1851

In 2017, <a href="https://www.mcalistersdelifranchising.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=mcalisters-deli-positioned-for-large-scale-growth-in-2018-2705551" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McAlister&rsquo;s Deli&reg;</a> owners opened new restaurants in markets across the U.S., bringing the franchise system&rsquo;s total unit count to over 400 across 28 states. That kind of growth would be impressive in any climate, but it&rsquo;s especially outstanding in a year in which the quick-service restaurant industry has been challenged to adapt to the demands of a quickly changing marketplace.

According to Paul Macaluso, <a href="https://mcalistersdeli.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=mcalisters-deli-positioned-for-large-scale-growth-in-2018-2705551" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">McAlister&rsquo;s</a> president, the brand has been able to flourish where others have struggled by embracing the consumer trends that much of the rest of the segment has been resisting.

&ldquo;Consumers, millennials, in particular, have different expectations for dining out than they used to,&rdquo; Macaluso said. &ldquo;Going out to a restaurant used to be considered a kind of luxury, something that was exciting. Now it&rsquo;s fairly commonplace, even sometimes considered an inconvenience. Not only do people want their food quickly, they want it on-demand. It&rsquo;s not enough to serve good food quickly in your restaurant, you&rsquo;ve got to take that experience outside of the restaurant. Online ordering, catering, delivery, all of that is essential, and that&rsquo;s where we&rsquo;ve really excelled in the past year.&rdquo;

To stay ahead of consumer demands, McAlister&rsquo;s has implemented a suite of off-premise ordering options, including third-party delivery services, online and mobile ordering, and a robust menu of catering services. Many McAlister&rsquo;s restaurants have even in-restaurant pick-up stations, allowing seamless pick-ups for prepaid to-go orders.

McAlister&rsquo;s incorporation of an array off-premise ordering options has not only allowed the brand to meet consumer expectations, it has also posed a number of operational benefits for restaurant owners and managers.

&ldquo;Once we implemented and refined our off-premise ordering systems, we saw significant reductions in wait times and communications errors, and it relieved a lot of the burden on staff during our busiest hours,&rdquo; said Macaluso.

At a time when many restaurant brands are slowing their growth to meet the challenges of a changing marketplace, McAlister&rsquo;s off-premise ordering options have helped the brand to accommodate those changes while still growing rapidly. Also contributing to that durability is a streamlined operational model that increases the success of favorable margins.

&ldquo;Our restaurants are built around operational simplicity,&rdquo; Macaluso said. &ldquo;Our owners aren&rsquo;t maintaining fryers or dealing with a million different vendors. Our restaurants are cost-effective to build and maintain, and they are there is a level of ease in operations. A lot of other brands in our segment would be thrilled to see the kind of margins our owners routinely report.&rdquo;

McAlister&rsquo;s is now preparing to leverage their advantage in the fast casual restaurant segment for more growth in 2018, and their development team is actively courting new and existing franchisees for new restaurant openings in markets throughout the country. To that end, Macaluso says McAlister&rsquo;s is aiming to keep new-restaurant startup costs affordable and emphasizing their competitive margins.

&ldquo;Our startup costs are extremely competitive within our segment,&rdquo; Macaluso said. Excluding real estate, the cost to open a McAlister&rsquo;s Deli ranges from $762,000 to $1,023,000. Even on the high end, that is significantly lower than the average net sales for a McAlister&rsquo;s restaurant in a year. Our franchisees can see a very strong return on their investment, often very quickly.&rdquo;

McAlister’s Deli Positioned for Large Scale Growth in 2018

1851 Franchise

The not-just-a-deli brand had a big year for development in 2017, and things are just heating up.

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-deli-positioned-for-large-scale-growth-in-2018

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Unlocking the Potential: How Much Can You Earn as an Onigilly Franchisee?

unlocking-the-potential-how-much-can-you-earn-as-an-onigilly-franchisee

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno 

Grease, Grit, and Growth: DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno, Nevada

grease-grit-and-growth-dewitts-ignite-new-chapter-for-filta-environmental-kitchen-solutions-in-reno-nevada

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-50 Unit-Wendy's-Franchisee-June-2025

Why This 50 Unit Wendy’s Franchisee Is Betting on Layne’s for His Next Big Move

wendys-franchisee-expands-with-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring’s Jim Balis Talks Growth, ROI and the Future of Fast Casual on “Rock My Restaurant”

capitalsprings-jim-balis-talks-growth-roi-and-the-future-of-fast-casual-on-rock-my-restaurant

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

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

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

petbar Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

petbar-franchise-deep-dive

Design with outline of three houses and people working on laptops within them

Top 10 Low-Cost Home-Based or Mobile Franchises for 2025

low-cost-home-based-mobile-franchises

Design with graphic of a home, hammer, dollar signs, and arrows trending down

Top 20 Low-Cost Home Service Franchise Opportunities for 2025

low-cost-home-service-franchises

The Top 10 Yoga, Pilates and Flexibility-Focused Fitness Franchises

the-top-10-yoga-pilates-and-flexibility-focused-fitness-franchises

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Juan & Whitney Fernandez & family, BIGGBY COFFEE logo

From Chiropractic to Coffee: These BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchisees Are Brewing Something New in Troy, Ohio 

biggby-coffee-franchise-coming-to-troy-ohio

McAlister’s Deli Positioned for Large Scale Growth in 2018

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS