Posts Tagged ‘Forces
Friendly’s, Burger King Join Forces
- Associated Press
Finally, you can have your Friendly’s ice cream—and eat your Burger King fries, too.
The company known for its Fribbles and sundaes is on to a new venture after emerging from bankruptcy protection earlier this month. With 100 of its full-scale eateries shuttered during the Chapter 11 proceedings, it’s trying on a new format for size: a 200-square-foot counter space in a New Jersey burger king, according to the Boston Globe.
The location, known as “Friendly’s Scoop,” is the brainchild of Joe Anghelone, a Burger King franchisee hoping customers might want a sweet treat to go with that Whopper. So far, so good, Anghelone told the newspaper, noting that sales of the ice cream now account for 18% of total sales—beating his projections and giving him hope that the venture could bring in even more money when the weather warms.
Jealous that the Garden State gets to enjoy the two brands’ food in seamless harmony? You might soon be able to indulge in the hybrid concept; plans are in the works for 10 more of the shops over the next year, Friendly’s said.
As the company does away with many of its traditional spots—it closed 37 earlier this month as its bankruptcy proceedings drew to a close, leaving it with about 380 locations total—it’s looking for ways to breathe new life into the chain.
“Friendly’s Scoop” could potentially be the way forward. The start-up costs for “Friendly’s Scoop” are much lower than the restaurant’s full-service locations, which are usually around 2,500 square feet, and they’re a way to reach new customers, Ron Paul, president of Chicago market research firm Technomic Inc., told the Globe.
Of course, Friendly’s isn’t the first company to stumble upon the concept of fast-food marriages. Baskin Robbins can frequently be spotted shacking up with Dunkin’ Donuts at their joint locations and Yum! Brands Taco Bell, KFC and Pizza Hut brands often get cozy at combo spots.