Chicago — Aloha Poke Co., the nation’s premier fast-casual poke restaurant concept, has expanded into the Atlanta market. This venture marks the first Aloha Poke fast-casual eatery in the state of Georgia, with potential to add more throughout 2022. Aloha Poke’s Atlanta expansion signals a surge in growth for the brand and follows major growth in Texas and other states.
“Aloha Poke Co. is thrilled to come to Georgia,” says Chris Birkinshaw, CEO, Aloha Poke Co. “We are happy that the people of Atlanta and surrounding communities will have access to our poke bowls, which infuse delicious, nutritious and natural ingredients, especially at a time of heightened awareness around the quality and healthfulness of fast-casual menus.”
The Aloha Poke expansion in Georgia is spearheaded by veteran franchise entrepreneur, Randy Elias, who joins the Aloha Poke brand after a more than 20-year career in fast-casual franchising. Elias’ portfolio includes several Moe’s Southwest Grill in the Acworth, Ga., and Cartersville, Ga., communities. Elias was attracted to the brand’s franchise development program, the projected return on investment, the efficiency of operations and low labor requirements.
“I have seen many different franchise concepts that require complex back-of-house buildouts and cooking staff and are now experiencing the strain caused by current labor issues, economic turmoil and supply chain challenges,” says Elias. “Aloha Poke’s brand development strategy and buildout requires much less to start and maintain, while still offering an attractive return on investment year-over-year. I feel that concepts like Aloha Poke are part of the fast-casual evolution toward offering higher-quality menu offerings as we continue to navigate pandemic-related disruptions.”
With the sharp acceleration of convenience trends due to the pandemic, restaurateurs and brands must anticipate customers’ needs post-COVID. As multi-unit, multi-brand franchisees seek to craft the most profitable franchise portfolio, many have turned to diversification to maximize returns. Since the pandemic, this diversification strategy has often turned to simplification, especially for restaurateurs faced with ongoing challenges associated with untenable shortages of line cooks, servers and kitchen staff, and an unpredictable, upside-down supply chain.
Founded in downtown Chicago’s French Market in 2016, Aloha Poke currently operates 17 locations in Illinois, Wisconsin, Minnesota, Texas, Florida and Washington, D.C. For more information, visit https://alohapokefranchising.com and www.alohapokeco.com.
SOURCE: Aloha Poke Co.