American-based Italian food brand Fazoli’s is kicking off its international expansion with 25 locations in Canada over the next 10 years with the first ones expected to open in 2025 in Alberta.
The brand falls under the umbrella of parent company FAT Brands, which operates 17 other restaurant concepts.
FAT Brands has a new development agreement in partnership with franchisee Briwin Restaurants Inc. for the Canadian expansion.
“Fazoli’s has enjoyed tremendous success expanding domestically, operating in 27 states with over 200 locations, and is now well positioned to make its international debut,” said Taylor Wiederhorn, Chief Development Officer of FAT Brands.
“At FAT Brands, we have a strong network of international franchisees that span across nearly all our restaurant concepts. We’re excited to have an experienced operator come from within our Fatburger franchise system and commit to launching and developing an additional FAT Brands restaurant concept in Canada. We are confident that expanding in Canada is a natural first step for Fazoli’s in becoming a leading global chain.”
Fazoli’s was founded in 1988 in Lexington, Ky. It owns and operates nearly 220 restaurants in 27 states.
“Fazoli’s is the largest premium QSR Italian chain in America. We pride ourselves on serving premium quality Italian food, fast, fresh, and friendly. We are known for our freshly prepared pasta entrees, sandwiches, salads, pizza, and desserts – along with our fan favourite, unlimited signature breadsticks,” said Wiederhorn.
“Fazoli’s stands alone in the restaurant industry as the only QSR Italian chain that provides true consumer value while still providing fresh, quality ingredients and a cooked-to-order experience.
“For over 35 years we have experienced tremendous success domestically, so this was a natural progression in Fazoli’s growth journey. At FAT Brands, we have a strong franchisee network which has led to exciting new growth opportunities. Briwin Restaurants Inc., who will be bringing 25 Fazoli’s locations to Canada, starting with Alberta, over the next 10 years, is also a multi-unit Fatburger franchisee. Their success with Fatburger in the market is a great precursor of the success we anticipate with our Canadian Fazolis’ locations. We anticipate opening our first locations in 2025 in Alberta.”
Wiederhorn said Canada is a key growth market across FAT Brands’ 18-concept portfolio.
“We currently have over 200 locations across the country with our Fatburger, Pretzelmaker and Marble Slab Creamery brands. I think Canada is a great first international move for a brand as it’s our neighbor to the north. Also, from a cultural perspective, it has similarities to the U.S. which allows for an easier introduction to the market and ultimately a higher acceptance rate by the consumer,” he said.
“We believe the Fazoli’s brand can far surpass the initial 25 restaurants Briwin Restaurants Inc. has set out to develop, but of course this is a great first step. We want our franchise partners to feel comfortable with their development commitments and to meet and exceed those commitments. We feel that the minimum number of restaurants the market can hold is 25.
“Fazoli’s in the U.S. is for the most part a drive-thru restaurant chain and drive-thru locations take more time to develop than traditional end cap, in-line, or food court restaurant locations. We recognize Canada is not the U.S. and because of this, not all locations will be built as drive-thru locations in Canada. We would not be surprised if over a longer time horizon, the Fazoli’s brand doubles or triples the initial 25 restaurant commitment Briwin Restaurants Inc. has signed on to develop in the years to come. The price point and speed of service are unmatched for a QSR Italian chain but of course the name of the game in the restaurant industry is location, location, location so we need to be methodical with site selection and get it right.”
FAT Brands is a leading global franchising company that strategically acquires, markets and develops fast casual, casual and polished casual dining restaurant concepts around the world. The company currently owns 18 restaurant brands: Round Table Pizza®, Fatburger, Marble Slab Creamery, Johnny Rockets, Fazoli’s, Twin Peaks, Great American Cookies, Smokey Bones, Hot Dog on a Stick, Buffalo’s Cafe & Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Native Grill & Wings, Pretzelmaker, Elevation Burger, Yalla Mediterranean and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses, and franchises and owns over 2,300 units worldwide.
Alarm bells start ringing when I hear U.S. executives insist that Canada is ripe for expansion for their company because the country is America’s “neighbour to the north” or because there is a “cultural similarity” to the United States. Proximity and culture didn’t count for anything when Target, Nordstrom, Lowe’s, Sam’s Club and a host of other U.S. businesses failed in Canada.
I would challenge executives like Mr. Wiederhorn to ask themselves before expanding to Canada: “What does my business offer, if anything, that isn’t already done well by existing local players?” The Italian restaurant niche is already well represented in Canada and Boston Pizza is far and away the market leader. If Fazoli’s is simply offering the same fettuccine alfredo I can get at half a dozen other places, what’s the point?
Oh, and Olive Garden already does the unlimited breadsticks thing.
There’s only two or three olive gardens in western Canada .Boston pizza has good food but they’re extremely expensive .To be honest there pizza and wings and some other items are great but their pasta is horrible .There noodles are always over cooked and the bolognese and marinara sauces don’t taste good.Never tried there Alfredo though
Openings restaurants is always a risk. It could do well though because Olive Garden in Langley BC is always packed .Long line ups to get in we could use at least 3 more in the greater Vancouver area. Fazolis is a direct competitor to them so it could be a success.Note East side Marios failed in BC and I believe Alberta so nothings guaranteed.
Please consider the Region of Peel in Ontariio Canada for expansion of Fazoli’s . This area has two cities Brampton & Mississauga, with over 5million people & is right next door to Mega City Toronto. Send your marketing/expansion people, check out/do all that is needed to choose at least 3 locations here, for your expansion in to Canada. In both Brampton & Mississauga there is the working class, corporate, families of various ethnicities, etc. Two major highways run through each city & nearby Toronto. Olive Garden does not exist here, it used to but a major error by its corporate owners removed Olive Garden from the over populated Toronto and Greater Toronto Area (i.e. Brampton/Mississauga). Big Mistake. As a former Florida condo owner, my husband/I always ate at Fazoli’s enroute to and from. We often commented how popular that place would be back home in Canada—what with a combination of relaxing ambiance, combined with delicious Italian food and great prices, it would be an instant success—–especially in Brampton. Please check us out, you’ll be glad you did & I am sure a Canadian franchisee, no doubt is here to get the ball rolling.