QSR Recognizes Charleys Philly Steaks Franchise Growth
A Monumental Occasion In Franchise Growth
700 – that’s the incredible milestone Charleys Philly Steaks has reached in the number of locations across the U.S. A testament to the significant franchise growth in the past few years. Charleys Philly Steaks, which opened in 1986, has truly cemented itself as America’s go-to sub shop for the classic Philly cheesesteak, as well as a range of other delicious offerings.
The huge achievement was even recognized by the industry-renowned QSR Magazine, one of the leaders in franchise industry news.
“Reaching 700 locations is just the beginning,” says Charleys President, Candra Alisiswanto. “Our fans are craving more locations, and our franchisees are excited about growth. We’re looking forward to our next big milestone of 1,000 locations.”
Charleys Philly Steaks is poised for rapid expansion across the U.S., especially after a landmark deal with retail mega-giant Walmart to open locations within its stores. Our growth doesn’t stop there, with planned openings in strip malls, stand-alone units, and even gas station/convenience stores throughout the country.
“2021 was a milestone year for Charleys Philly Steaks and really set the foundation for the future of the brand,” says Charleys Philly Steaks Chief Marketing Officer, Brian Hipsher. “Every department in the company has made significant improvements and investments to prepare for the rapid growth already underway.”
Charleys Philly Steaks Is Here To Stay
Charleys Philly Steaks started in 1986, after CEO and founder Charley Shin set out with one mission: to make an amazing, classic Philly cheesesteak for customers around the country to enjoy. A student at Ohio State University, Shin opened the first location near campus, which immediately became a hit with other students. Within just five years, the Charleys brand began franchising in food courts, strip centers, convenience stores, airports, and even freestanding locations with drive-thrus.
Through it all, Charleys Philly Steaks built its brand on a simple concept: an incredible, high quality cheesesteak sandwich, an offering you just can’t find anywhere else in other franchise brands. It’s truly the reason why Charleys has amassed a cult following, selling more cheesesteaks globally than any other brand. Over the years, the menu has diversified, with gourmet fries and real fruit lemonades, chicken wings, milkshakes, and ice cream becoming customer favorites.
Our customer loyalty is something we take very seriously. It’s why we launched a new website to improve our loyalty program and online ordering, with a mobile first mindset. As a result, the brand saw digital sales increase from 20% of sales to close to 40%. Our loyalty program surpassed over 750,000 members!
“Our goal is to reach 3,000 stores in the coming years,” says Charley Shin, CEO and founder of Charleys Philly Steaks. “We’ve been growing at about 60 stores a year for the past several years, and about 70% of our growth comes from our existing franchisees reinvesting in the brand—which is extremely positive. We exist to help our franchisees become successful in business, and we want to help as many entrepreneurs as we can. This brand has never been more successful than it is today, and we’ve never been more excited about the future.”
Start A Charleys Philly Steak Franchise Today!
Charleys Philly Steaks is showing no signs of slowing down, and we’re actively looking for the next generation of franchisees ready to propel the brand even more into the forefront as one of America’s favorite sandwich spots.
To learn more, visit our research pages here or fill out our form here and one of our team members will be in touch. We can’t wait to start a conversation with you!
