The Melting Pot Focuses on Fresno, Calif., for Franchise Expansion

TAMPA, Fla., July 7, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- The Melting Pot^® Restaurants, Inc., the world's premier fondue restaurant and a leading polished casual dining franchise, announced today that it is actively seeking franchisees on the West Coast to bring its interactive dining experience to Fresno, Calif., naming the city as a target for future franchise development.

The brand plans to enter Fresno for the first time with the development of a new location. Currently, there are existing California Melting Pot restaurants in Brea, Irvine, Larkspur, Pasadena, Sacramento, San Diego, San Mateo, Thousand Oaks and Torrance, Calif.  Fresno is one of a number of select markets throughout the U.S. where the company is looking to recruit qualified new franchisees. Additional markets targeted for expansion include Anchorage, Alaska; Charleston, S.C.; New York City; El Paso, Texas and Little Rock, Ark., as well as Vancouver and Calgary, Canada.

"The Melting Pot concept is backed by 30 years of experience in franchising and nearly 40 years of brand recognition, making this an ideal business opportunity for entrepreneurs," said Dan Stone, vice president of franchise development for Front Burner Brands. "We look forward to bringing our one-of-a-kind, polished casual dining experience to the Fresno market for the very first time.  We're confident that The Melting Pot will be a welcomed addition to the Fresno community."

The Melting Pot operates more than 135 restaurants in the U.S., Canada and Mexico and has more than 25 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. 

To further fuel its national expansion, the company is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host a webinar on Thursday, July 17 at 11 a.m. (EDT). To register, please visit https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/451474538.

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 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 $977,000 to $1,436,000. Single-unit and multi-unit franchise opportunities are available with an initial franchise fee of $45,000 per unit.

To learn more about ownership opportunities with The Melting Pot, contact Ashley Pollard, franchise development manager for The Melting Pot, at 800-783-0867 ext. 152 or [email protected] or visit www.meltingpotfranchise.com.

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

About The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. 
With more than 135 restaurants in North America, existing locations across 35 states, Canada and Mexico and more than 25 locations currently in development, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. is the premier fondue restaurant franchise and a leading polished casual dining franchise. Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot has offered a memorable dining experience for nearly 40 years. Guests enjoy a choice of fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrées combined with dipping sauces. The menu also includes cheese fondues, salads, fine wines and chocolate fondue desserts. The Melting Pot is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. For more information, visit http://www.meltingpot.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 135 locations in North America and more than 25 locations currently in development, Burger 21 with 12 locations open in Florida, Georgia, New Jersey, North Carolina and Virginia, and 23 in development in seven states, GrillSmith with five locations in the Tampa Bay area. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20140319/NY84542LOGO 

SOURCE The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.