This article is part of "Where Are They Now?"—an ongoing series in which Franchise Times Managing Editor Emilee Wentland and Reporter Alyssa Huglen catch up with emerging brands.
After a five-year growth drought, Melting Pot is ready to grow since opening a couple units this spring. CEO John Crawford thinks this is indicative of a new chapter for the fondue concept.
Melting Pot, at 91 units, appointed Crawford to CEO in March after five years as the brand’s executive vice president. Former CEO and founder Bob Johnston has since transitioned to chairman of the board.
“We wanted to make sure I would be set up for success and set up a plan,” Crawford said of the promotion. “Bob and I talked about that for a bit of time, but I’m thrilled and really honored that it’s happened now. It’s such an iconic brand, and we do such a great job of creating memorable dining experiences.”
Crawford, now four months into the role, said it’s been encouraging to see the concept open its first units since 2019.
Resumed growth coincides with an ongoing brand refresh as the company remodels its units with a modern touch. Crawford said about 85 percent of locations are remodeled and he expects the project to be done by the end of first quarter of 2026.
“For people that have not been to the brand in a while, we have a much more refreshed, inviting look and feel,” he said. “I’m super proud of the work everybody has done to make that happen and super proud and appreciative of our franchisees for following through.”
Growth is front of mind for Crawford, off the heels of opening two locations this year: one in New Haven, Connecticut, and the other in St. Petersburg, Florida. Two additional openings are slated for later this year as well as four or five for 2026.
“There’s a lot involved in making sure we have the systems, the infrastructure and the support to make sure we have success with these openings and hit the ground running,” Crawford said.
“It’s a competitive marketplace,” he added. “While we do an incredible job of delivering the night-out experiences to each and every guest, we’ve got to continue to enhance that, evolve that and get better at it and more consistent.”
Melting Pot’s franchisee training efforts have become a greater priority since early 2024, when Franchise Times last spoke with the brand. The company debuted three-day, regional training camps last year for operators to learn from one another while taking a hands-on focus to service, food standards and quality of operations.
Crawford said the switch from classroom-style office training to in-the-field training camps has resulted in “a better outcome for the franchisees and the folks involved in the restaurants.”
Melting Pot is running two camps this year, but Crawford plans to eventually hold three or four on an annual basis.
The franchise invested in the technological side through leveraging artificial intelligence for market segmentation and enhancing the guest experience with Club Fondue, the brand’s loyalty program.
“It’s just perfect timing that we’re celebrating our 50th anniversary as we’re starting to see some growth and get some momentum,” Crawford said. “I’m excited about the momentum of the future … and I want to be able to deliver more Melting Pots out there in the U.S. and maybe beyond.”
