The Melting Pot Partners With Newmark Grubb Knight Frank to Drive Franchise Real Estate Development Worldwide

TAMPA, Fla., July 20, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Melting Pot^® Restaurants, Inc., the world's premier fondue restaurant and a leading polished casual dining franchise, announced today it has partnered with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank (NGKF), one of the world's leading commercial real estate advisory firms with operations in more than 370 offices worldwide. Through this strategic partnership, The Melting Pot will be able to leverage NGKF's expertise in providing real estate solutions to support the brand's long-term domestic and international expansion strategy.

"Our new alliance with Newmark Grubb Knight Frank will accelerate franchise development, create value for our existing franchisee's real estate needs and give us a better understanding of the commercial real estate landscape globally," said Dan Stone, chief business and people development officer for Front Burner Brands. "With NGKF as our outsourced real estate department, The Melting Pot and its franchise partners will benefit from an international team of experts who can help us deliver comprehensive real estate strategies tailored to each franchisee, market or prospective country."

NGKF will provide The Melting Pot with a fully integrated platform of services. The firm has a history of providing prominent multinational corporations and institutional investors across the globe with services including leasing advisory, global corporate services, investment sales and capital markets services, property and facilities management, as well as consulting and valuation services. NGKF is already assisting several Melting Pot franchisees with new restaurant site selection, mid-term lease negotiations and evaluation of existing real estate.

"We are thrilled to have the opportunity to work together with The Melting Pot to drive its international expansion," said Barry M. Gosin, chief executive officer of Newmark Grubb Knight Frank. "Our services and resources combined with The Melting Pot's strong reputation and proven business model will create a compelling investment opportunity for future investors."

The top fondue franchise is targeting expansion of its international footprint in select markets across Brazil, Canada, China, India, Japan and South Korea. Earlier this year, The Melting Pot announced the opening of its first restaurant in Jakarta, Indonesia and has plans to open an additional location in Mexico City as well as its first locations in Dubai, United Arab Emirates and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia before the end of 2015.

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.

The Melting Pot operates more than 125 restaurants across 35 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, and Southeast Asia, and has more than 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. 

To further fuel its global development plans, the company is actively seeking qualified franchisees and will host a franchising webinar on Thursday, August 13 at 11 a.m. (EDT). To register, please visit http://www.meltingpotfranchise.com/upcomingEvents.aspx or contact Shak Turner, director of franchise development for The Melting Pot, at 800-783-0867 ext. 105.

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 $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. 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 signed in 2015.

To learn more about ownership opportunities with The Melting Pot, contact Shak Turner, director of franchise development for The Melting Pot, at 800-783-0867 ext. 105 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. 
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 and Southeast Asia, 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 and Southeast Asia and more than 15 locations currently in development. For more information, visit http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.

About Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
Newmark Grubb Knight Frank is one of the world's leading commercial real estate advisory firms. Together with its affiliates and London-based partner Knight Frank, NGKF's 12,800 professionals operate from more than 370 offices in established and emerging property markets on six continents.

With roots dating back to 1929, NGKF's strong foundation makes it one of the most trusted names in commercial real estate. NGKF's full-service platform comprises BGC's real estate services segment, offering commercial real estate tenants, landlords, investors and developers a wide range of services including leasing; capital markets services, including investment sales, debt placement, appraisal, and valuation services; commercial mortgage brokerage services; as well as corporate advisory services, consulting, project and development management, and property and corporate facilities management services. For further information, visit www.ngkf.com.

NGKF is a part of BGC Partners, Inc., a leading global brokerage company servicing the financial and real estate markets. BGC's common stock trades on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol (NASDAQ: BGCP). BGC also has an outstanding bond issuance of Senior Notes due June 15, 2042, which trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the symbol (NYSE: BGCA). BGC Partners is led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Howard W. Lutnick. For more information, please visit http://www.bgcpartners.com/.

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SOURCE The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.

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