RISE - Menu Monitor

Friendly's
Headquarters
1855 Boston Rd., Wilbraham, Massachusetts 01095 USA
Tel: (413)543-2400 Fax: (413)731-4451
www.friendlys.com
Ownership: Public
Segment: Full Service Family Style
System Characteristics 2006 2005 2004
U.S. Systemwide Sales ($000) 671,242 673,917 691,719
Company-owned ($000) 395,999 410,956 448,661
Franchised ($000) 275,243 262,961 243,058
U.S. Number of Units 514 520 535
Company-owned 316 314 347
Franchised 198 206 188
International Sales ($000) - - -
International Units - - -
Average Sales/Unit ($000) 1,280 1,260 1,235
Concept Positioning |
Friendly Ice Cream Corp. operates family-oriented restaurants specializing in ice cream and other frozen treats, burgers,
sandwiches, and traditional lunch and dinner entrees for moderate prices. Historically, Friendly’s locations have been
scattered throughout the Northeast. The chain is owned and operated by Sun Capital Partners Inc.
Open for breakfast, lunch and dinner, units are freestanding or in malls. Unit size ranges from 2,200–3,800 sq. ft. for its mall
and strip center locations and 2,400–5,000 sq. ft. for its freestanding sites. Friendly's is in the midst of an interior remodeling
effort, converting its older stores toward a new prototype which features wood and faux leather dining-room booths, period
ceiling fixtures and checkerboard flooring.
A manufacturing plant produces its proprietary ice cream and most of the syrups and toppings used in Friendly's restaurants.
In addition, the plant distributes ice-cream products to more than 3,500 supermarkets and retail locations. A limited number of
items, primarily milk, baked goods, eggs and produce, are purchased from local sources designated by Friendly's central
purchasing department.
The Friendly Ice Cream Chain was started by two brothers, Curtis and Prestley Blake in 1935. Their first ice-cream shop
featured 5¢ double-dip cones, but they quickly expanded the menu to include hamburgers and added restaurant locations. By
1974, the Friendly’s operation swelled to nearly 500 locations concentrated throughout the Mid-Atlantic and northeastern U.S.
In 2007, an affiliate of private investment firm Sun Capital Partners, Inc., acquired Friendly’s. At the time of the acquisition,
Sun’s managing director noted plans to strengthen Friendly’s performance with improved menus, remodeling, and new
openings.
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