1851

This October, Iowa&rsquo;s first <a href="https://www.mcalistersdelifranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=mcalisters-first-restaurant-in-iowa-finds-enthusiastic-customer-base-2705114" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">McAlister&rsquo;s Deli&reg;</a> restaurant opened in West Des Moines. Owned by the brand&rsquo;s largest franchisee, the Dallas-based Saxton Group, the new <a href="https://mcalistersdeli.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=mcalisters-first-restaurant-in-iowa-finds-enthusiastic-customer-base-2705114" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">McAlister&rsquo;s</a> has already found a wide customer base, and the McAlister&rsquo;s development team is planning to replicate that success throughout the Midwest with additional restaurant openings from new franchisees.

McAlister&rsquo;s success in Iowa comes as no surprise to McAlister&rsquo;s corporate team, who have been carefully extending their reach throughout the Midwest for years. According to Paul Macaluso, the brand president, McAlister&rsquo;s popularity in the Midwest is due in large part to their hearty menu.

&ldquo;McAlister&rsquo;s is known for our sandwiches but what really draws in guests is our menu packed with variety. We have wholesome and hearty menu options, from sandwiches to spuds, which translate very well in Midwest markets,&rdquo; said Macaluso. &ldquo;As long as we continue to provide craveable food, we&rsquo;re going to continue to see happy guests.&rdquo;

The West Des Moines location also likely benefits from increased brand awareness fostered by the brand&rsquo;s growth in nearby Midwestern cities.

&ldquo;We&rsquo;ve already seen just how well our concept resonates with customers throughout the region,&rdquo; Macaluso said. &ldquo;And historically, we&rsquo;ve seen that McAlister&rsquo;s does best when we expand around the edges of where we&rsquo;re already strong. So as we grow our footprint in states like Illinois, Indiana and Michigan, we&rsquo;re finding that brand awareness expands outward, as does demand for our product.&rdquo;

To ensure strong openings, McAlister&rsquo;s rolls out a slate of marketing initiatives and promotions for each new restaurant&rsquo;s grand opening. The West Des Moines McAlister&rsquo;s offered complimentary entrees for three hours the day before opening, and on its opening day the first 50 customers in line received a $50 gift card and limited-edition t-shirt. Those promotions garnered a lot of attention from the local press and created a strong buzz around the new restaurant.

The brand&rsquo;s marketing efforts are just one of the ways the McAlister&rsquo;s Deli development team supports franchisees. Macaluso said that the franchise&rsquo;s entire model is built around franchisee success.

&ldquo;Our franchisees are ultimately the driving force behind our successful expansion initiatives,&rdquo; said Macaluso. &ldquo;That&rsquo;s why our strong support system is such an integral part of our franchise system, we want our local owners to receive the best possible advantages in today&rsquo;s ever-evolving restaurant industry.&rdquo;

To make sure restaurant owners have those advantages, McAlister&rsquo;s offers a range of focused support services, including hands-on training in existing McAlister&rsquo;s stores pre-opening and periodic visits from franchisee business consultants post-opening.

&ldquo;On the corporate level, everything that we do is designed to set up our franchisees for success,&rdquo; said Macaluso. &ldquo;Between guiding them through the grand opening process and making ourselves accessible to lend a helping hand whenever needed, our top priority is ensuring that the McAlister&rsquo;s model is working in every market it calls home. By helping our franchisees reach their full potential, whether they&rsquo;re single or multi-unit operators, we&rsquo;re helping position the McAlister&rsquo;s brand for continued growth in the long run.&rdquo;

Macaluso is confident that the franchise&rsquo;s commitment to comprehensive franchisee support combined with the West Des Moines restaurant&rsquo;s strong opening will attract new owners to operate more McAlister&rsquo;s Delis throughout the Midwest, and he&rsquo;s confident that the development team will have no problem finding qualified leads.

&ldquo;Ultimately we&rsquo;re just looking for smart, ambitious people who have a passion for the brand,&rdquo; said Macaluso. &ldquo;Our processes have been fine-tuned and are easily applied. I know we&rsquo;re going to continue to find a lot of great new owners, and I&rsquo;m excited to work with them.&quot;

McAlister’s First Restaurant in Iowa Finds Enthusiastic Customer Base

1851 Franchise

The sandwich brand’s West Des Moines restaurant has opened the door for further development in the Midwest

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

mcalisters-first-restaurant-in-iowa-finds-enthusiastic-customer-base

Senior Care Authority

How This Senior Care Authority Franchisee Turned Love for His Grandparents Into a Lifelong Calling

how-this-senior-care-authority-franchisee-turned-love-for-his-grandparents-into-a-lifelong-calling

HomeTeam Inspection Service

Hometown News: Like Father, Like Son — Family-Run Inspection Business Blends Generations of Expertise and a Keen Eye for Detail

father-son-home-inspection-franchise-florida

KLA Schools

KLA Schools of Beachwalk Hosts Admissions Kick-Off Celebration

kla-schools-of-beachwalk-hosts-admissions-kick-off-celebration

Good Day Columbus: Home Insurance Expert Reveals Why Central Ohio Premiums Are Rising and How to Combat Costs

rising-home-insurance-costs-ohio

CapitalSpring

Primetime Fitness Expands Crunch Portfolio With CapitalSpring’s Backing

primetime-fitness-expands-crunch-portfolio-with-capitalsprings-backing

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Jollibee -Launch-Story-Brand-Page-Deep-Dive-2025

Jollibee Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

jollibee-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

LearningRx Franchise - 1851 Franchise Deep Dive

LearningRx Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

learningrx-franchise-deep-dive

Design with image of employee holding card reader and customer paying

How Smart Retail Franchises Are Winning Against Online Competition

retail-franchise-opportunities

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

McAlister’s First Restaurant in Iowa Finds Enthusiastic Customer Base

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS