Burger 21 Marks Another Successful Year of Franchise Growth

Award-Winning Fast Casual Chain Opened Five New Restaurant; Signed Franchise Agreements for 13 Locations in Six States in 2014

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Burger 21

Jan 12, 2015, 10:54 ET

TAMPA, Fla., Jan. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Burger 21^®, an award-winning, "beyond the better burger" fast casual franchise, announced today strong growth in 2014 with 10 new franchise agreements signed representing 13 future restaurants. As part of this development, Burger 21 will bring its first franchise locations to three new states including Illinois, Michigan and Texas later this year. Currently, Burger 21 has 15 open locations and more than 20 franchised restaurants in development in seven states.

In 2014, Burger 21 announced the opening of five new restaurants, including its first franchise locations in Arizona, New York State and Virginia. Additionally, the brand signed a Letter of Agreement with HMSHost with the goal to bring two Burger 21 locations to the Tampa International Airport and executed six leases in four states. The company plans to open 10 additional restaurants in 2015, including its first free-standing location. The next restaurant is slated to open in Fort Lauderdale, Fla., next month.

"We're pleased to say that Burger 21 has been very well received in communities across the U.S. and has continued to experience tremendous growth over the last year," said Mark Johnston, Burger 21 founder and president. "We'll be celebrating our five-year anniversary this year and plan to continue building on the successes we have achieved thus far. Burger 21's proven business model, innovation and commitment to its franchisees and guests have ultimately positioned the brand for continued growth in 2015 and beyond."

Recognition for Burger 21 in 2014 included being named one of QSR's "Best Franchise Deals" and one of Fast Casual's Top 100 "Movers and Shakers" of 2014. As the youngest concept of the top 10 brands, Burger 21 ranked No. 5, up from No. 22 last year. Additionally, Burger 21 President Mark Johnston was acknowledged as one of the "Top 25 People" for his continued strategic leadership in the growth and development of the brand.

To further fuel development, Burger 21 will be exhibiting at Franchise Expo South Feb. 5-7 at the NRG Center in Houston. Local entrepreneurs are invited to meet with the brand's franchise development team at Booth #603 to learn more about growth opportunities. Burger 21 aims to sell its first franchise in Houston in 2015 and also plans to develop additional units in Dallas and Austin.

To learn more about franchise opportunities and available territories, Burger 21 is hosting a live webinar on Jan. 21 at 2 p.m. (EST). To register, please visit www.burger21franchise.com/events.aspx or contact Ashley Pollard, franchise development manager for Burger 21, at 813-425-6252 or [email protected].

As the brand continues to expand across the U.S., Burger 21 is seeking single- and multi-unit operators with restaurant experience to join its upscale fast casual dining concept. Franchisee candidates should have a minimum net worth of $600,000 and liquid assets of at least $250,000 per unit. Burger 21 will be developed through both single-unit agreements and Area Development Agreements. Depending on the real estate site selected, franchisees can expect the total investment for one restaurant to be approximately $422,083 – $974,395. The initial franchise fee is $40,000; however, reduced franchise fees apply for Area Development Agreements of four or more units.

To learn more about ownership opportunities with Burger 21, contact Ashley Pollard, franchise development manager for Burger 21, at 813-425-6252 or [email protected] or visit www.burger21franchise.com.

About Burger 21
With 15 locations open in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Virginia, and more than 20 in development in seven states, Burger 21 is a "beyond the better burger" fast-casual franchise concept founded in 2010. Headquartered in Tampa, Fla., Burger 21 is a chef-inspired brand with offerings including 21 unique burger creations ranging from hand-crafted, freshly ground Certified Angus Beef^® to chicken, turkey, vegetarian, shrimp and tuna burgers, fresh salads, all-beef hot dogs, chicken tenders and an extensive shake bar including hand-crafted shakes, floats and sundaes. Since its inception, the company has provided more than $127,000 in contributions as part of its "B Charitable" initiative, in which it donates 10 percent of its restaurants' sales to local schools and charities on the 21^st of each month. For more information, visit http://www.burger21.com.