Melting Pot

For five decades,&nbsp;<a href="http://meltingpotfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success-2729301" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Melting Pot</a>, the iconic fondue franchise, has been a premier destination for celebration and connection, uniting guests around memorable dining experiences and genuine conversation. Leveraging the association with special events,&nbsp;<a href="https://1851franchise.com/meltingpot/info">Melting Pot</a> has developed a strategic seasonal cadence that creates year-round momentum for franchise owners.“Most restaurants are busy from January to June because there’s always something to celebrate,” said&nbsp;<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/carmenamurillo/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success-2729301" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Carmen Murillo</a>, senior director of marketing. “Our restaurants are always busy during the first six months between Valentine’s Day, Easter, Mother’s Day and graduations. There can be a decline until we reach the winter holiday season, and we’ve developed strategies to combat this and maintain stability for our owners.”<h2>Collaborative Planning Process</h2>These strategies include promotions like&nbsp;<a href="https://www.meltingpot.com/forever-fondue.aspx?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success-2729301" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Forever Fondue</a>, Melting Pot’s abundant entree offer, which launches on Father’s Day and runs through July 31st, helping to address the summer slow-down some restaurateurs may expect.&nbsp;Now, with the Forever Fondue promotion reliably launching in the summer months, guests have come to expect the offer, and traffic associated with Forever Fondue is also a reliable stream of income for franchisees.“All of the planning starts with our annual brand summit,” Murillo said. “Franchisees are part of the planning, along with our trusted agency partners on the food and beverage side, as well as our creative, digital and media partners. It’s a ‘surround sound’ approach to getting input on trends in the food, beverage and media industries, and we take those insights and run with them for our future strategies.”After collaborating to identify promotions that will remain relevant to guests without exceeding the operational bounds of local teams, Melting Pot consumer-tests the concepts with its Club Fondue database of over two million subscribers and externally with look-alikes to reach new people who look like our target profile.“Once the campaign is fully developed, we put it back into restaurant testing to see if the ‘final’ version still resonates with consumers,” Murillo said. “If it does, it ends up being a part of our innovation pipeline where we work with our chef and research and development team to ensure that the ideas are operationally, financially and consumer-sound.”Once a concept has been approved by all stakeholders, it is entered into the pipeline to launch system wide.<h2>Local Focus Bolsters Year-Round Benefits</h2>In addition to national initiatives, franchisees are supported in tailoring their businesses to local communities.<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/chris-millsap-06889b60/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=melting-pot-franchise-year-round-success-2729301" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Chris Millsap</a>, a long-time Melting Pot franchisee and member of the Strategic Partnership Committee, emphasizes the value of addressing specific market dynamics.“All Melting Pot restaurants can be seasonal in their own way,” Millsap said. “Some owners may see guest declines in the summer. However, I operate a location in Pittsburgh which, for whatever reason, sees an uptick in business in the summer.”After operating in a market for a year or two, franchisees can get an idea of the trends in their own markets and further dial in marketing and promotions.“Every market in one form or fashion is going to have some sort of down period,” Millsap said. “Once you’ve recognized when that period is, you figure out the way to make a call to action to get the guest in the door.”In some cases, this may mean offering strategic discounts or other attractive promotions to get a guest in the door. Millsap explains that, even if one particular instance may not be the highest profit margin situation, it can be worth making the investment now to gain a fan long-term.“I would rather have my seats filled and give guests the Melting Pot experience, even at a discount, because my belief is that we’ll win that guest over,” he said “If you come in, we can prove that we’re something special, and you’ll come back again next time — probably in peak season.”This strategy has its place, but Millsap stresses that knowing when&nbsp;not to discount the experience is equally important. In peak seasons like January through June and during the winter holidays, franchisees can focus on expanding capacity rather than offering deals.“We may look for off-day perks like opening for lunch at certain points during a month or doing a brunch offering,” he said.<h2>The Strategic Partnership Committee</h2>For franchisees, having a voice in brand decisions is a crucial advantage of the Melting Pot system. The Strategic Partnership Committee, which consists of five franchisees representing various regions across the U.S., serves as an intermediary between the corporate office and the franchise community.“We serve as a sounding board, of sorts, between the corporate office and the franchise community,” Millsap said. “They present general ideas to us, we give our feedback, and we present ideas from the field that they can hear. Both sides provide a unique, and needed perspective, and we help create a bridge between both parties to help build out a strong plan.”This structure ensures that franchisees have input on key initiatives while maintaining brand consistency across the system.For prospective franchisees, Melting Pot offers a business model that combines the power of national marketing with the flexibility to address local market conditions. Through carefully planned seasonal promotions, collaborative development processes and a commitment from all sides to creating memorable dining experiences, Melting Pot has created a system where franchisees can succeed year-round.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;

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How Melting Pot Franchisees Maintain Capture Revenue Year-Round

1851 Franchise

With a collaborative planning process, seasonal campaigns and elevated franchisee support, Melting Pot helps owners maintain steady business year-round.

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

How Melting Pot Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

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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 Franchisees Drive Year-Round Success Through Strategic Promotions and Local Marketing

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