QSR February 2023

S P ON S O R E D B Y H U C K L E B E R R Y ’ S

Strongunit economics and7 a . m . –3 p . m . operatinghours set this brand apart. Huckleberry’s Breakfast and Lunch Positioned for National Expansion

Restaurant industry veterans Heritage Restaurant Brands purchased Huckleberry’s in 2016 and, instead of immediately jumping into expansion mode, spent the first 18–24 months investing in the brand and streamlin ing key systems and processes. Once the blue print for success was in place, the brand grew from seven–31 units, with plans to reach 100 restaurants by 2026. “We spent necessary time, energy, and resources on the very foundation of the brand before pursuing expansion,” says Heritage CEOGreg Graber. “The insights fromour exist ing franchise owners were incredibly helpful, and their willingness to adapt and execute at a high level has positioned us well for acceler ated growth.” Huckleberry’s has a comprehensive site selection process and flexible restaurant foot print options. With flexible sizing from 3,500– 5,000 sq. ft., the brand has prosperedwith var ious building types including in-line, end caps, and free-standing buildings and had particu lar success converting previous restaurant con cepts over to Huckleberry’s. “The best proof that Huckleberry’s is eco nomically appealing is that our existing fran chisees continue to want to build more,” Graber says. “We’ve found tremendous value

THERE’S SIMPLY NO PLACE LIKE HUCKLEBERRY’S IN the breakfast and lunch category. Walking into a Huckleberry’s is like stepping into the bayou where diners are captivated by the weeping willow tree, sparkling of fireflies, and Zydeco music and are greeted by charming people with a genu ine desire to serve guests. And the food? Huckleberry’s calls its cuisine “Southern Cookin’ With a California Twist,” and the menu is filled with signature items such as Mardi Gras Beignets, Fried Green

Tomatoes, Huckleberry Stuffed French Toast, N’awlins Sandwiches, and somuch more. Operating hours of 7 a . m . –3 p . m . assist with finding quality team members, tal ented managers, and multi-unit opera tors. Having a set schedule and the abil ity to be home every night helps to create work-life balance that can be quite elu sive in other segments of the restaurant industry.

for them converting from other concepts that serve three dayparts to our 7 a . m . –3 p . m . model. AUVs went up with less operating hours, and those franchisees are very happy—andwhen they’re happy, we’re happy.” The brand has set its sights on expanding throughout the U.S. and is seeking existing multi-unit operators who are looking to expand their portfolio and take advantage of this fast-growing segment within the restaurant sector. Multi-Unit franchisee RamanDhillon says, “Huckleberry’s has a unique and compelling niche in the restaurant space. The unit economics, capti vation ambiance, great food, and the fact that we are open for breakfast and lunchmake addingmore restaurants a no-brainer for us.” RF

FRANCHISE FEE: $35,000 ROYALTIES: 6 percent; no marketing fee AUV: More than $2 million UNITS: 31 with plans for 100 by 2026

For more on franchisingwith Huckleberry’s, visit Huckleberrys.com .

HUCKLEBERRY’S (3)

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FEBRUARY 2023 | RESTURANT FRANCHISING