The Melting Pot Brings its Interactive, Casual Dining Experience to United Arab Emirates with First Restaurant Now Open in Dubai

TAMPA, Fla., Aug. 31, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Melting Pot® Restaurants, Inc., the world's premier fondue restaurant and a leading polished casual dining franchise, announced today its first restaurant in the United Arab Emirates has opened in Dubai. This is the fifth international location for the company, which made its overseas debut earlier this year in Jakarta, Indonesia.

The Melting Pot in Dubai is located in BOXPARK, an offbeat, outdoor concept in the urban district of the city offering a selection of unique retail experiences and quirky dining options from around the world. Featuring four distinct courses with menu items dipped into heated fondue pots at the center of each table, The Melting Pot's concept fits well with the hip, modern setting and eclectic community. 

"Dubai is a vibrant, modern city that is ideally suited for The Melting Pot's very social and interactive, casual dining experience," said Mike Lester, president of The Melting Pot. "Introducing our delicious fondue styles to an international audience is very rewarding, and we look forward to working with more entrepreneurs around the globe as we continue our franchise expansion." 

Ziad Kaddoura and Mohammed Charafeddine of Hospitality Concepts and Solutions (HCS) are the franchisees who are bringing The Melting Pot to the United Arab Emirates. With over 50 years of combined experience in hospitality consulting and management, the team of experts at HCS is well suited to grow The Melting Pot brand in Dubai and has a multi-unit development agreement to bring several more locations across the following Gulf Coast Countries: United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain and Oman. 

"Hospitality Concepts and Solutions is proud to be introducing The Melting Pot and the fondue restaurant concept to Dubai," said Charafeddine, managing partner of HCS. "This is the first of its kind in the Middle East and in time, we are sure that The Melting Pot will 'fondue' its own niche in this competitive market."

The Melting Pot franchise is focused on expanding its international footprint in select markets across Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan and South Korea, and is on track to open its first restaurant in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, later this year, as well as a third location in Pedregal, in the southern part of Mexico City, Mexico. Domestically, the company is seeking new franchisees in markets including Anchorage, Alaska; Dallas; Hartford, Conn.; and Los Angeles, as well as Memphis and Chattanooga, Tenn.

The Melting Pot was recently ranked No. 1 among 40 casual-dining restaurant chains in Nation's Restaurant News' 2015 Consumer Picks report, up from No. 6 out of 38 concepts last year. The Melting Pot ranked first in four out of 10 overall attribute categories, achieving top scores in cleanliness, service, atmosphere and craveability.

To further fuel its global development plans, the company is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host a franchising webinar on Thursday, Sept. 10 at 11 a.m. (EDT). To register, please visit http://www.meltingpotfranchise.com/upcomingEvents.aspx or contact Dan Stone, chief business and people development officer for The Melting Pot, at 800-783-0867 ext. 108.

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 in the U.S. 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 $959,000 to $1,436,000. Single-unit and multi-unit franchise opportunities are available with an initial franchise fee of $45,000 per unit. There are different candidate requirements and terms for international franchise opportunities including a commitment of multiple units. As the brand celebrates its 40^th anniversary in 2015, a 40 percent discount will be offered on the initial franchise fee for the first restaurant for all new franchise agreements, both U.S. and international, signed in 2015.

To learn more about ownership opportunities with The Melting Pot, contact Dan Stone, chief business and people development officer for The Melting Pot, at 800-783-0867 ext. 108.

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

About The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. 
Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot has offered a unique fondue dining experience for 40 years. As the premier fondue restaurant franchise, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. has more than 125 restaurants in 35 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and more than 15 international locations in development. A leading polished casual dining franchise, The Melting Pot was recognized as the No. 1 casual dining restaurant in the Nation's Restaurant News 2015 Consumer Picks report. Known for offering a choice of fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrées, The Melting Pot's menu also features cheese fondues, salads, fine wines and chocolate fondue desserts. Fondue fans can join The Melting Pot's Club Fondue for exclusive promotions, special events and advance holiday reservation privileges. The Melting Pot is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit www.meltingpot.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with The Melting Pot, please visit www.meltingpotfranchise.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 125 restaurants in North America, Southeast Asia and the Middle East, and more than 15 locations currently in development. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.

CONTACT:  Elayne Sommers    
                  Fish Consulting 
                  (202) 588-8138 
                  [email protected]

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SOURCE The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.

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