The Melting Pot Expands To Saudi Arabia With Opening Of First Restaurant In Riyadh

TAMPA, Fla., Feb. 3, 2016 /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 Saudi Arabia has opened in Riyadh. In addition to Riyadh, The Melting Pot has five international locations open and 15 others in development across the globe.

The Melting Pot in Riyadh is located on Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Street, nicknamed Thalia Street in Riyadh – a street known for its dining, fashion and retail offerings. 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.

"Partnering with The Melting Pot to introduce a turnkey fondue restaurant concept to Saudi Arabia for the first time is incredibly exciting," said Dr. Mazen Almugbel, CEO of Mira Foods. "As Riyadh continues to experience major economic growth, we know the residents, vacationers and business travelers of Riyadh will enjoy The Melting Pot's unique dining experience, as well as its variety of menu offerings and specialty cocktails."

Dr. Mazen Almugbel of Mira Foods is the franchisee responsible for debuting The Melting Pot in Saudi Arabia. With approximately seven years of combined foodservice and franchising experience, the franchise group also owns four other restaurants, including two Noodle House franchises. As part of the franchise agreement, Mira Foods will develop an additional four Melting Pot restaurants in Saudi Arabia over the next few years. The group is currently considering sites in Jeddah and Riyadh to develop their second location, which is slated to open by the end of the year.

"As Saudi Arabia's capital and buzzing financial center, it made business sense for us to introduce our unique, fondue-style experience to the city of Riyadh," said President of The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., Mike Lester. "We look forward to continuing our expansion with our franchise partners in the Middle East, which recently kicked off with the opening our first location within the region in Dubai in August 2015."

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

The Melting Pot operates more than 125 restaurants across 35 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates, and has 15 locations in development internationally. The concept is known for offering an assortment of flavorful fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrées served with signature dipping sauces. The menu features a variety of à la carte selections, highlighting customizable options that invite guests to enjoy one, two, three or more courses as they select any combination of individually-priced cheese fondues, salads, entrées and chocolate fondues. 

Franchise opportunities in the MENA region are currently available in Lebanon, Jordan, and Egypt. In order to fuel growth, the company is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host a franchising webinar on Thursday, Feb. 18 at 11 a.m. (EST). 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- 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.

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, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates and 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, 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
Front Burner 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 15 locations currently in development. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.

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SOURCE The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.

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