Fazoli’s Maintains Unprecedented Double-Digit Sales and Traffic Streak in Q2

Fazoli's Maintains Unprecedented Double-Digit Sales and Traffic Streak in Q2

America’s largest premium QSR Italian chain reports 13th double-digit sales gain in June, signs eight franchise deals and opens three new locations in Q2

Fazoli's Maintains Unprecedented Double-Digit Sales and Traffic Streak in Q2With an impressive Q2 performance, Fazoli’s is continuing to prove why a recent survey by Stratos Innovation Group reported the company as the number one value brand in the country.

Fazoli’s kicked off Q2 by driving menu innovation and launching wings systemwide in April. In May, the brand added a new snack and shareable item to its menu in all company locations – Fried Mozzarella Cheese Skewers – which was made possible with the addition of fryers for wings. In its initial screening, the Fried Mozzarella Skewers had Fazoli’s highest “purchase intent” score of any item the brand has tested. Average weekly incidence out of the gate for company locations was an astounding 4-5%, adding over $700 per week per location in incremental sales. Capitalizing on this success, the brand rolled out Fried Mozzarella Cheese Skewers systemwide in late June.

With over a year of historical sales under its belt, franchise interest for the renowned, Lexington-based brand remains at an all-time high. In Q2, Fazoli’s signed eight area development agreements to add 22 new locations to its pipeline and opened three new restaurants in Pooler, Georgia; Mary Esther, Florida; and Pikeville, Kentucky. The brand’s Pooler opening marked new Franchisee Jeffrey Milliken’s third opening in 12 months. The Franchise Business Review “New Rockstar Franchisee” has two more locations slated to open in 2021. Additionally, Fazoli’s Pikeville debut achieved the brand’s third highest opening week record, with sales hitting nearly $95,000 and the team serving more than 10,000 fans in the community.

Looking ahead to Q3, Fazoli’s will continue its rapid growth with six more openings slated in Rome, Georgia; Panama City and Tampa, Florida; Warrensburg, Missouri; Zanesville, Ohio; and Austin, Texas. When Fazoli’s introduces its craveable Italian dishes to the Zanesville community, it’ll mark the brand’s first company location to open in five years.

In addition to the brand’s aggressive growth plans, Fazoli’s will focus on leveraging culinary innovation, technology enhancements and new kitchen equipment. The brand will continue to refine its core menu and explore opportunities to add options that address guests’ changing dietary needs, such as plant-based protein and “better-for-you” choices that spotlight menu items under 500 calories. Adopting next generation equipment that will alleviate labor concerns and speed up cook times, like a new pasta cooking system, is also a key focus for the brand.

“It’s no secret that we’ve been outpacing our competitors,” Howard said. “We came out of the gate incredibly strong in Q1, and to keep up the same high-energy with historical sales, traffic and franchise development throughout Q2 is exceptional. No one in the industry can do what Fazoli’s does. No one can provide the food, service, quality or environment at our price point. I’m very proud of what our team has done, and I look forward to showing everyone in the industry that Fazoli’s is the brand to watch.”

To learn about franchising with this record-breaking brand, visit ownafazolis.com or contact Fazoli’s Sales Team – Steve Bailey at steve.bailey@fazolis.com or David Boatright at David.boatright@fazolis.com.

Fazoli's franchise

Fazoli’s: Fast. Fresh. Italian.

Founded in 1988 in Lexington, Ky., Fazoli’s owns and operates nearly 220 restaurants in 28 states, making it the largest premium QSR Italian chain in America. Fazoli’s prides itself on serving premium quality Italian food, fast, fresh and friendly. Menu offerings include freshly prepared pasta entrees, Submarinos sandwiches, salads, pizza and desserts – along with its unlimited signature breadsticks. Fazoli’s is a winner of FastCasual and Steritech’s 2020 Excellence in Food Safety Award and was named one of the “Top 200 Franchises in 2021” by Franchise Business Review, a FastCasual “Brand of the Year,” Nation’s Restaurant News’ 2021 “Top 200 Restaurant Chains” and an Entrepreneur 2018 “Franchise 500.” CEO Carl Howard was named among the most influential restaurant CEOs in the country in 2020 by Nation’s Restaurant News, was recognized as one of the top 25 industry leaders on FastCasual’s 2021 Top 100 Movers and Shakers list, and he and his team were recipients of the 2021 American Business Awards Gold Stevie Awards in Food & Beverage for Company of the Year and Achievement in Management.