FAT Brands Inc: Launching Brands towards Zeniths of Success

Every company has a story. A story that shares its roots, its personality and details its successes and failures. And, as entrepreneurs, the most valuable stories to learn from inspire grit, relentlessness and drive.
We’ve found a brand that does all this and more. It has thrived in the face of adversity to become a leader in its category, and a public company trading on NASDAQ. With its resources, passion, and skills, this brand constantly strives to do better, be better and help its partners succeed.
It’s a privilege for Insight Success to present FAT Brands Inc. (NASDAQ: FAT) one of the leading global franchising companies that has disrupted the restaurant industry with its uncanny ability to adapt, think ahead and expand globally to stay ahead of its competitors.
FAT Brands Inc. is a leading global franchising company that provides a scalable management platform. The company owns eight restaurant brands: Fatburger, Buffalo’s Cafe, Buffalo’s Express, Hurricane Grill & Wings, Elevation Burger, Yalla Mediterranean and Ponderosa and Bonanza Steakhouses and franchises over 380 units worldwide. As a nod to the company’s unparalleled innovation and growth, FAT Brands recently acquired Elevation Burger, partnered with Craig’s Vegan Ice Cream to offer a dairy-free milkshake and Daiya to offer dairy-free cheddar cheese slices at Los Angeles Fatburger restaurants, announced a 25-unit development deal in Texas along with expansions in Qatar, Pakistan and Canada, and the utilization of virtual kitchens to offer its franchisees additional revenue.
Spearheading Progress
Leading a company that aligns its vision with its partners requires an innovative thinker. Andy Wiederhorn, the President and CEO of FAT Brands Inc. is a leader who isn’t intimidated by challenges but sees them as opportunities. Known for his ingenious approaches, such as becoming one of the first restaurant chains to partner with Impossible Foods to offer the Impossible Fatburger worldwide, Wiederhorn is a calculated risk-taker and sedulous leader who is consistently leading FAT Brands towards success.
Wiederhon began his career in the 90s through investing, an atypical path for a restaurant mogul but one that payed off when the opportunity to buy Fatburger arose. No stranger to investing, Wiederhorn strategically bought the brand with the idea of folding it under FAT Brands standing for Fresh. Authentic. Tasty. The restaurant hit the ground gaining immediate national attention with celebrity partnerships and openings in countries like Dubai and China. Through innovative menu additions, multiple acquisitions and international expansion, FAT Brands found its way towards completing an initial public offering in 2017.
When he started on his venture to take the company public, Wall Street wasn’t interested in investing in restaurant companies. They thought FAT Brands was too small to invest in, but it compelled Wiederhorn to take a new initial public offering called the Regulation A+, or mini IPO. This allows companies to market directly to individual shareholders, bypassing institutional investors and requiring far less paperwork and disclosures. His efforts in showcasing the promising business model lead the company to where FAT Brands is today, a profile company with eight brands under its helm.
Notable Brands
FAT Brands has a notable history of acquiring and scaling restaurants brands in the market at a rapid pace. The eight brands it represents includes:
Fatburger, known for its reputation as an iconic, all-American, Hollywood favorite hamburger was founded in Los Angeles, California in 1952. It serves a variety of freshly made-to-order, customizable orders. Some notable items on the menu are the brand’s signature mouthwatering, juicy burgers, perfectly crisp fries and hand-scooped milkshakes. With a legacy that spans over 70 years, Fatburger’s dedication to superior quality inspires loyalty amongst its customers.
Buffalo’s Café was established in Roswell, Georgia in 1985. The family themed casual dining chain, known for its world-famous chicken wings and 18 unique homemade wing sauces, burgers, wraps, steaks and salads has been serving fresh southwestern themed cuisine for over 33 years. Under FAT Brands’ leadership, Buffalo’s Café has also branched into a second concept called Buffalo’s Express which is co-branded with 72 Fatburger restaurants to-date to offer its high-quality menu offerings and unparalleled dining experience.
Founded in 2012 in Los Angeles, CA, Buffalo’s Express is a fast-casual chain known for its world famous chicken wings, proprietary wing sauces, fries, sides, wraps, salads and desserts. Co-branded with 72 Fatburger restaurants to date, Buffalo’s Express’ significant growth can be attributed to its high-quality menu offerings and unparalleled dining experience. Featuring a contemporary design and ambience, whether guests are dining-in or having take-out/delivery, Buffalo’s Express offers friends and families the flexibility to enjoy their world-famous chicken wings however they prefer.
Hurricane Grill & Wings, based in Florida and known for its jumbo, fresh wings, over 35 signature sauces, and rubs and tropical, laid-back vibe is one of the largest franchises in the United States. It has more than 56 restaurants across the country delivering delicious food and unforgettable customer experience. USA Today named the restaurant as one of “10 Great Places to Wing It”. It was also nominated as one of the “Future 50” by Restaurant Business and as Franchise Times’ “Top 40 Fast and Serious”.
Yalla is a growing fast-casual restaurant brand specializing in authentic Mediterranean cuisine in a vibrant, environmentally friendly space. Currently located in Pleasant Hill, Fremont, Walnut Creek and Dublin in California’s Bay Area as well as Burbank, Seal Beach and Culver City in Southern California, the restaurant offers a warm and inviting environment for guests to enjoy flavorful, authentic, and healthy Mediterranean cuisine.
Ponderosa Steakhouse and Bonanza Steakhouse, known for offering food at great value in family-friendly atmospheres, the brands have been serving American cuisine for more than 50 years. With 96 locations open and under development, the chain of restaurants offers delicious, flame-grilled steaks and entrees along with a high-quality buffet featuring an endless selection of salads, soups, appetizers, vegetables, and desserts at affordable prices. 
Originally conceived in 2002, Elevation Burger offers a healthier burger with a great taste. Its organic, grass-fed beef is the key to a burger that truly stands apart from the rest in terms of taste, quality, and sustainability. Elevation Burger focuses on offering quality food products that make a difference both to guests and the environment.