I Heart Mac & Cheese Inks New Franchisee Agreement For Its Third Texas Location

By: I Heart Mac & Cheese | 23 Shares 355 Reads

July 29, 2020 // Franchising.com // Boca Raton, Fla. - I Heart Mac & Cheese, a fast-casual concept specializing in made-to-order, fully customizable Build Your Own Macaroni & Cheese Bowls and Grilled Cheese sandwiches, announced the brand’s latest franchisee agreement to open a third location in the Flower Mound area outside of Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas.

With locations already operating in College Station and Port Arthur, and plans for several additional locations across the state, Texas is positioned to be one of the brand’s key markets. The Flower Mound location will be the first I Heart Mac & Cheese restaurant for franchisee Ricardo Araujo. Alongside his brother, Carlos, Ricardo will utilize their many years of working together in the restaurant business to bring the rapidly growing brand to the Flower Mound community. The brothers spent years working together, managing a bakery and catering business. Since arriving the U.S. from Venezuela nearly two decades ago, the restaurant world has always been their passion – and they are excited to bring that passion into the rapidly growing I Heart Mac & Cheese brand.

“We truly believe in this brand, and the experience it delivers to guests that is unlike anything in the space,” said Araujo. The two brothers quickly recognized that investing in an I Heart Mac & Cheese franchise meant they’d be backed on a corporate level by individuals with unparalleled knowledge of the business. In addition to these three locations, there are several more locations slotted to open across the state. The brand is quickly developing a national footprint with upcoming openings in Alabama, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, and North Carolina.

A unique franchise concept in the restaurant industry with no fryers, grease trap systems or hood systems, I Heart Mac & Cheese requires a low investment and can be opened in a small space, such as a mall kiosk or food court. Shopping malls, sports venues, areas close to colleges and universities, and high-traffic pedestrian areas are also ideal locations. With a home office in South Florida, I Heart Mac & Cheese offers franchise owner training, marketing support and ongoing development opportunities to ensure each location’s success.

“I Heart Mac & Cheese is a fun, attractive concept and an affordable franchise model that is easy to operate, with support systems in place to help our partners be successful,” said Stephen Giordanella, I Heart Mac & Cheese CEO and Chairman. “We are thrilled to continue growing our brand with partners that share our same beliefs and value our innovative concept, food quality and diverse menu.”

About I Heart Mac & Cheese

I Heart Mac & Cheese is a fast-casual concept specializing in made-to-order, Build Your Own Macaroni & Cheese Bowls and Grilled Cheese sandwiches that guests can customize using a wide variety of chef-inspired proteins, ingredients and sauces. Thinking outside the bowl, the brand takes timeless comfort food in exciting culinary directions, resulting in diverse, crave-able menu options for everyone to enjoy. Led by CEO Steve Giordanella, the brand launched its first location in 2016 and currently operates corporate locations in Pembroke Pines, Jupiter and Boca Raton, Florida. The company’s unique franchising program has fueled nationwide brand growth – with operating franchise locations in Florida, Georgia, New York and Texas – and additional locations are slated to open in Alabama, Arizona, California, Colorado, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina and Texas. I Heart Mac & Cheese was recently named #6 “Best Fast Casual Restaurant” in the USA TODAY 10 Best 2020 Reader’s Choice Awards. The innovative company was also recently featured on QSR Magazine’s “40/40 list for 2020: America’s Hottest Startup Fast Casuals”, and was ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the top new franchise opportunities.

SOURCE I Heart Mac & Cheese

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