JACKSON, Miss., April 19, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --Newk's Express Cafe has started 2011 with a bang, awarding 24 new franchise locations in the first quarter. Four separate groups have committed to opening restaurants in Jacksonville and St. Augustine, Fla., Baton Rouge and Lafayette, La., Michigan, Virginia and Atlanta, Ga.

Newk's has partnered with Franchise Dynamics, one of the country's leading full-service franchise sales outsourcing firms. The partnership led to seven development agreements totaling 36 restaurants in 2010. With deals for 24 locations signed in the first quarter of 2011, Newk's is on track to exceed its goals for 2011.

Created by the founders of McAlister's Deli (Don Newcomb, Chris Newcomb and Debra Bryson) – who pioneered the fast-casual restaurant concept – Newk's Express Cafe provides an express casual dining experience and features a variety of made-to-order choices.

Terry and Linda Russell will open five Newk's restaurants in Jacksonville and St. Augustine. Terry — who has been a farmer for 43 years in Cleveland, Miss. — sold his farm to move to Florida, where he will oversee the development of these restaurants.

JKTM Management, LLC — a group made up of Kent Ward, James Carmody, and Tim and Mona Ward — will start by opening nine Newk's restaurants. The group, which is currently a multi-unit franchisee of Buffalo Wild Wings, is bringing their vast restaurant experience to Newk's with plans to open four locations in Baton Rouge and Lafayette and five additional restaurants in Michigan.

Franchisee Spencer Mooney, who currently owns Newk's restaurants in Clinton, Miss. and Shreveport, La., will open another location in Bossier City, La. and has added a five-store deal for Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Roanoke, Lynchburg and Blacksburg/Christiansburg, Va.

Under the company K & M Deli of Savannah, LLC, Keith Estapa and Missy Moon will open at least five Newk's restaurants in the Atlanta area, starting with Buckhead, Midtown and Augusta. Moon and Estapa have experience with Five Guys Burgers and Fries, but they recently sold three of their five restaurants back to corporate. They plan to grow with Newk's and are already looking to open two additional restaurants in the Peachtree City/Newnan area of Atlanta.

SOURCE Newk's Express Cafe