Fazoli's

Last updated

Fazoli's System Management, LLC.
Fazoli's
Company type Subsidiary
Industry
Genre Fast Casual
Founded1988;37 years ago (1988) as Gratzi's in Lexington, Kentucky
Headquarters Lexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Number of locations
195 as of December 2024 [1]
Area served
 United States
Key people
Doug Bostick – President [2]
Products Italian-American cuisine
RevenueIncrease2.svg US$125 million (2021)
Parent Jerrico Inc. (1988-1990)
Duskin Co / Seed Restaurant Group (1990–2006)
Sun Capital Partners (2006–2015)
Sentinel Capital Partners (2015–2021)
FAT Brands (2021–present)
Website fazolis.com

Fazoli's System Management, LLC., or Fazoli's, is an American fast casual restaurant chain [3] [4] headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded in 1988 and is now owned by FAT Brands. As of December 2024, there are 195 Fazoli's locations nationwide [1] specializing in Italian-American cuisine. [4]

Contents

Fazoli's in Valdosta, Georgia (2013) Fazoli's, St. Augustine Rd., Valdosta.JPG
Fazoli's in Valdosta, Georgia (2013)

History

Fazoli's was established as a sister brand of Long John Silver's in 1988, initially in the Lexington, Kentucky, area. In 1990, Kunihide Toyoda's Seed Restaurant Group purchased the five locations there. [5]

The chain expanded rapidly. By 1993, it had 62 restaurants within Kentucky, Indiana and Florida. By 1997, there were 300 Fazoli's across the country, [5] and a peak of 400 in 2004. [6]

In October 2006, Sun Capital Partners purchased the business. Of 319 locations, in 32 states, 179 were franchised. [7] However, by 2008, Fazoli's sales and location count were falling. [6] A struggling franchisee in Arizona announced it was closing all 13 of its restaurants in the state. [8]

In July 2015, Sentinel Capital Partners acquired Fazoli's 124 company-owned and 89 franchised locations [9] but the sole remaining location in Southern Nevada closed in 2016. [10] [11] The remaining 122 owned and operated restaurants were acquired in November 2022 by FAT Brands Inc., for $130 million. [12]

Fazoli's in Traverse City, Michigan (this location closed in 2018) Fazoli's Traverse City.png
Fazoli's in Traverse City, Michigan (this location closed in 2018)

Products

Baked ziti and breadsticks Baked Ziti and breadsticks, Fazoli's.jpg
Baked ziti and breadsticks

Fazoli's original menu options were pizza and pasta. From 1990, the emphasis shifted away from pizza towards pasta cooked al dente, and meals at a lower price point than competing hamburger restaurants. In the early 2000s, low-carbohydrate diets became popular and Fazoli's added low fat items with more vegetables and protein. [5]

As of 2016, Fazoli's menu includes baked pastas, sandwiches, salads, parmigiano, meatballs and pizza. [13] Some restaurants offer a catering menu for collection or delivery. [14]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Location Directory". Fazoli's. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  2. ↑ Cansler, Cherryh (March 16, 2022). "Fazoli's names president as Carl Howard retires". FastCasual. Archived from the original on July 14, 2022. Retrieved July 14, 2022.
  3. ↑ Brandau, Mark (November 26, 2013). "Fazoli's CEO talks turnaround" . Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  4. 1 2 Oches, Sam (May 18, 2013). "From the Floor: Fazoli's to Launch New Concept". QSR Magazine. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  5. 1 2 3 "Fazoli's Systems, Inc. History". Funding University. Archived from the original on May 5, 2016. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  6. 1 2 Kaiser, Tom (July 21, 2016). "After cuts, Fazoli's aims for higher ground". Franchise Times.
  7. ↑ "Sun Capital unit buys Fazoli's". South Florida Business Journal . October 20, 2006.
  8. ↑ Ferguson, J. (July 15, 2008). "Flag Fazoli's one of 13 in state to close". Arizona Daily Sun . Archived from the original on December 22, 2017. Retrieved December 20, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Fazoli's acquired by Sentinel Capital Partners as part of its food lineup". Lexington Herald-Leader . July 7, 2015.
  10. ↑ Robison, Jennifer (February 17, 2016). "Fazoli's closes only Las Vegas restaurant". Las Vegas Review-Journal .
  11. ↑ Ventura, Leslie (February 25, 2016). "A (not-so-serious) lament for Las Vegas' last Fazioli's". Las Vegas Weekly. Archived from the original on November 16, 2022. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  12. ↑ "Fazoli's fast Italian chain being acquired for $130 million". The Lane Report. November 2, 2021. Archived from the original on November 4, 2021. Retrieved November 4, 2021.
  13. ↑ "Menu". Fazoli's. Archived from the original on May 8, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  14. ↑ "Catering". Fazoli's. Retrieved May 2, 2016.


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