Fast Casual Restaurant Investment

Unique, modern, fresh and mouth-watering.  These words don’t even begin to describe it. Burger 21^® is a new fast casual franchise concept featuring 21 chef-inspired burger creations, hand-dipped signature shakes, special made-to-order salads and so much more.  Combining a vast selection of innovative gourmet recipes and a contemporary-style diner atmosphere with fast, high-touch service, Burger 21 is simply a concept above the rest.

Backed by experienced franchising experts and foodservice operators, the founders of Burger 21-- an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, the management company for The Melting Pot Restaurants, GrillSmith and Burger 21 -- believed there was a void in the burger business that desperately needed to be filled.  There are plenty of QSR burger joints, a number of traditional-style “better burger” establishments and even upscale, full-service burger restaurants.  But, Burger 21 has defined its own category – the “beyond the better burger” segment – placing it in a position to grow rapidly across the U.S.

By offering such an assortment of craft burger options, fresh salads, all-beef hot dogs, hand-dipped shakes and other menu items, Burger 21’s creations appeal to all audiences and ages, particularly females who often cast the “veto vote” when selecting a restaurant.  Who wouldn’t find something they love on the menu? There are 11 hand-crafted Angus beef burgers made from fresh ground chuck. In addition, guests can select from 10 beef-alternative, one-of-a-kind burgers made with sushi-grade Ahi Tuna, shrimp, turkey, chicken, vegetables and black beans.

Widely touted as the fastest growing foodservice category, the “better burger” category currently represents less than 3 percent of the overall $69 billion QSR and fast casual burger business.  In fact, according to the NPD Group, the fast casual segment experienced an increase of 6 percent in 2010, while the rest of the foodservice industry declined.  So, clearly there’s enormous growth potential.