Melting Pot

<a href="https://www.meltingpotfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-melting-pots-leadership-team-keeps-the-brands-vision-focused-on-franchisee-success-2718803" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Melting Pot</a>, the “polished casual” fondue franchise with 90-plus units in the United States and Canada, has long been a favorite spot for special occasions, date nights and those seeking more than just a place to eat. The restaurant is devoted to providing an intimate and exciting dining experience for patrons, and continues to remain a favorite for lunch and dinner after nearly a half-century in business.&nbsp;The brand’s success is, in part, a result of the diligent and focused leadership team. Headed by&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-johnston-4b6b0a4a/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-melting-pots-leadership-team-keeps-the-brands-vision-focused-on-franchisee-success-2718803" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bob Johnston</a>, CEO of&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot">Melting Pot</a>, the team includes seven other driven individuals with extensive experience who have brought their strengths together to successfully steer the company through the pandemic and towards the future.&nbsp;“The work that this team does navigating through environments that we've never seen before and have no playbook for is really remarkable,” said Johnston. “All of the members of the leadership team are enormously gifted, and we're grateful that they're a part of the team.”&nbsp;Johnston commends the leadership team’s efforts to help the brand, which relies on in-person experiences, survive the effects of COVID-19. He said they were quick to assess the status of the industry amidst lockdowns and learned to pivot to still cater to customers. Johnston said that having strategic members like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/ana-malmqvist/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-melting-pots-leadership-team-keeps-the-brands-vision-focused-on-franchisee-success-2718803" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Ana Malmqvist</a>, Chief Marketing Officer for Melting Pot, who joined the brand six weeks before the nationwide shutdown, on the team is incredibly valuable in times like these.“Ana is tremendously talented and extremely calm under pressure; the more chaotic things are around her, the calmer she becomes,” said Johnston. “She built two fantastic programs that have been responsible for lifting weekday sales in enormous ways.”One of those programs is “Thursdate,” which is part of the company’s vision to convince customers that the fondue restaurant is not simply reserved for special events and days. It features a romantic dinner experience for a couple reminiscent of a Valentine’s celebration but brings it to a weeknight when their profits are typically lower. The other initiative Malmqvist has been instrumental in creating is “Best Fondue Friends Forever,” which encourages friendship and meeting up with loved ones around some delicious food and fondue. The program has been especially popular as COVID-19 restrictions ease and people are able to gather in public again.&nbsp;“We're all about the consumer, how to make it work for the consumer and craft it for their needs, because it's all about having their loyalty and their love of the brand. We look at how to harness that brand love to make them always want to choose us. And when we drive in traffic of happy consumers, we create happy franchisees.”Malmqvist works closely with fellow leadership team member&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-r-crawford-784a0810/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-melting-pots-leadership-team-keeps-the-brands-vision-focused-on-franchisee-success-2718803" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">John Crawford</a> to ensure that the marketing strategies they create translate well in an operational sense at each location. Crawford, Executive Vice President of Franchise and Restaurant Operations for Melting Pot, is a seasoned restaurant executive, who worked with brands like Bennigan’s and Roy’s, the Hawaiian fusion concept, and ran all Ruth’s Chris Steak House locations for many years before coming to Front Burner Brands. He works directly with franchisees to ensure the brand delivers “The Perfect Night Out”, to every customer, every time.Crawford also joined Melting Pot right before COVID-19’s first big surge, and he can attest to how hard the leadership team worked to adjust and adapt. “It was certainly challenging. But I was able to come in and add some guidance on how we can approach protecting the brand. I’m proud of the best-in-class support our all-star team provided to support our franchisees and their teams, from guidance on how to renegotiate leases to guidance on PPP loans and the things they could do. Within a couple of weeks we were able to put together a system for to-go orders so the franchisees could have some revenue.”And now, with locations up and open for service again, the company is doing incredibly well. Melting Pot currently sees about 25% more demand than they have space for, Johnston said, which is why they are seeking to grow the franchise and open more restaurants. Crawford’s job in the expansion process is to work with other leadership team members to anticipate what they will need to see continued success.“My role is to collaborate with all the different departments — with marketing, with our CFO, with development, with IT — and just really make sure that what we're doing is going to help support the growth of our franchisees’ successes,” Crawford said. Ensuring that their goals are focused and well-planned out is instrumental in paving a path for owners to succeed, he said.&nbsp;Many executives agree they have done an excellent job at honing in on specific objectives to work on and establishing key performance indicators.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-stone-cfe-b6b2808/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-melting-pots-leadership-team-keeps-the-brands-vision-focused-on-franchisee-success-2718803" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Dan Stone</a>, Chief Operating and Development Officer, said “the caliber of individuals we have right now is the most efficient and talented leadership team in the 16 years I've been with the company.” He explained they have added a few positions in recent years, and expanded the business’s “vision house” from having one-year goals to plans for the one, three, and five-year marks. “We've become much more focused, much more disciplined, clear and concise. By prioritizing, we can put more energy towards specific goals, and our odds of success increase exponentially,” Stone said.&nbsp;Malmqvist agreed that elongating their strategic planning to have a five-year outlook has been monumental in providing a sort of “North Star” for what Melting Pot wants to accomplish. “We have to be visionary, but we also have to be disciplined. It doesn't mean we come up with something new every year, but we continue to evolve our plans with focus."And Melting Pot has plenty of plans for the future. The brand is looking to sign new franchise agreements and is in the process of a refresh and remodel of over 20 of the locations, which Stone has been an important part of. The units he has helped go through the sleek and contemporary renovations are performing well — with 22% higher sales than the others, Johnston said — showing that the brand's vision to evolve is working. Year-to-date sales are up more than 39% versus 2019, and guest counts are up almost 25% against last year.“It's pretty impressive performance, and franchisees get a lot of credit through their hard work, but the leadership team also deserves a lot of credit,” Johnston said. “They get a tremendous amount of high praise because they helped people through a very difficult time and put together a very good plan for reopening — and the numbers state that plan has been real successful. We all worked on how to support the franchisees as best we could and prepare them for what we believed would be a flood of interest in the brand once people were able to come back to the restaurants, and that's exactly what's happened.”About Melting PotFounded in 1975, Melting Pot has offered a unique fondue dining experience for more than 45 years. As the premier fondue restaurant franchise, Melting Pot has 97 restaurants in 31 U.S. states and Canada. Known for offering a variety of fondue cooking styles and unique entrées, Melting Pot’s menu also features cheese fondues, salads, fine wines, spirits and chocolate fondue desserts. Fondue fans can join Melting Pot’s Club Fondue for exclusive promotions, special events and advance holiday reservation privileges. Melting Pot is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.meltingpot.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Melting Pot, please visit www.meltingpotfranchise.com.About Front BurnerHeadquartered in Tampa, Front Burner is the restaurant management company for Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., the new casual whimsical dining concept Melting Pot Social and fast-casual concept&nbsp; Oronzo Honest Italian! Melting Pot currently has more than 96 restaurants in 31 U.S. states and Canada. Melting Pot Social opened its first location in July 2021 in Asheville, NC. Oronzo opened its first location in Tampa, FL. in June 2020 and will open a second location in the area in October of 2021. For more information, visit&nbsp; http://www.frontburnerbrands.com.

How Melting Pot’s Leadership Team Keeps the Brand’s Vision Focused on Franchisee Success 

1851 Franchise

The fondue franchise’s eight-person executive team works hard to hone the company’s vision to create memorable dining experiences that are about good food and gathering. 

This brand page has been paid for by MELTING POT. 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

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TAMPA, Fla.&nbsp;—&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a>, the iconic 94-unit fondue franchise, closed its 50th year with achievements in both unit-level success and franchise development momentum. In addition to opening four restaurants in New Haven, Connecticut; Syracuse, New York; Rogers, Arkansas; and St. Petersburg, Florida; the team awarded three more development agreements, drove franchisee success with continued&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/evolution-design-2731008">Melting Pot Evolution</a> remodels and supported a growing retail presence with the launch of Melting Pot at Home across over 2,500 grocery locations.“Last year was a milestone year for&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a>,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-r-crawford-784a0810/">John “JC” Crawford</a>. “Our 50th anniversary was one to remember. Melting Pot continued to deliver the atmosphere and unique menu that guests know and love, driving our sales performance and maintaining our status as the go-to fondue concept. We saw a surge in franchise development with multiple signings and openings, setting the stage for another great year of growth and partnership with entrepreneurs committed to their communities and delivering the Perfect Night Out.”As the brand celebrated its Golden Anniversary, the team continued to support systemwide remodeling efforts, updating long-standing locations in line with new, modern brand standards. The Melting Pot Evolution remodel, while embracing a new look and feel, has proven to be a strategic driver of business, as well. The new St. Petersburg location, which launched with the new design, reported a per-person check average of over $70, outpacing the national average of $61. The Rogers location, which opened in November, had the third-highest weekly sales of the entire system in the first week of December.In addition to meaningful change throughout the system, Melting Pot drove community change with its ongoing commitment to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stjude.org/">St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital</a>. After raising $1.17 million in 2024, the system raised a record-breaking $1.23 million with its&nbsp;<a href="https://www.meltingpot.com/blog/melting-pot-launches-22nd-annual-st--jude-thanks-and-giving-campaign-benefiting-st--jude-childrens-research-hospital/">2025 Thanks and Giving® campaign</a>. To date, Melting Pot has raised over $18 million for the organization and stands alongside global giants like Target and Microsoft in its level of contribution.Looking forward to a strong 2026, Melting Pot is targeting expansion in Las Vegas; South Florida; San Jose, California; Providence, Rhode Island; Provo, Utah; Greensboro, North Carolina; Eugene, Oregon; Lancaster, Pennsylvania; and Houston and The Woodlands, Texas. The brand’s continuing Golden Anniversary Incentive will support franchisees looking to develop in these markets.The first five new-construction franchise agreements signed beginning July 1, 2025, will receive 50% off the initial franchise fee — a savings of $22,500. This special offer is available through March 31, 2026, or until five qualifying agreements are signed, whichever comes first. With two new-construction development agreements already signed, there are just three slots remaining. The incentive applies exclusively to new builds.Melting Pot’s continued success is only bolstered by strides made in the retail space in 2025, with Melting Pot at Home cheese and chocolate fondue now made available in over 2,500 grocers nationwide and cheese fondue available in select Publix locations during the holiday season.“As a legacy brand, Melting Pot is not a concept that needs to open dozens of new restaurants per year to represent success,” Crawford said. “Last year, we focused on intentional growth with high-quality partners, brand growth through Melting Pot Evolution, and increased awareness through our retail channels. These successes, in combination with our four new openings, signal strong momentum and a bright future for Melting Pot in 2026.”About Melting PotFounded in 1975, Melting Pot has offered a unique fondue dining experience for more than 50 years. As the premier fondue restaurant franchise, Melting Pot has 94 restaurants in 32 U.S. states and Canada. Known for offering a variety of fondue cooking styles and unique entrées, Melting Pot’s menu also features cheese fondues, salads, fine wines, spirits and chocolate fondue desserts. Fondue fans can join Melting Pot’s Club Fondue for exclusive promotions, special events and advance holiday reservation privileges. The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. (TMPRI), headquartered in Tampa, Florida, is the franchisor of Melting Pot. For more information, visit www.meltingpot.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Melting Pot, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.meltingpotfranchise.com">www.meltingpotfranchise.com</a>.&nbsp;

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As&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a>, the iconic fondue franchise, celebrates its landmark 50th anniversary, the system is celebrating major progress in its&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/melting-pot-evolution-the-future-of-the-melting-pot-franchise-2728124#stories">Melting Pot Evolution</a> redesign program. The systemwide initiative, which encompasses both new and existing locations, is a push to modernize the design of the brand, streamline operations and revolutionize the guest experience.&nbsp;While all new&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a> locations are built with the Melting Pot Evolution design, existing locations have been remodeled in waves, and this effort is expected to be complete by summer 2026. This evolution is more than aesthetic, though that is a major facet. The new design also represents a strategic pivot designed to broaden Melting Pot’s appeal with increased dining options and flexibility for the evolving consumer, and the results are already validating the strategy.New locations in St. Petersburg, Florida, New Haven, Connecticut, and Rogers, Arkansas, are shattering national averages in select key performance metrics, driven by a design that puts the bar front and center and invites guests to dine on their own terms, and remodeled locations are receiving enthusiastic approval from guests and team members alike as they reopen post-renovation.<h2>Proof in the Numbers</h2>The financial impact of the Melting Pot Evolution design is undeniable. The new St. Petersburg location, which opened in April, reports a per-person average of $70.50, which is significantly higher than the national year-to-date average of $61. Similarly, New Haven, which opened in May, boasts a PPA of $64.18. In the first week of December, Rogers, which opened in November, had the third-highest sales week in the system.A key driver of this growth is the reimagined bar experience.&nbsp;In the past, Melting Pot bars were often tucked away or inactive. The Melting Pot Evolution design places them as focal points, leading to a surge in alcohol sales. St. Pete’s alcohol product mix sits at 23.7% (the highest in the system) while New Haven follows closely at 17.1%. Both are well above the national average of 12.1%, proving that the new design successfully captures the high-margin "happy hour" and casual dining crowd.<h2>A New Era in St. Pete</h2>For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/celinda-norton-347a1bb">Celinda Norton</a>, general manager of the St. Pete location, the new design represents a necessary leap forward. Having operated nine Melting Pot locations over her career, she views the move to the vibrant Central Avenue district as a game-changer."We are at the beginning of the next 50 years," Norton said. "Fifty years ago, people wanted to dine for the whole evening. Now, we still have those guests, but we also have generations with busy lives who want to come, eat, have fun and leave."In addition to the bar being more of a focal point in St. Pete than it was in previous locations, a unique garage-style door that opens to the street further integrates the bar and overall restaurant with the bustling city.”<img src="https://1851-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/story/editor/1765976491_image.png">"A Melting Pot bar is not the type of place where you’d go for happy hour if it were buried in the back," Norton said. "Here, the bar is front and center, and it’s a huge draw. We have guests who come for a reservation and ask to sit at the bar instead, and we have guests who visit just for a drink and quick chocolate fondue at the bar."<h2>Balancing Tradition and Modernity in New Haven</h2>In New Haven, franchisees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonathan-reeve-5a62271">Jonathan</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/dainasenatore">Daina Reeve</a>, long-time guests who decided to open a Melting Pot after they learned their favorite local unit would be closing, noted that the new look initially shocked some loyalists, but even the most traditional guests have come to love the Melting Pot Evolution look."We underestimated how many people missed Melting Pot," Daina said. "People walk in, and there is an immediate reaction. The modern feel shocks them at first because they are used to the traditional, dark, secluded booths. But after experiencing it, they see it as an evolution. They see Melting Pot making changes to stay with the times."The Reeves emphasized that, while the design is open and airy with quartz finishes and modern lighting, the soul of the brand remains."We shouldn’t lose sight of what makes Melting Pot what it is," Jonathan said. "For example, Lovers' Lane is still there. It’s the only place where you can have an intimate dinner for two and feel secluded. It’s nice to mix the old with the new."While the new design does “mix the old with the new,” Daina pointed out that the modern aesthetic has been carefully curated and still aligns with the warm, welcoming atmosphere guests expect from Melting Pot. The spaces don’t feel “cold” like some modern designs can."I personally think that the new design has amazing textures," she said. "For such a modern space, it feels like you're kind of in your living room. We have a fireplace, candle walls and really well-done focal points that make the restaurant super special."<h2>Building From the Ground Up in Arkansas</h2>For&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-r-hickerson-69880923/">Chad Hickerson</a> and Candice Bright, the owners of the newly opened Rogers, Arkansas, location, the Melting Pot Evolution design offered a clean slate. Unlike retrofits, their location was built from the ground up with the new aesthetic in mind."It’s just really a clean restaurant," Candice said. “The focal features, like the bar and the ADA seating, are really beautiful. I’m really proud of the design.”<figure class="media"><div data-oembed-url="https://www.instagram.com/themeltingpotnwa/reel/DQ9WkPIEVyk/"><div class="iframely-embed"><div class="iframely-responsive"><iframe src="//cdn.iframe.ly/api/iframe?app=1&amp;api_key=fd3b6b3731f34f55ba1fe3&amp;url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.instagram.com%2Fthemeltingpotnwa%2Freel%2FDQ9WkPIEVyk%2F" frameborder="0" allow="autoplay; encrypted-media" allowfullscreen=""></iframe></div></div></div></figure>"I had struggled with feeling like I was walking into a 1970s home in the old designs," Chad said. "The modernization fits a whole lot better. It’s much more open.”The Rogers location features distinct design elements like an aquifer water-vapor fireplace and sunk-in booths. And, thanks to the diversity in design, with anything from booths to high-top tables and bar seating, the restaurant has the perfect seating option for any occasion. Chad describes the different areas like different “neighborhoods” within the space.“You can come six times, sit in six different places and feel like you’ve gone to six different restaurants," he said.<h2>What Melting Pot Evolution Means for the Future of the Brand</h2>With the Melting Pot Evolution project close to wrapping up, the brand is set up well for what comes next. Early results from St. Pete and New Haven show that the move to a more open, bar-forward design is not only bringing in new guests but also giving longtime regulars a fresh reason to come back.As the franchise moves past its 50th year, the modern design serves as a physical signal that Melting Pot is evolving alongside its guests and franchise owners, all to the benefit of the brand and guest experience."We have seen the reaction of those who haven't been to a newly remodeled Melting Pot before or in some time," said Franchise Growth Strategist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-benyo-1bb36a248">Collin Benyo</a>. “From prospects to vendors to previous guests, the reaction is overwhelmingly positive.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info.</a>&nbsp;

How Melting Pot’s Leadership Team Keeps the Brand’s Vision Focused on Franchisee Success

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