Momentum Placing Better-Burger Brand in Prime Position for Rapid 2016 Expansion
Nashville, TN (RestaurantNews.com) At its annual conference on August 17-18, Back Yard Burgers, a better burger concept with big, bold flavors, celebrated a year filled with growth and innovation, recognized its highest performing franchisees and laid plans to turn up the heat even more in the year ahead.
More than 80 franchisees, vendors and corporate leaders gathered in Nashville to celebrate Back Yard Burgers’ strong first half of 2015. Overall sales are up three percent year-over-year, and Back Yard Burgers now has its sights set on opening new locations in the year ahead.
“Back Yard Burgers has been grilling up fan favorites for more than two decades, and our loyal fan base is steadily growing,” said Chief Executive Officer David McDougall. “Our commitment to quality begins with our dedicated owners and employees, and we were thrilled to get the chance to recognize their fantastic work at this year’s conference.”
Three top performers were honored at the event for going above and beyond, embodying the brand’s core values of treating guests with genuine kindness and respect and delivering on Back Yard Burgers’ promise to provide hot, fresh and delicious food.
Back Yard Burgers Franchisee of the Year: Bridgforth Rutledge opened his first Back Yard Burgers location in 1998 and now has seven total locations in Jackson, Meridian and Oxford, Mississippi. Rutledge recorded strong sales at all of his locations during the last fiscal year. His growth-minded approach, commitment to the brand and service as the President of Back Yard Burgers’ Franchise Advisory Council all played a role in this well-deserved honor.
Back Yard Burgers General Manager of the Year: Barbara McGhee’s Southhaven, Mississippi location garnered some of the highest employee satisfaction ratings in the Back Yard Burgers system, and the location has consistently ranked among the brand’s highest in comp sales and profitability. McGhee was recognized at the 2015 conference for embodying Back Yard Burgers’ values by always putting customer needs first.
Back Yard Burgers Golden Spatula Award: Carolyn Lacy’s Columbus, Mississippi location recorded Back Yard Burgers’ highest food quality score in a recent Market Force survey, netting her franchise the brand’s inaugural Golden Spatula Award.
“These awards recognize just a few of the dedicated partners that have already made 2015 a year to remember for Back Yard Burgers. Our new finance team has helped streamline our operations, and sales at our corporate stores are already up by six percent so far this year. The addition of an exciting new redesign of Back Yard Burgers locations set to launch later this year, combined with inventive and delicious new menu items, have set our brand up for even stronger growth in 2016 and beyond,” McDougall said.
2015 also marked the expansion of other key Back Yard Burgers partnerships, including the availability of the brand’s popular Black Angus Back Yard Burgers patties in select Walmart stores and the addition of popular new in-restaurant limited time only offers like a Primeurger, Garlic Parmesan Waffle Fries, and a Pineapple Upside-Down Milkshake. The offers will also include a “Pink Your Drink” campaign in October, with all proceeds donated to breast cancer research. Back Yard Burgers’ partnership with Dine Out for No Kid Hungry is also expanding. The brand has set an ambitious goal to raise at least $50,000 to help combat childhood hunger in America during the annual fundraising drive that will run through the end of September.
About Back Yard Burgers
Back Yard Burgers is a fast casual, better-burger concept that takes pride in their uncompromising commitment to “providing custom, flame-grilled variety with care.” The company’s franchise partners and employees are passionate about offering the freshest ingredients, allowing their guests to customize their meals and to serving the same high-quality food that they would offer at home to their own family. Along with offering made-to-order gourmet Angus burgers, Back Yard Burgers’ menu includes delicious grilled chicken sandwiches, fresh and creative salads, hand-dipped milkshakes, and freshly baked desserts. Today the franchise brand operates 60 locations in 13 states.
For franchising opportunities visit: http://www.backyardburgers.com/franchising.
Contact:
Troy Kehoe
No Limit Agency
312-526-3966
troy@nolimitagency.com
