BurgerFi’s Proven Business Model Provides Multi-Unit Franchisees with Perfect Opportunity to Diversify Their Portfolio

Kevin Bullard has been accustomed to the hustle of the fast-casual industry most of his life. Groomed by his father’s experience as a multi-unit franchise owner for a nationally recognized burger brand, he remembers pitching in at his dad’s restaurants, washing baseboards and dishes when he was just twelve years old.

Rooney, on the other hand, started as a cashier with Moe's Southwest Grill and worked his way up to become Vice President of the Southwest Division. This kind of tenacity is what brought the two childhood friends together eight years ago as business partners, and it’s ultimately what helped them make the decision to take on the fast-casual segment of the franchising industry together.

Leaning on their early exposure and triumph in the fast-casual commerce, Bullard and Rooney developed twelve Moe’s Southwest Grill restaurants and have their sights set on developing 10-plus additional locations.

But that was only part of their formula.

Bullard and Rooney added BurgerFi, the better burger concept, to their strategic development strategy. The high-end, fast-casual burger brand presented itself as the natural next step in their efforts to diversify their portfolio and take their multi-concept business to the next level.

BurgerFi, with its chef-inspired menu, began in South Florida at the time the fast-casual market was shifting to accommodate a more health conscious consumer.  “Our aim is to change people’s perception of the better burger experience,” said Graham Buckley, BurgerFi’s Franchise Development Manager.

“BurgerFi checked all the boxes that we were looking for when we wanted to diversify and stand out among our competitors,” recalls Bullard. “BurgerFi’s main differentiator is the quality of our food,” explains Rooney. “If customers are looking for low carb or gluten free options, we have them, and if they’re vegetarian or vegan, we can accommodate those requests too. That’s what makes BurgerFi so exceptional and unique – they say that you can’t be everything to everyone, but we’re pretty close.”

In addition to rapid expansion, Bullard and Rooney were attracted to BurgerFi as franchisees because they knew they wanted to find a franchise with a highly-experienced corporate team and a sound business structure. “When we met with Graham and his team, it was apparent that their systems, human capital support structure and technology were as advanced as it gets today,” said Bullard.

Bullard and Rooney currently own and operate two BurgerFi locations in Raleigh, North Carolina and have three restaurants in development between Raleigh and Wilmington that are projected to open within the year. The business partners plan to capitalize on BurgerFi’s growth with a projected additional eight to ten restaurants within the next two years.

BurgerFi currently has 105-plus restaurants open across 22 states. “BurgerFi is really invested in the success of its franchisees, which is why the brand has been able to support the kind of growth it’s had,” said Rooney. “They have gone through the trial and error process on their own dime, and the growth speaks for itself.”

Bullard and Rooney are using the support they’ve received from BurgerFi’s marketing team to help them give something back to the people that matter the most — the local communities that their restaurants call home. Annually, they support those local communities by hosting customer appreciation promotions, and for every burger sold, Bullard and Rooney donate $1 to the Jimmy V foundation. Founded by the legendary North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvanohe, the V Foundation is a charity that has awarded over $200 million in cancer research grants nationwide and has grown to become one of the premier supporters of cutting-edge cancer research.

“The dedication to development and creating a strong level of sustainability for us as franchisees frees us up to focus on giving back to the community, because ultimately, they are the ones who keep us in business,” said Rooney. “Building that relationship with them (the local community) is critical to the long-term growth and sustainability of the business,” added Bullard.