Frankie & Benny’s runs smaller outlets, trading as "Little Frankie's". These are typically smaller than full-sized restaurants, have a smaller menu and are found on high-streets and in town centres.[4]
History
The first Frankie & Benny's restaurant was opened by City Centre Restaurants (since rebranded as The Restaurant Group) in 1995.[5]
Typical entrance to a Frankie & Benny's restaurant, in Swindon
In 2016, 33 under-performing restaurants were sold off. Then, In January 2017, The Restaurant Group attempted to reinvent the brand.[6] In 2019, another 18 branches were sold and, in February 2020, the company announced that further sales were planned to take place by the end of 2021.[7]
Sometime in-between 1998 and 2005, TRG began converting former Deep Pan Pizza restaurants into Frankie & Benny's, Chiquito and a selection of other brands under the same management.[8]
In 2019, it was reported that virtual restaurant brands Birdbox and Stacks were operating on delivery services Deliveroo and Uber Eats from Frankie & Benny's restaurants.[9] Seven new vegan dishes were added to the menu in January 2020.[10]
On 3 June 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic in the United Kingdom, The Restaurant Group told employees a "large number" of its Frankie & Benny's outlets would not reopen after quarantine;[11] 120 restaurants were sold off.[12]
In October 2021, the chain opened a concept restaurant in Basildon, this restaurant had its name shortened to "Frankie's". It has a similar menu, but a different interior design to typical restaurants.[13]
In March 2023, the chain announced it would sell 35 more restaurants due to the current cost of living crisis. Up to three restaurants would be converted into Wagamama's, and their aim is to reduce the total number of restaurants from 90 to 65 by 2024.[14] 18 restaurants were sold off in May.[15]
The Restaurant Group announced in September 2023 that they would sell the company, alongside the rest of TRG's loss-making assets, to The Big Table, who own Café Rouge and Bella Italia, for £7.5 million.[16] On 30 October, it was announced that the sale had been completed.[17]
In September 2024, the company's owners decided that the chain needed to return to its 1995 roots in order to reinvent the brand and build growth. The brand refresh (which changed the menu and brand colours to blue and red) follows extensive research carried out involving thousands of customers, old, new and potential. Feedback revealed that while the chain had many strengths, it needed to return to its roots.[18] The aim of the rebrand is for the Big Table Group to improve in the areas where the Restaurant Group failed, and to bring back older customers and attract new ones.[19]
Controversy
In October 2012, a two-year-old was served whisky instead of lime and water.[20] The chain apologised, saying they would prevent anything similar from happening again, but any preventative measures seemed to have failed when, in December 2017, an alcoholic drink was served to a four-year-old girl in the Warrington branch. A spokesman for the chain apologised for the incident which was described as "genuine human error".[21]
In May 2014, a Frankie & Benny's diner complained after he was served a crab dish containing surimi. A statement from the chain acknowledged the incident and apologised for any upset caused. The item was eventually removed from the menu.[22]
In November 2015, the chain was given the lowest rating (red) in an assessment of the sustainability of its seafood products.[23]
Theme
The fictional backstory of the chain starts in 1924 when at the age of 10, Frankie Giuliani left Sicily with his parents and moved to Little Italy in New York City.[24] Within a year of moving, the family had opened a restaurant, everybody helping with the building and the cooking in equal measure. Frankie went to the nearby high school and became lifelong friends with Benny, already a third-generation American. The restaurant was taken over by Frankie and Benny in 1953. It combines popular American food with traditional Italian dishes.[25]
↑ "Frankie & Benny's". Frankie and Benny's. The Restaurant Group. Archived from the original on 15 June 2012. Retrieved 7 September 2012. Frankie Giuliani was 10 [when in 1924 his family] left Sicily [and] moved in with relatives in 'Little Italy' [and] the family opened a restaurant within a year, everybody helping with the building and the cooking in equal measure. [..] Frankie went to the nearby High School and became lifetime friends with Benny, already a third generation American. In 1953 Poppa retired and Frankie and Benny took over the business, combining the best of popular American food with traditional Italian dishes.
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