Dive Brief:
- Perkins American Food Co. has signed a three-unit franchise agreement for its fast casual concept Griddle & Go in Texas, the brand said in a press release emailed to Restaurant Dive.
- The deal would bring Perkins to Texas for the first time and will mark the U.S. debut of its fast casual concept, which opened its first unit in Ontario, Canada earlier this month.
- Perkins’ arrival in Texas is in keeping with its broader growth strategy of developing units in other new markets, including California.
Dive Insight:
The launch of its fast casual brand coincides with the redesign and rebranding efforts Perkins shared earlier this year. The chain is refreshing the interiors and exteriors of its existing restaurants to provide a more modern look and a new logo. The brand is rolling out a prototype for new restaurant builds that is half the size of its previous 6,000- to 6,500-square-foot units.
Perkins’ development of a 1,500-square-foot fast casual concept and a general reduction in the size of its new units could speed up this new market growth. In particular, the fast casual concept opens up a wider range of real estate options for the brand, including non-traditional spots in airports, casinos, hospitals, hotels, travel centers and universities.
The change to its store layout is accompanied by a menu alteration made specifically for the Griddle & Go stores. Alongside burgers and sandwiches, the brand will introduce a new line of breakfast sandwiches and a lighter eats section.
Perkins is building the new stores with a new franchisee. The first unit will be located in Prosper with the next ones built in Melissa and Rockwall — all three towns are outer-ring suburbs or exurbs of the Dallas-Forth Worth metro area — the brand said.
