What is the significance of Arby's franchising since 1965 for potential Moes Southwest Grill franchisees?
Moes_Southwest_Grill Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
or Arby's, have not offered franchises in any other line of business.
Arby's is a franchisor of quick-serve restaurants operating under the Arby's® trade name and business system that feature slow-roasted, freshly sliced roasted beef and other deli-style sandwiches. In July 2011, Arby's became an Affiliated Program through an acquisition. Arby's has been franchising since 1965. Predecessors and former affiliates of Arby's have, in the past, offered franchises for other restaurant concepts including T.J. Cinnamons® stores that served gourmet baked goods. All of the T.J. Cinnamons locations have closed. As of December 29, 2024, there were 3,365 Arby's restaurants operating in the United States (2,286 franchised and 1,079 company-owned), including one multi-brand location. Additionally, as of December 29, 2024, there were 231
Source: Item 1 — The Franchisor and any Parents, Predecessors, and Affiliates (FDD pages 10–23)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to the 2025 Moe's Southwest Grill FDD, Arby's is an affiliated program through its parent company, GoTo Foods. Arby's has been franchising since 1965. This indicates that GoTo Foods, the parent company of Moe's Southwest Grill, has experience in the franchise industry through its affiliation with Arby's. This long history of franchising with Arby's could provide Moe's Southwest Grill franchisees with a degree of confidence in the stability and expertise of the parent company.
Specifically, the FDD notes that Arby's became an affiliated program in July 2011 through an acquisition. As of December 29, 2024, there were 3,365 Arby's restaurants operating in the United States, with 2,286 being franchised and 1,079 company-owned, including one multi-brand location. Additionally, 231 single-branded franchised Arby's restaurants operate internationally. This demonstrates a substantial and established franchise network under the umbrella of GoTo Foods.
However, the FDD also mentions that predecessors and former affiliates of Arby's previously offered franchises for other restaurant concepts, including T.J. Cinnamons, which have all since closed. This serves as a reminder that not all franchise concepts are successful, even with experienced parent companies. Potential Moe's Southwest Grill franchisees should consider both the positive implications of GoTo Foods' experience with Arby's and the risks highlighted by the failure of the T.J. Cinnamons brand.