Sandwich chain Potbelly has finalised four multi-unit development agreements with current franchisees to further expand its footprint in the US.
The agreements were signed with Ron Asmar of the RTA Restaurant Group, Shari Nasir and Imran Malik of Sugarland Investment Group, Rob Wilbern from I'm A Wreck and Shakti Patel of MSS Fort Liberty.
Ron Asmar has committed to opening four more shops, bringing a total of 18 new Potbelly outlets to Tampa, Florida.
His third store is scheduled to open later this year.
Shari Nasir and Imran Malik of Sugarland Investment Group plan to introduce six additional locations in Orlando, Florida.
Rob Wilbern of I'm A Wreck has committed to developing four more shops in St Louis, Missouri, complementing his existing five-shop commitment in Springfield, Illinois.
Wilbern is currently working on a non-traditional outlet within Springfield Memorial Hospital, set to open later this month.
Shakti Patel of MSS Fort Liberty has signed a multi-unit non-traditional franchise agreement to establish three Potbelly shops at the Fort Liberty Army Base in Fayetteville, North Carolina, this year.
Since late 2022, Potbelly has significantly accelerated its expansion efforts, maintaining high average unit volumes and achieving double-digit same-store sales growth year-on-year.
The company has also invested in real estate innovation, offering franchisees flexible store designs such as inline, endcap, drive-through and non-traditional formats.
Potbelly franchising senior vice-president Lynette McKee said: “As soon as our franchisees open their shops, they experience firsthand the widespread appeal of the Potbelly brand.
“This immediate success has been a driving force behind their independent decisions to re-invest in the brand and deepen their commitment to Potbelly.
“We are incredibly excited to continue strengthening our partnerships with these passionate franchisees and couldn't be prouder to have them as part of our growing network.”
In November 2023, Potbelly signed a 20-unit deal with Sound Sandwich to expand the brand’s footprint in the greater Seattle-Tacoma region in Washington.
