Fast Casual Archives | Franchise Dictionary Magazine

14 03, 2024

Island Fin Poké Co. Celebrates Its Seventh Birthday by Thanking Its Ohana

Paul Zboichyk2024-03-14T07:54:48-04:00March 14th, 2024|Tags: Fast Casual, Island Fin Poké Co., poké restaurant|

ORLANDO, Fla. — Get ready for the ultimate poké party! On Wednesday, March 20, Island Fin Poké Co., America’s favorite poké restaurant, is celebrating its seventh anniversary with an exciting sticker drop for its guests. This sticker is free to all guests who order a bowl on its anniversary and is available at all locations, until supplies last.

In 2017, Mark Setterington, CEO and founder of Island Fin Poké Co. created a poké concept that combined deliciously vibrant flavors and emphasized creating an Ohana-like, or family-like, atmosphere in every location. This ideology and foundation are what set up Island Fin Poké Co. to experience success over the past seven years in over 20 locations across the U.S.

“My concept behind this brand was to truly transport guests back to the islands of Hawaii through the flavors and atmosphere we radiate,” said Setterington. “Our birthday signifies our brand’s commitment to remain as authentic as we can for our guests and introducing a new style of fast-casual poké restaurant. I want to personally thank our Ohana because we would not be where we are today without your love and support!”

For this celebration, Island Fin created a colorful sticker that represents the peaceful Hawaiian shores and it’s exclusively available on March 20, until supplies last for any guest ordering a fresh poké bowl. This is the third of ten sticker drops this year, and if guests collect all ten, they can be entered in a raffle for the chance to win a customized Island Fin Poké Co. surfboard.

“Our birthday means so much to us because we love celebrating with our Ohana. We wanted to give it back to our biggest fans, so we created this exciting prize with a customized surfboard, and the winner will be announced later this year,” added Setterington.

In the past year, the brand has opened new locations in different communities and states, has introduced multiple new menu items, such as the most recent Nashville Hot Chicken Bowl, always offering their guests an IncrediBOWL experience during each and every visit. Island Fin plans to expand its menu offerings and expand into even more new communities throughout the year.

Island Fin has partnered with GNF Worldwide, the world’s leading franchising firm, and has been recognized by multiple distinguished franchising publications such as Entrepreneur Magazine, where they earned the reputation of 2023 Top New & Emerging Franchises.

For more information on the brand’s sticker drops, visit IslandFinPoke.com or stay tuned on social media for sticker drop announcements. For media inquiries, please email Bianca Kasawdish at Bianca@TeamInnoVision.com.

About Island Fin Poké Co.

Island Fin Poké Co. is a Florida-based fast-casual concept known for its Hawaiian-style build-your-own poké bowls. From farm-to-fork, the brand uses the freshest ingredients to bring traditional flavors from the islands to local communities nationwide. Founded in 2017, Island Fin Poké Co. has 23 locations open, with numerous others in various stages of development. Island Fin Poké Co. was ranked #29 on the 2023 Top New & Emerging Franchises list by Entrepreneur Magazine, listed in Fast Casual’s 2023 Top Movers & Shakers list, and recognized as a Top 100 Game Changer for 2022 by Franchise Dictionary Magazine. For more information, or if interested in joining the brand’s Ohana, please visit https://www.IslandFinPoke.com/.

29 11, 2023

Island Fin Poke Co.: FAMILY AFFAIR: The Support of an Extended ‘Ohana

Paul Zboichyk2023-11-30T09:44:20-05:00November 29th, 2023|Tags: Fast Casual, Island Fin Poké Co., poké restaurant|

After traveling throughout the U.S. working for different corporations for many years, Tammy and Scott Fitzpatrick decided they were ready for a different kind of opportunity. After a long time of exploring different franchise brands, they connected with Mark Setterington, CEO and founder of Island Fin Poké Co. By Cindy Charette

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1 11, 2023

Island Fin Poké Co. Celebrates Ohana Month: A Month of Family, Community and Generosity

Paul Zboichyk2023-11-01T20:49:30-04:00November 1st, 2023|Tags: Fast Casual, Island Fin Poké Co., Maui Food Bank, poké restaurant, Spartan Race|

ORLANDO, Fla. — In the Hawaiian language, Ohana translates to “family” and Island Fin Poké Co., America’s favorite poké restaurant, is all about creating an Ohana-like environment for the various market segments it serves. That’s why the brand is proud to announce the launch of “Ohana Month” – a celebration of family, community and philanthropy, during the whole month of November.

Island Fin, with its deep roots in Hawaiian culture and cuisine, has always held the values of family close to its heart. The essence of Ohana goes beyond a Hawaiian word that means family; it’s a way of life. The brand is deeply committed to fostering a close-knit and supportive community among its guests, cultivating an environment where everyone feels valued and cherished. Inspired by the spirit of family, Island Fin Poké Co. has launched an initiative, from November 1st to December 31st, to benefit Maui Food Bank.

Mark Setterington, CEO and founder of Island Fin Poké Co., shared his thoughts on the significance of Ohana Month, saying, “Ohana is absolutely everything to this brand. We wanted to dedicate a month out of the year to really giving back and emphasize the importance of family. Ohana Month is where our brand can showcase the importance of family and how we come together to bring support to anyone in need. It’s a true embodiment of our mission.”

A major highlight of Ohana Month is the brand’s commitment to giving back to the community. Starting on November 1st, Island Fin Poké Co. will be actively supporting the Maui Food Bank through a special initiative following the devastating recent Maui wildfires. In partnership with the Spartan Race, any Island Fin Poké Co. guest who donates $100 or more using the dedicated link to the Maui Food Bank will be gifted a free Spartan Race ticket. This is a fantastic opportunity to experience the thrill of the Spartan Race and make a meaningful contribution to the Maui Food Bank’s vital mission.

The brand has given back to its communities in numerous ways. Back in the month of August, when the fires began to destroy the city of Lahaina, all Island Fin locations directly donated a percentage of their sales on August 18 to the Maui Food Bank to help provide direct relief to Lahaina residents. At the Worcester, MA location, the franchise owners raised money for CASA, the Court Appointed Special Advocate in Worcester. At The Villages, FL location, the franchise owners decided to spread cheer on Christmas Day and visited five local fire stations, delivering Dole Soft Serve® to the first responders on duty to brighten their holiday. With many more local stories, the brand emphasizes the importance of helping its communities in any way they can.

Setterington added, “We believe in the strength of our communities to participate in this initiative. This initiative is more than just a token of appreciation to our guests; it’s an embodiment of our commitment to giving back and building a stronger, more connected community. It’s a way for us to reinforce our commitment to the values of Ohana that have always been at the core of Island Fin Poké Co.”

Island Fin Poké Co. encourages everyone to join in the spirit of Ohana Month and make a difference in the lives of those in need. To learn more about this initiative and to donate, please visit the Maui Food Bank’s dedicated page at https://mauifoodbank.org/event/island-fin-poke/. For more information on Island Fin, visit Island Fin Poké Co.’s website at www.IslandFinPoke.com or contact Bianca Kasawdish for media inquiries at Bianca@TeamInnoVision.com.

About Island Fin Poké Co.

Island Fin Poké Co. is a Florida-based fast-casual concept known for its Hawaiian-style build-your-own poké bowls. From farm-to-fork, the brand uses the freshest ingredients to bring traditional flavors from the islands to local communities nationwide. Founded in 2017, Island Fin Poké Co. has 26 locations open, with numerous others in various stages of development. Island Fin Poké Co. was ranked #29 on the 2023 Top New & Emerging Franchises list by Entrepreneur Magazine, listed in Fast Casual’s 2023 Top Movers & Shakers list, and recognized as a Top 100 Game Changer for 2022 by Franchise Dictionary Magazine. For more information, or if interested in joining the brand’s Ohana, please visit https://www.IslandFinPoke.com/.

19 10, 2023

Raleigh Becomes Home to North Carolina’s First Capital Tacos Franchise Deal

Paul Zboichyk2023-10-19T16:21:34-04:00October 19th, 2023|Tags: Capital Tacos, Fast Casual, Tex-Mex Restaurant|

Award-Winning Tex-Mex Concept to Make Community Debut in Spring 2024

RALEIGH, N.C. — Capital Tacos, the small-town taco shop turned nationally-acclaimed Tex-Mex restaurant franchise, is taking the taste of Tex-Mex #DoneRight to Raleigh after having secured the brand’s first-ever franchise agreement for the state of North Carolina; the latest in a series of deals that have been expanding the footprint of the franchise across the country this past year.

David and Silvia Robertson are the husband-and-wife duo responsible for putting Raleigh on the map for the fan-favorite taco franchise. Combining his 25 years of sales leadership experience in the IT market with her background in the operations and quality control of various restaurant brands, both have hopes high for the role the franchise will be able to play in furthering the flavor innovation and food ingenuity for the local culinary scene.

The deal is for a single unit, though David and Silvia have each expressed an intention to introduce additional Capital Tacos locations throughout the Raleigh market in the years ahead, once the public has had the opportunity to get acquainted with the restaurant concept and its commitment to providing the best Tex-Mex known to man.

“This truly feels like a full-circle moment. Silvia and I met working in a restaurant out in Las Vegas 30 years ago, and now, we’re realizing a dream and opening one together,” David shared. “And doing so with a brand that values menu quality and guest experience as highly as Capital Tacos reaffirms that this shift in lifestyle is the right move to make.”

Since launching its franchise program in early 2022, Capital Tacos has expanded far beyond its Tampa homebase, with brick-and-mortar restaurants open or under development in Atlanta, Charlotte, Denver, Tulsa, Nashville, New Jersey, Raleigh, and markets throughout Florida – many of which have opened just in the past few months.

“After having just debuted our first corporate-owned location in Charlotte, it’s incredible to see the fervor for the franchise materialize across North Carolina so quickly,” said Josh Luger, Co-founder of Capital Tacos. “Both David and Silvia will make wonderful additions to the Capital Tacos franchise community, and we can’t wait to see them introduce some Tex-Mex #doneright to Raleigh in the near future.”

Capital Tacos is currently seeking single-unit and multi-unit franchisees interested in new career opportunities or those looking to diversify their current portfolios.

For more information on Capital Tacos franchise opportunities, please visit https://capitaltacosfranchise.com/.

ABOUT CAPITAL TACOS: 
Capital Tacos is a nationally-ranked, fast-casual Tex-Mex restaurant franchise founded in Tampa, Florida, that currently operates, or will imminently be operating, across the states of Florida, Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, New Jersey, and Oklahoma.  They’ve been named one of America’s Top 40 Hottest Fast Casual Brands and one of the 11 Taco Chains Disrupting Fast Casual Sector by QSR Magazine, a top 3 taco in the country by Business Insider/Foursquare, and the top taco restaurant in Tampa / St. Petersburg by Yelp, amongst a variety of other awards. The emerging franchise brand is known for its scratch-made, innovative, and unmatched Tex-Mex flavors, pushing the boundaries of quality and creativity that the sector has become known to provide. Capital Tacos is currently seeking qualified candidates to help further expand the franchise to select markets across the Southeast and the country more generally.