Press Releases
In the News
Oct. 26, 2017
Huffington Post - 'Melting Pot' of Partners Raise Millions for St. Jude, Pediatric Cancer Research
Sept. 15, 2017
Inc. - 5 Top Execs Talk About Defining Workplace Culture: Part 1
July 10, 2017
Inc. - How a Teenage Dishwasher Became the CEO of The Melting Pot Fondue Empire
June 28, 2017
Florida Restaurant & Lodging - Path to Power: Bob Johnston Link opens a pdf document
June 15, 2017
The Wall Street Journal - Comfort Food and Comfortable Franchisees Link opens a pdf document
April 30, 2017
Fox & Friends - Restaurant Industry Job Fair on F&F Plaza Link opens a media file
March 3, 2017
Eater - The Past, Present, and Future of Melted Cheese
Feb. 15, 2017
Jan. 26, 2017
Nation's Restaurant News - Pastry Chefs Serve Chocolate Desserts With A Twist
Sept 2, 2015
Forbes - How Hugh Hefner's Favorite Restaurant Became a Surprise Hit With Millennial Customers
Sept. 2, 2015
July 1, 2015
Taste of Home - BBQ Brisket Cheese Recipe Link opens a pdf document
July 1, 2015
Sugar Loco - Banana Split Chocolate Fondue Link opens a pdf document
June 2, 2015
The Daily Meal - Summertime Sipper Link opens a pdf document
June 2015
Facilitator Magazine - Everyday Celebrations Link opens a pdf document
June 1, 2015
Myrtle Beach Travel Guide - Top Places to Eat and Drink in Myrtle Beach
April 30, 2015
Florida State Homes - Melting Cheese and Hearts at The Melting Pot
April 13, 2015
Nation's Restaurant News - Consumer Picks 2015: The Melting Pot Finds Success With Menu Updates
Feb. 13, 2015
Feb. 5, 2015
Nation's Restaurant News - The Melting Pot Tests Kitchen Entrees
Dec. 18, 2014
Nov./Dec. 2014
Cheers - The Melting Pot Celebrates Whiskey Women Link opens a pdf document
Nov. 2014
1to1 Media Customer Champions 2014: Melting Pot President Mike Lester Link opens a pdf document
Oct. 2014
FSR Magazine - Looking Global, Acting Local Link opens a pdf document
Sept. 11, 2014
July 24, 2014
Nation's Restaurant News - David Burke veteran joins The Melting Pot
July 15, 2014
July 14, 2014
July 11, 2014
Fortune - The 8 wackiest franchise stores you could own Link opens a pdf document
July 2, 2014
Cheers - The Melting Pot Holding Cocktail Competition Link opens a pdf document
July 2, 2014
June 26, 2014
June 25, 2014
NRN.com - The Melting Pot launches cocktail competition Link opens a pdf document
April 2014
Florida Restaurant and Lodging Magazine - Faces of Hospitality Link opens a pdf document
April 2014
Cabin Life Magazine - Fondue For You Link opens a pdf document
March 21, 2014
Examiner.com - Fondue frenzy, National Cheese Fondue Day at The Melting PotLink opens a pdf document
March 18, 2014
Feb. 13, 2014
FoxNews.com - 14 sexy chocolate desserts for Valentine's Day Link opens a pdf document
Jan. 1, 2014
FSR.com - Social Reform Link opens a pdf document
Jan. 1, 2014
Restaurant Business - Consumer research 101 Link opens a pdf document
Corporate Principal
Bob Johnston, CEO and Chairman of the Board, Front Burner
Founded
1975 in Maitland, Fla.
Company Description
Founded in 1975, The Melting Pot has offered a unique fondue dining experience for more than 40 years. As the premier fondue restaurant franchise, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. has more than 100 restaurants in 31 U.S. states, Canada, and Mexico. Additionally, there are more than 17 international locations in development. Known for offering a choice of fondue cooking styles, including the new grill cooking style, and a variety of unique entrées, The Melting Pot's menu also features cheese fondues, salads, fine wines, and chocolate fondue desserts. Fondue fans can join The Melting Pot's Club Fondue for exclusive promotions, special events and advance holiday reservation privileges. The Melting Pot is an affiliate of Front Burner, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Florida. For more information, visit www.meltingpot.com. To learn more about franchise opportunities with The Melting Pot, please visit www.meltingpotfranchise.com.
Locations
U.S.: The Melting Pot has 98 restaurants.
Canada: There is one location open in Edmonton, Alberta.
Mexico: There are three locations open in Mexico City and 17 in development.
Menu
Guests can enjoy a choice of five cooking styles, including our new grill cooking style, and a variety of entrees combined with signature dipping sauces. The menu also includes award-winning cheese fondues, fresh salads, premium meat and seafood, fine wines, Best in Glass™ handcrafted cocktails and decadent chocolate fondue.
Website
facebook.com/themeltingpotrestaurants
Snapchat
@meltingpot1975
Corporate Headquarters
The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc.
7886 Woodland Center Blvd. Tampa, FL 33614
Toll Free: 800-783-0867
Telephone: 813-881-0055
Fax: 813-889-9361
Media Contact
Laura Mulhern
Director of Public Relations
Media Contact
Laura Mulhern
Director of Public Relations
PR@meltingpot.com
1975
The Melting Pot opened its first location in Maitland, Fla., outside of Orlando. First restaurant had four tables and a limited menu consisting of cheese, beef and chocolate fondue.
1976
The Melting Pot opened second restaurant in Orlando.
1979
Johnston brothers opened The Melting Pot's first franchise location outside of the Orlando market in Tallahassee, Fla. Current sustained operations: 3
1981
Johnston brothers opened The Melting Pot franchise in Tampa, Fla.
1984
The Melting Pot franchise location opened in Gainesville, Fla.
1985
Johnston brothers purchased all rights to the restaurant chain and established The Melting Pot Restaurants Inc. The next 10 years are marked by conservative growth as the newly formed franchise company assessed the short-term growth opportunities and long-term strategic growth plan. Johnston brothers opened company units in Clearwater and St. Petersburg, Fla.
1985-1995
The Melting Pot opened 2-3 franchised restaurants per year. Slow, but steady growth.
1995
The Melting Pot launched aggressive efforts to educate, engage and train franchisees. By this time, 26 restaurants opened.
1995-2001
The Melting Pot opened 20 restaurants (averaging 3 to 5 per year).
2001
The Melting Pot opened 10 restaurants.
2002
The Melting Pot opened 10 restaurants.
2003
The Melting Pot opened 10 restaurants, total 66 opened restaurants.
2004
The Melting Pot opened 16 locations, total 85 stores opened.
2005
The Melting Pot turned 30 and celebrated opening its 100th location in Pasadena, Calif.
2006
Introduced 12 new locations and more than 30 signed and in development.
2007
The Melting Pot opened 19 locations and 42 were in development.
2008
The Melting Pot opened 15 locations and 26 were in development.
2009
The Melting Pot signed first international franchise agreement for Western Canada and introduced 7 new locations.
2010
The Melting Pot celebrated its 35th anniversary, opened its first international location in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and opened its first Mexico location in Mexico City.
2015
The Melting Pot celebrated its 40th anniversary, was recognized as the No. 1 casual dining restaurant in the Nation’s Restaurant News 2015 Consumer Picks report and opened its first locations outside of North America in Jakarta, Indonesia and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
2016
The Melting Pot was recognized as the No. 2 casual dining restaurant in the Nation’s Restaurant News 2016 Consumer Picks report.
2017
The Melting Pot signed the largest franchise deal in its history to bring 17 units to Mexico.
2018
The Melting Pot introduces the evolution of its legacy brand – new design, new day parts and new menu offerings in Red Bank, NJ and El Paso, TX.
History of The Melting Pot
For over 40 years, The Melting Pot has defined the fondue experience niche across the American dining scene and now looks forward to continued domestic success as well as continued international expansion.
The first Melting Pot opened in April of 1975 in Maitland, Fla., just outside of Orlando. It was a cozy, quaint location, and its first menu consisted of just three items: Swiss cheese fondue, beef fondue and a chocolate fondue dessert. However, as the restaurant’s popularity expanded, so did its menu and ambiance.
Mark Johnston, who was working his way through college as a waiter at The Melting Pot, noticed the popularity boost and, with the help of his brothers Mike and Bob, scraped together funding to open The Melting Pot of Tallahassee in 1979 (with the blessing of the original owners in Maitland... of course). The Tallahassee location grew enormously popular, and within one year, its success paved the way for future franchise expansion.
In 1981, the Johnston brothers decided to branch out and opened their second location in Tampa. As their business grew, the brothers began to consider franchising even more stores in order to expand.
Then in 1985, Mark, Mike and Bob Johnston purchased all rights to The Melting Pot brand and established The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc., the new franchise company. After a year of research and reorganization, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. began its franchise offering.
From the start, the Johnston brothers were diligent in their search for energetic entrepreneurs who were as excited as they were about the concept and its potential. Their commitment to building a close knit fondue family proved successful.
In 2010, The Melting Pot Restaurants celebrated its 35th anniversary, opened its first international location in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, and opened its first Mexico location in Mexico City.
As The Melting Pot celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015, it opened its first locations outside of North America in Jakarta, Indonesia and Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
Today, with more than 110 locations across 33 U.S states, Canada, Mexico, and the Middle East, and more than 17 locations in development internationally, The Melting Pot Restaurants, Inc. is the premier fondue restaurant. A leading polished casual dining franchise, The Melting Pot was recognized as the No. 1 casual dining restaurant in the Nation’s Restaurant News 2015 Consumer Picks report and No. 2 in 2016.
In 2018, the 43-year old brand announced its evolution – a new design, new day parts and new menu offerings in Red Bank, NJ and El Paso, TX.
At The Melting Pot, fondue truly becomes a memorable dining experience where guests can discover all the ingredients for an unforgettable culinary adventure including a relaxed atmosphere, private tables, attentive service, fine wines and signature fondue courses.
The Melting Pot is an affiliate of Front Burner Brands, a restaurant management company headquartered in Tampa, Fla.
