One Of America's First Restaurant Franchises, Maid-rite, Announces New Ownership, Expansion Plans

DES MOINES, IOWA (Thursday, April 18, 2002) - The Maid-Rite restaurant chain, whose secret-recipe loose meat sandwiches have made Midwesterners' mouths water for 76 years, has new owners and an aggressive national expansion plan to introduce the food favorite to countless new fans.
Des Moines-area businessman Bradley L. Burt and other investors have purchased Maid-Rite Corporation from the Gillotti family of West Des Moines, which had owned the franchise for the past 15 years. Iowa-based since its inception in Muscatine in 1926, Maid-Rite is one of America's first restaurant franchisers to offer franchisees and to offer drive-up service. Maid-Rite's corporate office is in Des Moines.

Maid-Rite has 83 restaurants in Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, Missouri, Kansas, Michigan, Nebraska and Wisconsin. The majority are in Iowa and Illinois.

"Maid-Rite has been a trusted brand for more than 76 years with a unique menu item in its loose meat sandwich that has developed a tremendously loyal following throughout the Midwest," says Maid-Rite President and CEO Bradley Burt, whose 30-year career includes experience in advertising, marketing and finance. "With Maid-Rite's recognized brand identity and product acceptance we don't have to reinvent the wheel -- we already have it," Burt added.

Maid-Rite's new management team plans to support and promote local franchisees in a move that will offer advertising support, provide new menu offerings, additional vendor pricing discounts, service quality training and Web site support for the highly recognized and popular affinity brand. In the process, CEO Burt hopes to grow the business to more than 1,000 Maid-Rite franchisees by 2012. But one thing he says will never change is Maid-Rite's unique signature sandwich, rich in history and rooted in friendly, hometown hospitality.

"Those of us who grew up eating Maid-Rites know there is nothing else on Earth like the delicious, specially seasoned ground beef sandwiches, served on a warm bun with a spoon to scoop up the crumbly filling," Burt says. "Midwesterners who have moved away tell us they don't feel like they're 'back home' until they've had a Maid-Rite. Maid-Rite has an indescribable taste that makes people go out of their way to get one. Customers have been known to drive 40 miles just to savor a Maid-Rite. With more Maid-Rite locations planned, our goal is to share this classic sandwich with more people all across the nation -- so they won't have to go as far to get one."

Burt described future menu enhancements including delicious and rich tasting malts, Maid-Rite Mini's Donuts, new center cut pork loin sandwich and gourmet coffee, just to name a few of the menu enhancements in store for Maid-Rite's loyal customers.

He said Maid-Rite Corporation also offers an affordable turnkey franchise package costing $150,000-$170,000 to start and successfully operate a Maid-Rite.

"Our primary job -- our only job -- at Maid-Rite Corporation is to help our Maid-Rite franchisees grow and prosper," said Burt. "As a result, we are getting strong enquires from prospective franchisees who have heard of our plans," Burt concluded

View all Maid-Rite Press Releases

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