO VIEJO, Calif., Oct. 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Johnny Rockets today announced its first agreement to private label their signature menu items for home consumption. Blackwood Industries, Inc., based in Orlando, has been selected to represent the iconic brand through the distribution of branded hamburger patties and other related products, as of October 1, 2014. This announcement comes on the heels of a recent Johnny Rockets announcement to launch three new expressions of the brand, in addition to their existing diner-style restaurants. Johnny Rockets Route 66 and Johnny Rockets Express are now joined by Johnny Rockets At Home, designed to license a complementary suite of consumer products through a number of retail venues.

Johnny Rockets Announces At Home Brand Extension (PRNewsFoto/Johnny Rockets)

"We believe that diners around the world have some kind of emotional tie to our brand. Whether they've had an experience in one of our restaurants while on a Royal Caribbean cruise ship, enjoying a Six Flags Amusement Park or dining in any of our more than 300 restaurants in 25 countries, Johnny Rockets means craveable food in a craveable environment," said Johnny Rockets Chief Development Officer, James Walker. "We want to recreate that special combination in American homes by providing quality products with an added touch of entertainment and fun - just as we serve in our restaurants."

The international restaurant chain, purchased in June 2013 by Sun Capital Partners and boasting a recently appointed team of industry-leading, savvy and progressive restaurant experts, plans to offer relevant food and beverage products, specialty items and small housewares through a number of non-restaurant outlets and is especially targeting big-box value retailers. This new agreement with The Blackwood Group is the first step in expanding the Johnny Rockets brand outside of existing restaurants.

"We know that there is a trust level that comes with offering branded restaurant products in retail stores," said John B. White III, Founder of Blackwood Industries, Inc. "With eighteen years of experience in this arena, we are a multi-faceted team who works closely with suppliers, manufacturers and merchants to make sure the products we source and supply provide the closest possible representation of the brands that appear on their packages."

Adds Johnny Rockets Chief Marketing Officer, Joel Bulger, "By creating products that utilize flavors and pairings found in our Johnny Rockets restaurants, we believe we can allow guests to bring a little bit of that experience into their homes. In fact," he adds, "we're already envisioning relationships in the future where we'll partner with music and entertainment groups to enhance the experience of enjoying Johnny Rockets at home even more."

Founded in 1986, the Johnny Rockets concept is based on the philosophy that everyone deserves a place they can relax and enjoy a menu of traditional all-American favorites that include made-to-order hamburgers, hand-spun shakes, classic sandwiches and American Fries, served with our signature ketchup-smiley-face. Music from the past eight decades, dancing servers and twirled straws add to the atmosphere of relaxed, casual fun.

According to Walker, "In licensing our brand, maintaining the highest level of quality with a meaningful exemplification of relaxed, casual fun is paramount to a product deserving the Johnny Rockets name."

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SOURCE Johnny Rockets