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Fazoli's

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Not to be confused with Fazioli.

Fazoli's System Management, LLC.
Fazoli's
Company typeSubsidiary
Industry
GenreFast Casual
Founded1988; 36 years ago (1988) as Gratzi's in Lexington, Kentucky
HeadquartersLexington, Kentucky, U.S.
Number of locations
195 as of December 2024[1]
Area served
United States
Key people
Doug Bostick – President[2]
ProductsItalian-American food, including spaghetti and meatballs, Fettuccine alfredo, lasagna, ravioli, breadsticks, pizza, submarine sandwiches, and salads
RevenueIncrease US$125 million (2021)
ParentJerrico Inc. (1988)
Duskin Co. Ltd (1988–1989)
Seed Restaurant Group (1989–2006)
Sun Capital Partners (2006–2015)
Sentinel Capital Partners (2015–2021)
FAT Brands (2021–present)
Websitefazolis.com

Fazoli's System Management, LLC., doing business as Fazoli's, is an American fast casual restaurant chain[3][4] headquartered in Lexington, Kentucky. It was founded in 1988[5] and is now owned by FAT Brands. As of December 2024, there are 195 Fazoli's located nationwide.[1] The restaurant chain specializes in Italian-American cuisine and dishes.[4]

Fazoli's in Valdosta, Georgia (2013)

History

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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.[6]

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,[7] and a peak of 400 in 2004.[8]

In October 2006, Sun Capital Partners purchased the business. Of 319 locations, in 32 states, 179 were franchised.[9] However, by 2008, Fazoli's sales and location count were falling.[8] A struggling franchisee in Arizona announced it was closing all 13 of its restaurants in the state.[10]

In July 2015, Sentinel Capital Partners acquired Fazoli's 124 company-owned and 89 franchised locations[11] but the sole remaining location in Southern Nevada closed in 2016.[12][13] In November 2021, it sold the remaining 122 owned and operated restaurants to FAT Brands Inc. for $130 million.[14]

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

Corporate overview

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Fazoli's restaurants operate in 26 states and has more than 200 restaurants.[5] Fazoli's plans to expand overseas to Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Bahrain, and Oman.[15] Fazoli's made a deal with the World Franchise Associates that assures them the ability to build restaurants in those locations. Fazoli's also opened its first college campus location at the Texas Tech University in 2014.[16] The expansion onto the TTU campus is part of the plan to grow the company via non-traditional locations.[17]

Corporate headquarters are located on Palumbo Drive in Lexington.[5]

Products

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Baked Ziti and breadsticks

During the early years before the help of Kuni Toyoda, Fazoli's main product was pizza. Toyoda realized that it was not feasible for Fazoli's to compete with the large pizza chains and the menu needed to focus on pasta. With this switch, the pasta recipes quickly needed to be upgraded.[18] Toyoda spearheaded changes to make the pasta firmer and create larger portions.[6]

In the early 2000s, low-carbohydrate diets became popular, decreasing sales and forcing Fazoli's to rethink its menu again. In 2004, the company added eight menu items with 8 grams of fat or less and also added items featuring more vegetables and protein. The company later hired Elizabeth Somer to help with the development of low-calorie and healthy dishes. In 2005, Fazoli's announced that there would no longer be trans fat in its bread sticks.[citation needed]

In 2017, Fazoli's announced the launch of its first app-based loyalty program with mobile ordering capabilities.[19][20]

Today, Fazoli's menu does not consist of classic Italian dishes, but of Italian-American dishes, baked pastas, their signature Submarinos sandwiches, and other foods, such as:[21]

  • Twice Baked Lasagna
  • Chicken Parmigiano
  • Seasonal salads
  • Meatball da Vinci
  • Cheese or Pepperoni Pizza
  • New York Style Cheesecake
  • Baked Spaghetti
  • Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo

Catering

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Fazoli's provides catering for any event in participating locations. The catering menu offers Group Meal Deals, Fresh Made Pastas, Oven Baked Pastas, Fresh Chopped Salads, Box Lunches, and much more. There is also a full-service option that includes table service, plates, and plastic ware. Catering may be ordered online or in store and is available for pick-up or delivery in certain locations.[22]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b "Location Directory". Fazoli's. Retrieved December 16, 2024.
  2. ^ Cansler, Cherryh (March 16, 2022). "Fazoli's names president as Carl Howard retires". FastCasual.
  3. ^ Brandau, Mark (November 26, 2013). "Fazoli's CEO talks turnaround". Nation's Restaurant News. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  4. ^ a b Oches, Sam (May 18, 2013). "From the Floor: Fazoli's to Launch New Concept". QSR Magazine. Retrieved July 10, 2014.
  5. ^ a b c "Company Info". Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  6. ^ a b "Fazoli's Systems, Inc. History". Funding University. Retrieved April 29, 2016.
  7. ^ "Fazoli's Management, Inc". Reference for Business. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  8. ^ a b Kaiser, Tom (July 21, 2016). "After cuts, Fazoli's aims for higher ground". Franchise Times.
  9. ^ "Sun Capital unit buys Fazoli's". South Florida Business Journal. October 20, 2006.
  10. ^ Ferguson, J. (July 15, 2008). "Flag Fazoli's one of 13 in state to close". Arizona Daily Sun.
  11. ^ "Fazoli's acquired by Sentinel Capital Partners as part of its food lineup". Lexington Herald-Leader. July 7, 2015.
  12. ^ Robison, Jennifer (February 17, 2016). "Fazoli's closes only Las Vegas restaurant". Las Vegas Review-Journal.
  13. ^ Ventura, Leslie (February 25, 2016). "A (not-so-serious) lament for Las Vegas' last Fazioli's". Las Vegas Weekly. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  14. ^ "Fazoli's fast Italian chain being acquired for $130 million". The Lane Report. November 2, 2021.
  15. ^ "Fazoli's Franchise Same-Store Sales Surge Ahead of Industry". Business Wire (Press release). September 18, 2014. Retrieved May 13, 2016.
  16. ^ Tagalong, Eunice (September 18, 2014). "Italian Restaurant Fazoli's Same-Store Sales Shoot Up". Franchise Herald. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  17. ^ "Texas Tech University to Open Fazoli's First On-Campus Restaurant". Business Wire (Press release). May 20, 2014. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  18. ^ Cite error: The named reference fastfoodmenuprices.com was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  19. ^ "Fazoli's launches app-based loyalty program". Fast Casual. November 6, 2017. Retrieved December 10, 2017.
  20. ^ "Fazoli's Launches Mobile Ordering and Loyalty Program". QSR. November 6, 2017. Retrieved October 24, 2023.
  21. ^ "Menu". Fazoli's. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
  22. ^ "Catering". Fazoli's. Retrieved May 2, 2016.
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