T.G.I. Friday’s, the well-known American restaurant chain, has recently announced the closure of thirty-six underperforming locations across the United States. The move is part of a broader corporate strategy to streamline operations and focus on targeted growth initiatives.
This news comes at a difficult moment for the restaurant industry. The pandemic has caused a dramatic shift in patterns of customer behavior, presenting many restaurants with severe headwinds. Despite this, Friday’s is not alone in its pursuit of a successful post-crisis strategy.
With its new closures, T.G.I. Friday’s is hoping to continue to remain competitive in the restaurant industry. While the company has engaged in a wide variety of initiatives to remain resilient during the pandemic, streamlining operations is a key part of its current plans. The corporate strategy will focus on providing the best possible customer experience, while streamlining processes and investing in growth initiatives.
The locations that will be affected by these changes primarily include those in the United States. Though the company has not disclosed the specific locations, analysts have already identified which areas will be affected. These include locations in Florida, California, Indiana, Texas, Georgia, and Iowa.
T.G.I. Friday’s currently operates more than 500 locations worldwide, which now includes areas such as the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea and Canada. While the current plan does focus on streamlining operations, the company has stated that its primary focus is driving growth. This will be done through leveraging the franchisee/franchisee network, as well as building more high-end, full-service restaurants.
With the adjusted corporate strategy, T.G.I. Friday’s is looking to remain relevant and competitive in a rapidly changing restaurant environment. Despite the pandemic causing turbulence for the industry, the restaurant chain has proven itself to be well-equipped to handle the challenges ahead. The planned franchisee/franchisee network, streamlining of operations, and focusing on growth initiatives are sure signs that T.G.I. Friday’s is committed to staying ahead of the competitive curve.