Burger chain founded by Mark Wahlberg and his brothers Donnie and Paul, Wahlburgers, will no longer be available in Hy-Vee grocery stores, leading to the closure of 79 locations from the chain.
In a recent interview with a popular magazine, Mark Wahlberg discussed the rise and fall of Wahlburgers, the burger chain he co-founded with his brothers Paul and Donnie, and CEO Randy Sharpe [1]. However, access to the rest of the article is locked and requires a subscription to the brand.
Despite the closure of 79 locations within Hy-Vee stores, which accounted for a "small portion of sales" according to Sharpe, Wahlburgers has come a long way since opening its first location outside of Boston in 2011 [2]. The partnership with Hy-Vee played a significant role in the brand's expansion, but ultimately led to overextension.
The closed restaurants were all located within Midwestern grocery giant Hy-Vee stores. Hy-Vee announced plans to revert these in-store eateries to its own Market Grille brand. This move leaves Wahlburgers with just over 40 remaining locations nationwide.
However, the closure of 79 locations is part of Wahlburgers' strategy to focus on its restaurant growth. Sharpe told the outlet that the chain plans to open 15 new locations this year. By 2023, Wahlburgers had expanded to 109 locations.
Sharpe explained that the chain wants to focus more on its actual restaurants rather than what amounted to kiosks within grocery stores. According to him, Wahlburgers is not interested in being in the grocery business.
The expansion of Wahlburgers was facilitated by franchising. The reality TV show, Wahlburgers, which ran from 2014 to 2019, captured the journey of the burger chain. This article provides insights on how Wahlburgers finds success through feedback.
Despite the recent setbacks, Wahlburgers continues to strive for growth and success. The brand remains committed to providing a unique dining experience for its customers and expanding its presence in the burger industry.
[1] [Source Link] [2] [Source Link]
- Mark Wahlberg mentioned the past struggles of Wahlburgers, a burger chain he co-founded, in an interview due to the subscription required for the full article.
- Despite the closure of 79 Wahlburgers locations within Hy-Vee stores, accounting for a small portion of sales, the brand has come a long way since its first location outside of Boston in 2011.
- The closed Wahlburgers restaurants, all located within Hy-Vee stores, will be reverted to Hy-Vee's own Market Grille brand, leaving Wahlburgers with over 40 remaining locations nationwide.
- Despite the recent closure of locations, Wahlburgers plans to open 15 new restaurants this year and hopes to have expanded to 109 locations by 2023.
- The franchising of Wahlburgers and the reality TV show Wahlburgers, which aired from 2014 to 2019, played a significant role in the chain's expansion and provided insights on how Wahlburgers finds success through customer feedback.
