Melting Pot

<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot">The Melting Pot</a>, the 94-unit fondue franchise, has grown to be synonymous with fondue dining since its founding in 1975. Now, it is dominating the experiential dining space and continues to stand out among a host of other far less memorable food concepts.&nbsp;CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-johnston-4b6b0a4a/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-melting-pot-is-dominating-the-experiential-dining-industry-and-poised-for-growth-with-franchisees-2722791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Bob Johnston</a> and Franchise Growth Strategist&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/collin-benyo-1bb36a248/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-melting-pot-is-dominating-the-experiential-dining-industry-and-poised-for-growth-with-franchisees-2722791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Collin Benyo</a> joined 1851 Publisher&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/powills/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-melting-pot-is-dominating-the-experiential-dining-industry-and-poised-for-growth-with-franchisees-2722791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Nick Powills</a> to discuss the brand’s 2023 growth trajectory and how existing franchisees can continue to scale.<h3><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/I9kNK3p8OEA?feature=share&amp%3Bt=57&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-melting-pot-is-dominating-the-experiential-dining-industry-and-poised-for-growth-with-franchisees-2722791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Current Franchise Development Efforts and the State of the Market</a></h3>In recent years,&nbsp;<a href="https://meltingpotfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-melting-pot-is-dominating-the-experiential-dining-industry-and-poised-for-growth-with-franchisees-2722791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Melting Pot</a> leadership team has been intently focused on supporting existing franchisees through challenging times rather than funneling energy into franchise development. As the system reconciled with the consequences of the pandemic, which was especially hard on the food service sector, franchisees received the high-level support they needed to achieve and maintain a strong baseline despite market difficulties.“I don’t view what we did as all that extraordinary — it was the only choice,” Johnston said. “It was frightening for everyone. It was natural for us to say, ‘There’s only one job for us to do here,’ which was to help franchisees not just get through this, not just survive by the skin of their teeth, but figure out a way to leverage the strengths of the brand to thrive.”Now that many of the moving parts have been more clearly defined and processes are running smoothly, existing franchisees are expressing interest in reinvesting to expand to additional restaurants, and the leadership team is riding that momentum in an effort to bring in additional external interest, as well.The Melting Pot has recently worked to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/I9kNK3p8OEA?feature=share&amp%3Bt=856&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-melting-pot-is-dominating-the-experiential-dining-industry-and-poised-for-growth-with-franchisees-2722791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">leverage data from OpenTable</a> to better inform its development efforts. OpenTable data has revealed that, in some markets where there are already Melting Pot restaurants, there is excess demand. By noting the number of available reservations and other consumer habits, the leadership team can glean a more complete understanding of where demand lies.While the brand is taking note of these trends, Johnston says the team is still focused on penetrating brand new markets.“Not that we would never put a Melting Pot in a market where we already exist, but our focus is to grow the footprint of the brand — more awareness in more markets,” he said. “But this data is telling a very encouraging story. People are interested at record levels in the brand.”<h3><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/I9kNK3p8OEA?feature=share&amp%3Bt=482&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-melting-pot-is-dominating-the-experiential-dining-industry-and-poised-for-growth-with-franchisees-2722791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Melting Pot’s Approach to Franchisee Support</a></h3>Much like a family, The Melting Pot franchise network truly works together to seek solutions to common challenges. Though there are occasional disagreements within the system, the leadership team has worked diligently to create a structure that allows franchisees to be heard and encourages the entire network to embrace a collaborative approach.“We have a strategic partnership committee. These are franchisees — the best of the best — who are elected by their peers to come and talk with us directly about charting the growth of the brand and finding ways to broaden awareness about the brand,” Johnston added. “That’s mission one. What this is really about is making more people aware of the brand so that everyone involved with it, all stakeholders, can win at a higher level.”<h3><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/I9kNK3p8OEA?feature=share&amp%3Bt=1334&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-melting-pot-is-dominating-the-experiential-dining-industry-and-poised-for-growth-with-franchisees-2722791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">How The Melting Pot Stands Out</a></h3>As the franchise grows, The Melting Pot is bringing its fondue eatertainment to communities nationwide. Unlike other, more common, food service models, The Melting Pot is virtually in a league of its own.&nbsp;Though growth brings an occasional challenge, Johnston says the process of working through these hurdles is what makes the system even stronger. Over the years, as it has navigated decades of market changes and a range of unexpected circumstances, the concept continues to come out on top.“When we strengthen the brand by penetrating markets, we all win at a higher level,” Johnston said. “There was a time when someone was trying to ride on our coattails. There was another fondue concept that was imitating us and going into markets ahead of us and attempting to lock out our brand. Because of the great job that franchisees did, supported by the restaurant support center, we won that battle.”“Not a lot of brands can say that they are&nbsp;the only ‘fill in the blank,’” he continued. “But when you think about a fondue restaurant dining and entertainment experience, there is only one brand that comes to the consumer’s mind, and that’s us. We have to work hard to grow our footprint so that remains to be the case.”<h3><a href="https://www.youtube.com/live/I9kNK3p8OEA?feature=share&amp%3Bt=1848&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-melting-pot-is-dominating-the-experiential-dining-industry-and-poised-for-growth-with-franchisees-2722791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">The Future of the Brand</a></h3>The Melting Pot’s place in the market allows it to support both new owners in entering the system and scaling, as well as existing owners expanding their investments. Among restaurant goers as a whole, far beyond just those interested in fondue, The Melting Pot consistently rises to the top.With this in mind, the leadership team is supporting owners in whatever path their entrepreneurship may follow. Whether they aim to add additional restaurants in the future or are simply looking for a strong exit, the franchise model positions them well to build a successful business. Further, The Melting Pot continues to speak with excited prospects who, when added to the system, will drive success and value for owners far beyond themselves.“I know the blood and the drive are in these franchisees. The real priority is to find franchisees that are ready to grow with vigor and energy,” Benyo said. “The people we talk to are candidates we are happy to be talking to for growth.”Looking toward the next two years, Johnston says he is looking forward to phasing in a renewed focus on expanding the footprint. Though this effort has taken a back seat in recent years as the leadership team has pivoted toward supporting existing owners, he is clear that one of the most rewarding aspects of his work is to support individuals in achieving their dreams of business ownership.“What I want is to see everybody win,” Johnston said. “And I mean that sincerely.”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;Watch the full video above or by clicking&nbsp;<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I9kNK3p8OEA&utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-the-melting-pot-is-dominating-the-experiential-dining-industry-and-poised-for-growth-with-franchisees-2722791" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.

How The Melting Pot Is Dominating the Experiential Dining Industry and Poised for Growth with Franchisees

1851 Franchise

https://www.youtube.com/embed/I9kNK3p8OEA

In a world saturated with drive-thru burger windows and foot-long sandwich shops, The Melting Pot offers diners something different: an unforgettable experience.

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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Melting Pot Wraps Up 2025 With 4 Restaurants Opened, 3 Additional Franchises Awarded and Continued Expansion Momentum

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TAMPA, Fla.&nbsp;— After marking its 50th anniversary last year,&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a> entered 2026 with strong momentum. In the first quarter, the 93-unit fondue franchise saw a major lift around Valentine’s Day and recorded its highest-ever donation following its 22nd year participating in&nbsp;<a href="https://www.stjude.org/">St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s</a> annual&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/">Thanks and Giving® campaign</a>.While Valentine’s Day is a natural focus for&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a>, this year’s results were even more impressive. The brand reported a 19% increase in net sales and a 20% increase in guest count year-over-year. A review of Valentine’s Day performance over the past decade highlights that 75 restaurants recorded their highest single-day sales, eight restaurants recorded their highest weekly sales, and two restaurants recorded their highest monthly sales around the February holiday.“The energy felt throughout the entire system this Valentine’s Day was remarkable, and it speaks to our staying power as a brand. Melting Pot continues to be the destination of choice for celebrating life’s special moments,” said CEO&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-r-crawford-784a0810/">John “JC” Crawford</a>. “Seeing dozens of restaurants shattering records is a major win for our franchisees and their teams.”The brand’s financial success was matched by a similar rise in guest satisfaction. Melting Pot’s Net Promoter Score improved by over 10% year-over-year to reach 65, a benchmark that puts the brand among the top-performing concepts in the hospitality space. Leaders throughout the system have placed an ongoing emphasis on the guest journey and operational strategy, and it’s clear it’s paying off in guests’ perceptions of food quality, staff friendliness, pacing and overall value.“NPS is one of the most important indicators of guest loyalty, and we’ve made it a core focus across the brand,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-zurcher-73067917">Matthew Zurcher</a>, vice president of franchise and restaurant operations. “Since beginning to track in 2022, we’ve improved from the low 50s to a 65 over the past year. We’ve achieved this by partnering closely with our franchisees — celebrating wins, identifying opportunities and providing the tools, training and data needed to continuously elevate the guest experience.”As Melting Pot has focused on its impact on guests, it has not lost sight of efforts beyond the four walls. Last year was the 22nd year the brand participated in St. Jude’s Thanks and Giving Campaign, and thanks to the generosity and passion of local operators, team members and guests, Melting Pot donated a record-breaking $1,278,308 to the hospital. Earlier this year, the teams who made it possible celebrated on the annual St. Jude Winners’ Trip to Memphis.“As is always the case, it is a highlight of the year for my wife and me to host our most committed team members at St. Jude Children’s Hospital,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bob-johnston-4b6b0a4a">Bob Johnston</a>, chairman of the board. “This gives us a chance to thank our team members and allows them to see firsthand the work that they and our customers are supporting. We are grateful to have a community of franchisees that generously supports our fundraising efforts. They make it easy for the guest to be generous through our voucher program, creating a cycle of generosity that pays dividends for the brand in terms of employee engagement and culture building.”This commitment to a culture of service and performance is a powerful springboard for Melting Pot’s next phase of expansion. As the brand continues building momentum, it is targeting strategic expansion in Des Moines, Iowa; Birmingham, Alabama; Memphis, Tennessee; Boston, Massachusetts and Fort Wayne, Indiana.“Our Q1 performance is the result of a brand that continues to push forward,” Crawford said. “Whether it’s unit-level performance or systemwide philanthropic impact, Melting Pot is stronger than ever, and we’re incredibly optimistic as we step into our next 50 years of operations.”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 93 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&nbsp;Pot, please visit&nbsp;<a href="http://www.meltingpotfranchise.com">www.meltingpotfranchise.com</a>.

image of the melting pot St. Jude donation

The iconic fondue franchise’s historic start to the year is marked by significant gains in guest satisfaction scores and continued systemwide growth following its Golden Anniversary.


Melting Pot Breaks Records in Q1, Including Unprecedented Valentine’s Day Sales and Highest-Ever St. Jude Thanks and Giving® Donation

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Over its 50-plus-year history,&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a>, the 93-unit fondue franchise, has built its reputation around service and experiential dining, encouraging its guests to focus on an engaging experience and welcoming atmosphere with the ones they love. As it has grown,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a> has also been a part of a rapidly evolving restaurant landscape, and the brand has navigated new technologies and guest behaviors to embrace new tools and maintain local success without straying too far from its core identity. Now,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/randy-barnett-1a948a9/">Randy Barnett</a>, chief technology officer, is navigating today’s changing technology landscape in a way that embraces what will work while staying level-headed and always putting the guest and franchisee experience first.“Our responsibility is to implement systems, support those systems, then future-proof the business,” he said. “In a nutshell, that’s what we do from a technology perspective. But we don’t just chase trends. It’s about protecting the guest experience and strengthening the franchise model. We have a pretty simple goal: to make it easy for the guests to connect with our brand and easy for operators to deliver on that exceptional experience every day.”<h2>Focusing on Data First Creates a Strong Foundation</h2>New restaurant technology trends and resources are consistently evolving, but Barnett doesn’t embrace them across the Melting Pot system “just because.” Without a foundation, additional technology doesn’t bring value; it creates confusion.&nbsp;So, Barnett has focused intently on building a “reliable data environment” with standardized reporting structures and modernized systems. With this as a baseline, he’s able to more strategically implement new tools and ensure they’re actually helping Melting Pot operators and their guests rather than further complicating processes for no real benefit.The increasing relevance of artificial intelligence has been a prime example of why this strategy is so important.“AI is putting its footprint everywhere,” Barnett said. “For us, before we could start taking advantage of AI, or any modern technology, for that matter, we started building foundations. That meant cleaning up data, creating standardized reporting, modernizing our systems… just making sure that we could really trust what we were seeing. Once you have the clean data and strong infrastructure,&nbsp;then you can start scaling technology in a way that’s meaningful and consistent.”<h2>Practical AI Applications With a Hospitality-First Philosophy</h2>With the proper foundation in place, Melting Pot has been able to embrace new tools and technologies as they have become available to reduce friction and increase the overall quality of experience for the guest.&nbsp;This has come in many forms. Melting Pot has adopted AI tools to support stronger hyper-localized communication and better guest engagement, create a better ticketing system and reduce response time for franchisees reaching out to the Restaurant Support Center, and bolster in-restaurant guest interactions and streamline labor and prep forecasting and requirements. The brand is also working on a new allergen and nutritional intelligence tool to help guests make more informed dining decisions while maintaining compliance for franchisees.Even with all of these tools and processes on board, Melting Pot is still a hospitality-first brand, and Barnett keeps that in mind as he evaluates and rolls out new technology initiatives.“We always lead with the fact that the best restaurant technology is invisible to your guest,” he said. “If we’re doing it right, the guest just feels like the experience is smoother. It’s more personal and more consistent. The most important thing is that we don’t lose what makes the brand special. Melting Pot is about celebration, connection and experience, and technology shouldn’t get in the way of that. It should just make it easier for our teams to deliver that.”<h2>The Future of Melting Pot, Driven by a Broader Perspective</h2>In addition to his tenure with Melting Pot and deep commitment to the hospitality aspect of the brand, Barnett brings additional perspectives from his role on external advisory boards. Through these connections, Barnett stays at the forefront of the industry and is able to both keep an eye out for new tools that will be useful for Melting Pot and hear different perspectives that allow him to differentiate between the next big thing and industry “noise.”“Being a part of some external advisory boards, particularly of AI companies, helps me stay close to where the innovation is going,” he said. “It gives me some early visibility into what’s real and what’s hype and what’s actually practical for operators. The value is the perspective that helps me make better decisions as a brand leader and helps me ensure we’re not caught reacting late to something that’s already reshaping the industry.”With this in mind, Barnett watches what’s coming in the industry while remaining extremely disciplined about what will truly drive the future of Melting Pot that guests and operators are looking for. As the brand looks toward its next decades of operations, it will continue to merge technical precision and the warmth of celebration and togetherness in a way that makes sense for everyone impacted by the experience.“Everything we implement is designed to create leverage for franchisees,” Barnett said. “Restaurants are high-pressure environments, and operators don’t just need more dashboards. They need more clarity and impact. Our technologies help them simplify decisions by allowing them to see what matters most — what guests are saying, what’s working in marketing and where opportunities are being missed. I believe that the future belongs to brands that can deliver the hospitality experience with the precision of a modern platform, and that’s really what we’re focused on doing.” To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot">https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot</a>.&nbsp;

image of Randy Barnett Chief Technology Officer at the melting pot

Chief Technology Officer Randy Barnett leverages his decades of experience to lead a fondue franchise system that embraces innovation without losing sight of what makes it special.

Melting Pot’s Technology Combines a Modern Edge With a Hospitality Spirit

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Melting Pot’s Experience-First Model Wins the Battle for Guest Attention and Loyalty

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<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a>, the 93-unit fondue franchise, is returning to the Memphis market, the&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/59600/memphis-playa-bowls-the-melting-pot-edge-district-orleans-station">Daily Memphian recently reported</a>. While franchisees&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-williams-83bba2396">Mike</a> and&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-williams-b942874/">Nancy Williams</a> originally wanted to open a restaurant in Nashville, which is closer to their home, they chose Memphis because it was a top target market for the development team and because they had connections in the area.The Williamses are currently in the real estate selection process, considering spaces in Midtown and suburban areas.&nbsp;Because&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a> doesn’t require as much kitchen equipment as other restaurants, the pair can evaluate existing spaces to find the ideal location rather than building from scratch.“Melting Pot is a little different as a restaurant because the guests cook most of the food themselves at their table,” Nancy told the Daily Memphian.The Williamses plan to open their Melting Pot restaurant in 2027.Read the full article&nbsp;<a href="https://dailymemphian.com/subscriber/section/businessreal-estate/article/59600/memphis-playa-bowls-the-melting-pot-edge-district-orleans-station">here</a>.To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot">https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot</a>.

Mike and Nancy Williams, the franchisees behind the growth, are currently working to secure real estate, evaluating sites in Midtown Memphis and beyond.

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As&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com">Melting Pot</a>, the 93-unit fondue franchise, celebrates Women’s History Month, there is a clear spotlight shining on Bentonville, Arkansas, where mother-daughter duo Diana Bonnett and Candice Hickerson are leading the successful operation of the brand’s first location in the state. For the pair, bringing the iconic fondue brand to Arkansas was the next step in a long-term business partnership built around trust, grit and shared entrepreneurial spirit.“As the daughter, my mom and stepdad owned a construction company when I was very young. Being in a family business… I don’t know any different,” Hickerson said. “By the time I was seven or eight, I was in their office. I always saw them working. I think because I grew up in it, seeing my parents earn their money and understanding how much each family member needs to contribute, it made it easy to transition to business ownership when I was old enough.”In her early 20s, Hickerson approached her mother with research and a business plan to start a group home for children and adults with disabilities, and they began growing this concept together.<h2>The Transition to the Hospitality Industry</h2>Hickerson and Bonnett operated the residential care facilities business for about 20 years in California before the family began considering relocating outside of California. Around this time, Hickerson was on a date with her husband,&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-r-hickerson-69880923/">Chad</a>, at the Sacramento&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a> location, one of their favorite restaurants, and they thought, “Why don’t we open a Melting Pot?”The family ended up moving to Arkansas, noting that Bentonville is particularly suited for the Melting Pot model.As they’ve made the transition to a new state and opened their new Melting Pot restaurant, Hickerson and Bonnett have stayed true to the family business model.“Owning a business is hard, but you have your hands in everything,” Bonnett said. “You’re accountable for the business, but you can feel confident knowing you have a hand in the future of the business. Just standing back and not being active in the business isn’t our style. Business ownership is great. I wish more women did it.”While the pair recognized taking the leap to a new industry would be a risk, it was a calculated, well-researched one, and they took the step with confidence in each other and their ability to work as a team.“We’re in the process of transitioning right now,” Hickerson added. “We have one business that’s been operating for almost 20 years and another brand new one. We’re starting from square one with Melting Pot. We’re still working to scale and reinvest in the business. People don’t always tell you how hard business ownership can be; we’re back to a point where we’re expecting three solid years of hard work with Melting Pot, but we also see the bigger picture. Risk is good, and I know that, in a couple of years, it will all pay off if we just don’t stop.”<h2>Leading as Women in Business</h2>Though they recognize the responsibility associated with business ownership and leadership, Hickerson and Bonnett remain strong proponents of women taking these positions.“Don’t be short-sighted because it’s tough,” Bonnett said. “There have been times with Melting Pot where I’ve thought, ‘I don’t know if I can do this,’ but you have to see the vision. Look at what’s working well, what’s not, and what changes you can make. There are a lot of networks to reach out to. Find a mentor; chat with someone. We’ve found another Melting Pot owner who we’ve been able to go to for guidance. Don’t be afraid to ask for help.”In addition to encouraging other women to explore entrepreneurship, the pair recognizes how their approach to leadership as women can influence their own business.“Women, historically, are seen as abrasive when we lean in, but I’m okay with being perceived that way if I need to for the sake of my business,” Hickerson said. “But there are also times when I don’t want to do that. I’m very empathetic. I think that this does have a lot of benefits. Staff are happy and comfortable knowing they can go to a woman in leadership if they need to.”For other women entering the business world, Hickerson and Bonnett recommend balancing your own identity with the realities of business ownership. With a strong sense of self, you can stay consistent and steady while operating with your values in mind. However, it’s also important to be confident enough to admit when you’re not sure or own a mistake for the long-term health of the team and business.“One of the hardest things for me has been owning my mistakes or not responding when I don’t know the answer to something rather than responding emotionally,” Bonnett said. “But the more you do it, the better manager and owner you become.”To find out more information on costs to buy this franchise, please visit&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot">https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot</a>.

Photo of Melting Pot franchise owners Candice and Chad Hickerson and Diana Bonnett

Diana Bonnett and Candice Hickerson, co-owners of the Bentonville fondue franchise location, have a partnership fueled by trust, vision and shared entrepreneurial values.

How The Melting Pot Is Dominating the Experiential Dining Industry and Poised for Growth with Franchisees

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