Tempe, Ariz. — Wienerschnitzel, the world’s largest hot dog franchise, is celebrating its first restaurant opening inside a Walmart Supercenter, located in Tempe, Ariz., this month. This milestone marks the beginning of a broader non-traditional growth initiative, with six franchised restaurants planned for Walmart stores across the U.S.
As Wienerschnitzel accelerates its expansion strategy, the opportunity with the retail giant represents a major step forward in bringing the legacy brand’s signature menu to high-traffic, convenience-driven environments. Additional restaurants are slated for Puyallup, Wash.; Alamogordo, N.M.; Reno, Nev.; Colorado Springs, Colo.; and Bakersfield, Calif.
“We know today’s guests value convenience without compromise,” says Doug Koegeboehn, chief marketing officer. “Opening inside Walmart allows us to serve up the same great Wienerschnitzel favorites in a setting that fits right into people’s daily routines, delivering our proven unit economics and operational simplicity in a format that meets guests where they already are. Tempe is setting the foundation for how Wienerschnitzel can perform and delight guests in new retail environments.”
Wienerschnitzel continues to expand in non-traditional venues inclusive of landing a recent high profile military base. Additional pursuit is underway in airports, theme parks, food courts, travel plazas and convenience stores, as part of its strategy to meet guests in high-visibility, high-traffic locations. These sites expand access to the brand’s beloved menu while underscoring the flexibility and scalability of its business model.
Founded by John Galardi in 1961 with a single hot dog stand in Wilmington, Calif., Wienerschnitzel is one of the iconic pioneers of the quick-service food industry. Based in Tustin, Calif., Galardi Group Inc. franchises 340 Wienerschnitzel restaurants in 13 states. The Galardi Group is also the parent company and franchisor of Hamburger Stand and Tastee Freez, LLC. For more information, visit www.wienerschnitzelfranchise.com.
SOURCE: Wienerschnitzel