Virtual Dining Concepts (VDC), an American company specialising in virtual restaurants, has acquired delivery-only brand Man vs Fries.
Man vs Fries is known for its French fry-based meals that have gained popularity on social media platforms.
The delivery brand is the latest addition to VDC's portfolio, which also includes Pardon My Cheesesteak and MrBeast Burger.
Since joining VDC at the start of this year, Man vs Fries has almost tripled its store presence to 130 locations across 49 cities in the US.
The brand has found particular success on college campuses, including Texas A&M and NorthWest Missouri State universities, as well as the University of Findlay.
Man vs Fries was founded by entrepreneur William Bonhorst and has carved out a niche with its fries-centric comfort food and approachable branding.
The brand’s signature dishes include "hella crisp" Carne Asada Fries, the Hella-Dilla quesadilla and the Cowgirl Burrito.
VDC has facilitated partnerships for pop-ups with brands such as On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina and UBERRITO Fresh Mex.
These collaborations allow Man vs Fries to integrate its offerings into the menus of brick-and-mortar restaurants, driving higher sales.
Some locations are reporting weekly sales of up to $6,000. With VDC's support, Man vs Fries is projected to surpass $50m in sales by 2024.
VDC aims to expand Man vs Fries to 1,500 stores by the end of the year.
QSR Magazine quoted VDC president and co-founder Robbie Earl as saying: “William Bonhorst has done an incredible job with the Man vs Fries brand, as it’s truly one of the standouts in the digital food service space with a loyal following and global reach.
“We’re excited to take this brand to the next level, attracting new audiences across the nation and around the world.”
VDC chief operating officer Adam Robin said: “We are focused on driving significant sales into our partner restaurants through this innovative and exciting collaboration with Man vs Fries. We are taking the opportunity to pair the right brick-and-mortar concepts with a brand that is complementary and synergistic.
“This new approach to strategic curation is culminating in a win/win, with increased traditional, on-menu sales and additional digital sales maximising profitability with our partners.”
