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Burger King franchisee plans more cobranded unitsBurger King franchisee plans more cobranded units

Burger chain opens locations with Cups Frozen Yogurt brand

Ron Ruggless, Senior Editor

December 22, 2014

2 Min Read
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Earlier this month, a New York-based franchisee opened his third cobranded Burger King–Cups Frozen Yogurt unit, with seven more locations planned by 2017.

The latest Burger King–Cups opened on Dec. 8, in Highland, N.Y., following the cobranded concept’s debut in Liberty, N.Y., in April. Another unit opened in Franklin, N.J., in mid 2014.

Sanjay Patel, a 10-year Burger King franchisee and owner of Liberty, N.Y. -based Devs Foods and Liberty Cups LLC, said sales appear to be good.

“As per usual grand opening trends, we saw good spikes around the grand opening celebration and hoopla,” Patel said.  “After the grand opening, sales have fluctuated some, which is consistent with seasonal/weather changes.”

In two of the Burger King–Cups restaurants, the frozen yogurt outlet has replaced space once dedicated to an indoor kids’ play area. A third was a new build designed to include the two brands.

The Cups section covers between 600 square feet and 800 square feet of a typical Burger King restaurant, which can vary in size from 2,800 square feet to 4800 square feet, Patel said.

Patel said Burger King let him generate his own logistical and signage for the cobranded units.

“Besides the normal permits and approvals, we were free to do what we wanted to best represent both brands,” he said.

The two brands have separate staffs, he added.

Patel said his development agreement with Cups calls for seven more units over the next three years, but it’s too soon to give details on sales.

He said his team is “still waiting for the results of the present units, as our first unit has only been open eight months.”

Cups, which has 19 units in New Jersey and New York, was created in November 2010 by Livingston, N.J.-based The Briad Group, which franchises and operates Wendy’s and TGI Fridays restaurants, and develops Marriott and Hilton hotels. It also licenses the Zinburger brand.

Contact Ron Ruggless at [email protected].
Follow hi on Twitter: @RonRuggless

About the Author

Ron Ruggless

Senior Editor, Nation’s Restaurant News / Restaurant Hospitality

Ron Ruggless serves as a senior editor for Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News (NRN.com) and Restaurant Hospitality (Restaurant-Hospitality.com) online and print platforms. He joined NRN in 1992 after working 10 years in various roles at the Dallas Times Herald newspaper, including restaurant critic, assistant business editor, food editor and lifestyle editor. He also edited several printings of the Zagat Dining Guide for Dallas-Fort Worth, and his articles and photographs have appeared in Food & Wine, Food Network and Self magazines. 

Ron Ruggless’ areas of expertise include foodservice mergers, acquisitions, operations, supply chain, research and development and marketing. 

Ron Ruggless is a frequent moderator and panelist at industry events ranging from the Multi-Unit Foodservice Operators (MUFSO) conference to RestaurantSpaces, the Council of Hospitality and Restaurant Trainers, the National Restaurant Association’s Marketing Executives Group, local restaurant associations and the Horeca Professional Expo in Madrid, Spain.

Ron Ruggless’ experience:

Regional and Senior Editor, Informa Connect’s Nation’s Restaurant News and Restaurant Hospitality (1992 to present)

Features Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1989-1991)

Restaurant Critic and Food Editor – Dallas Times Herald (1987-1988)

Editing Roles – Dallas Times Herald (1982-1987)

Editing Roles – Charlotte (N.C.) Observer (1980-1982)

Editing Roles – Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald (1978-1980)

Email: [email protected]

Social media:

Twitter@RonRuggless

LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/ronruggless

Instagram: @RonRuggless

TikTok: @RonRuggless

 

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