Melting Pot Kicks off 2024 With 2 Franchises Awarded, 6 Restaurants in Development and Launch of New Franchisee Growth Incentive

The fondue franchise is breaking into Arkansas, reviving its Nashville presence, growing in Florida, Washington and New York, and offering a new franchisee incentive to lower the barrier to entry for passionate prospective owners.

Tampa, FL  (RestaurantNews.com)  With 92 units and six more in development, Melting Pot, the national fondue franchise, has started 2024 strong. The team has seen growing interest from well-aligned prospective franchisees, including new deals signed in Nashville, Tennessee, and Bentonville, Arkansas. It’s making moves in the Reno, Nevada, and Fresno, California, markets too. Franchisees in New Haven, Connecticut, signed a lease for their new location and are on track to open at 20 George Street this fall.

“It’s clear that this goes beyond just a business opportunity for our owners. The people who become a part of our franchise community want to be the caretakers and custodians of the Melting Pot brand in their communities,” CEO Bob Johnston said. “For guests, we offer a chance to escape, make great memories and pursue dreams. For somebody who becomes a franchisee, we do something similar. We give them a chance to immerse themselves in the business and create memories for themselves, their team members and the countless guests they’ll end up serving.”

This is true for the multigenerational family that has signed to open the first Melting Pot location in Arkansas.

“We’ve been long-time Melting Pot guests. It’s a product that we all love and believe in, and it’s something that’s particularly suited for the Bentonville area,” said Chad Hickerson, a member of the new Arkansas franchise team. “We want to deliver a quality food and dining experience that will quickly become a hallmark of special occasions and even routine enjoyment for countless individuals, couples and families in the region and beyond.”

Melting Pot has also executed an agreement in Nashville, Tennessee, to revive its presence in the community. The franchise’s previous location was one of over 60 businesses impacted by a Christmas Day bombing in 2020; this agreement will bring a new location to the area.

“Nashville is a prime market for Melting Pot, and we’re excited to be reviving our presence in the community,” Johnston said. “The people of Nashville were hit hard by the 2020 bombing, and we’re proud to have franchise partners who are so dedicated to bringing comfort and connection back to their communities.”