Fact Sheet – Front Burner Brands

Executive Leadership

Bob Johnston, CEO and Chairman of the Board
Bud Culp, General Counsel
Dan Stone, Chief Business & People Development Officer
Maryellen Torres, Chief Brand Officer
Mike Lester, President of The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.
Scott Pierce, Chief Financial Officer

Corporate Headquarters

Front Burner Brands Restaurant Support Center
7886 Woodland Center Blvd. Tampa, FL 33614
Toll Free: 800-783-0867
Telephone: 813-881-0055
Fax: 813-889-9361

Media Contact

Communications Specialist
PR@frontburnerbrands.com

Founded

Front Burner Brands was established in 2011 in Tampa, Fla.

Company Description

Front Burner Brands (formerly known as TGS Restaurant Management) is a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla. It is affiliated with the corporate owners of and its management services extended to The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., founded in 1975, with more than 125 locations in 35 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia and the United Arab Emirates, and more than 15 locations currently in development internationally.

Core Concept

The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.

With more than 125 restaurants in 35 states, Canada, Mexico, Southeast Asia and the United Arab Emirates, and more than 15 locations currently in development internationally, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. is the premier fondue restaurant and a leading polished casual dining franchise. Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot has offered a memorable dining experience for 40 years. Guests enjoy a choice of fondue cooking styles and a variety of unique entrées combined with dipping sauces. The menu also includes cheese fondues, salads, fine wines and chocolate fondue desserts.

The Melting Pot quick stats:

98 percent franchised
Four corporate-owned restaurants throughout Tampa Bay and Tallahassee
Average unit size – 5,400 square feet
Franchise fee – $45,000
Development cost – Approximately $1-1.2 million
Royalty fee – 4.5 percent

Front Burner Timeline

1975

The Melting Pot opened its first location in Maitland, Fla., outside of Orlando. First restaurant had four tables and a limited menu consisting of cheese, beef and chocolate fondue.

1976

The Melting Pot opened second restaurant in Orlando.

1979

Johnston brothers opened The Melting Pot’s first franchise location outside of the Orlando market in Tallahassee, Fla. Current sustained operations: 3

1981

Johnston brothers opened The Melting Pot franchise in Tampa, Fla.

1981

1984

The Melting Pot franchise location opened in Gainesville, Fla.

1985

Johnston brothers purchased all rights to the restaurant chain and established The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. The next 10 years are marked by conservative growth as the newly formed franchise company assessed the short-term growth opportunities and long-term strategic growth plan. Johnston brothers opened company units in Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Fla.

1990

1985-1995

The Melting Pot opened 2-3 franchised restaurants per year. Slow, but steady growth.

1995

The Melting Pot launched aggressive efforts to educate, engage and train franchisees. By this time, 26 restaurants opened.

1999

1995-2001

The Melting Pot opened 20 restaurants (averaging 3 to 5 per year).

2000

TGS Restaurant Management, Inc., the restaurant management company for The Melting Pot, was founded.

2001

The Melting Pot opened 10 restaurants.

2002

The Melting Pot opened 10 restaurants.

2003

The Melting Pot opened 10 restaurants, total 66 opened restaurants.

2004

The Melting Pot opened 16 locations, total 85 stores opened.

2005

The Melting Pot turned 30 and celebrated opening its 100th location.

2006

Introduced 12 new Melting Pot locations and more than 30 signed and in development.

2007

The Melting Pot opened 19 locations and 42 were in development.

2008

The Melting Pot opened 15 locations and 26 were in development.

2009

The Melting Pot signed first international franchise agreement for Western Canada and introduced seven new locations.

2010

The Melting Pot celebrated its 35th anniversary, opened its first international location in Edmonton, Alberta Canada as well as its first Mexico location in Mexico City as part of a seven-unit deal in Mexico, and closed 10 units.

2011

TGS Restaurant Management officially changed its name to Front Burner Brands as the management company for all affiliated concepts.

2012

The Melting Pot announced plans to bring its fondue dining experience to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia through a five-unit franchise deal, and signed the largest franchise deal in the company’s history to bring 12 units to eight countries in the Middle East over eight years as well as a five-unit deal for Indonesia.

2014

The Melting Pot opened a new location in Mobile, Ala.

2015

The Melting Pot expanded outside of North America with the opening of a location in Southeast Asia in Jakarta, Indonesia and one in the Middle East in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.