Eggs Up Grill Cracks 80 Locations and Plans to Grow Further
Eggs Up Grill is on a roll, cracking into new territories. The South Carolina-based fast-casual chain recently celebrated its 80th location in Bristol, Virginia, and it's not stopping there.
With nine new locations already opened this year, Eggs Up Grill is set to add 14 more by the end of 2024. The chain has also inked deals with four new franchise groups, pushing its development pipeline to over 100 locations slated to open this decade.
CEO Ricky Richardson is clearly egg-static about the chain's performance. "In 2023, the average annual unit volume for the top 50% of our restaurants exceeded $1.529 million, marking a 40% increase in AUV since 2019," he said. Richardson also noted a nearly 20% growth in guest counts over the same period.
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The Bristol location's grand opening was a hit. Customers lined up overnight for a chance at free breakfast for a year. Owner Ken Bates, a 35-year restaurant industry veteran, picked the location strategically. "We felt good about the location because of the revitalization of this pickup area of town, namely the casino proximity to the Pinnacle," Bates explained.
Eggs Up Grill isn't just expanding locally. They're going South, entering Mississippi, and signing deals in Tennessee, North Carolina, Texas, Florida, and Georgia. The chain usually targets suburban strip malls, often near grocery stores.
To support its growth, Eggs Up Grill has launched a new training program called Egg Yolk University, to ensure they give their franchise partners the right tools to succeed in the competitive breakfast market.
