QSR February 2023

cooked brisket, which is smoked in-house for 10-14 hours each day at every location. A notable differ entiation is that all stores have a trained pitmaster who’s an expert in the art of smoking, slicing, and serving meat, giving each restau rant a particular taste. At the start of COVID, when everything was shut down, Smokey Mo’s was forced to lay off 40 per cent of its staff. However, the fast casual was able to bring these jobs back within weeks. In fact, through out the pandemic, the brand maintained nearly full staffing and amplified its catering, third-party delivery, and takeout channels to meet the needs of customers. In January, the Texas chain announced it was purchased by private equity f irm Switchback Capital. The company intends to help the restaurant debut 32 loca tions in the next three years and unveil a new brand look. CEO Craig Haley said the updated design streamlines operations, pro vides an open view of smokers, and develops clearer pathways for pre paring and delivering food to guests during peak hours. SUNRISE, FLORIDA UNITS: 8 As the self-proclaimed world’s most innovative donut and ice cream concept, Yonutz is on a mission to “smash the ordinary” by smash ing donuts and ice cream together in a concoction perfectly designed for Instagram and Tik Tok. The sweet treat brand aims to transport guests “into a whimsical dessert wonderland,” where customers cre ate one-of-a-kind Smash Donuts from an array of gourmet donuts, ice cream, and topping choices. A photo wall allows guests to cap ture the perfect pic for their social feed—providing free advertising for Yonutz, as a bonus. Yonutz HEADQUARTERS:

ton Samuelson learned that more than 18,000 children die each day due to hunger-related causes. Five years later, the duo created Tacos 4 Life, which donates a meal for every taco, salad, quesadilla, rice bowl, or nachos sold via nonprofit partner Feed My Starving Children. Unlike other concepts, the donation isn’t a limited-time offer or promotion. It’s a continuous program that’s resulted in 26.5 million meals sent to children. Even during the pan demic-ridden 2020, the fast casual was able to raise 4.3 million meals. In 2022 alone, Tacos 4 life

projects hitting 5.5 million meals. With all the restaurants either open, under construction, and in development, the brand believes it will reach 10 million meals per year in the future. Tacos 4 Life is known for its Korean BBQ Steak, Hawai ian Shrimp Taco, Chicken Bacon Ranch Taco, Firecracker Shrimp, and Sweet & Spicy BBQ Pork Taco. The company adjusted to COVID by growing its off-premises offer ings, including a new mobile order system through its app and the addition of curbside pickup.

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YONUTZ (2)

Yonutz’s partnership with Kevin Harrington, original “Shark” on the Emmy-winning TV show, “Shark Tank,” plus being awarded “Best Dessert Shop in South Florida” by CNN has helped Yonutz quickly rise to fame, col lecting loyal fans along the way. Winning Dessert Wars in 2019 and 2020 also aided in building brand name recognition. After completing a company rebrand and renovation of its f lagship location in South Flor ida during the pandemic, Yonutz began offering franchises and opened seven locations in 2022 that feature neon signs, colorful coun tertops, and revamped bar areas with additional seating. The brand has about 20 more new shops in the pipeline, with more promised to follow. Tacos 4 Life HEADQUARTERS: CONWAY, ARKANSAS UNITS: 25 TACOS 4 Life was founded with the mission to end world hunger. In 2009, cofounders Austin and Ash

MY BURGER / ELIESA JOHNSON

My Burger

MyBurger, founded in2004by Larry Abdo, is a family affair. All eight stores are owned and oper

HEADQUARTERS: MINNEAPOLIS, MINNESOTA

UNITS: 8

ated by multiple generations, and thoughtful growth has been focused on the Twin Cities area. As the company expands, it’s dedicated to keeping the brand local and family-owned. Restaurants blend old-school mentality with modern design; never-frozen burger patties are hand-pressed and hand-sliced, and vintage milkshake machines line walls that are covered with bold graphics and clever phrases. The decor is specific to each store to create a local feel. Passion for the brand starts at the stop. CEO John Abdo and other executives regularly work in stores, whether it’s on the line, cleaning, or expediting. The corporate team passes that excitement to staff; several managers and cooks have been with the brand since the beginning or for more than 10 years. For My Burger, takeout has always been a big business. The fast casual uses a special burger box with punch-out holes that was rigorously tested to ensure food would hold up for walks back to Minneapolis offices. Also, during COVID, the company pivoted to Toast’s POS system to align operations and track guest behavior.

TACOS 4 LIFE

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FEBRUARY 2023 | QSR | www.qsrmagazine.com