KnowFat Franchise Changes Its Name to UFood
KnowFat, a healthy fast casual restaurant franchise based in Massachusetts is changing its name to UFood Grill.
George Naddaff Chairman and CEO of KnowFat Franchise Co. bought KnowFat Low Fat Lifestyle Grill in 2004 with Eric Spitz co-CEO and President. They are changing the name to UFood Grill, updating the menu, and redesigning the stores to capture a larger audience.
To help market the UFood Grill franchises, Naddaff has signed a deal with former heavyweight champ George Foreman. The new concept and the Foreman endorsement agreement come at a time when quick-serve restaurant sales continue to climb and consumers are increasingly looking for more healthy dining options.
The first UFood Grill opened in Naples, Fla., a couple of weeks ago. The KnowFat stores in Boston’s Downtown Crossing and Landmark Center, as well as the five other locations in Massachusetts, will close for two days this summer to be converted to UFood Grills. The 74 KnowFat units slated to open under eight area developers nationwide will open as UFood Grills
The menu items, all without trans fats and many low-fat or no-fat, will remain largely the same with name changes for some of the products — KnowFat AirFries will become UnFries, for example. Efrem Cutler, the former executive chef at Ritz-Carlton Hotel Atlanta, is the vice president of food development.
The company is selling three franchise models: a two-in-one food and retail store at about 2,500 square feet; a smaller, 2,000-square-foot model without retail; and a 1,000-square-foot mall food court model. Many of the KnowFat stores have a retail component already to them and can account for 20 percent of a store’s sales.
The fast-casual segment has been averaging 15 percent to 20 percent growth over the past few years, according to food service research firm Technomic Inc.
Naddaff — known for creating the highly successful Boston Market franchise concept — and Spitz decided to change the concept after months of focus groups and research led them to believe they were already reaching the fitness-minded consumer and needed to drop the word “fat” from their name to reach a broader audience. The new tagline is intended to attract that audience: “Feel great. Eat smart.”
In the agreement, the legendary boxer will lend his smiling mug to UFood Grill and franchises in return for an undisclosed number of shares in the company, according to Naddaff.
Cross Posted at: Let’s Talk Franchising
Similar Posts:
Fitness Together
The new Patriot Express loan is offered by the
About SuperCoups: SuperCoups, a wholly owned subsidiary of Valassis, is a co-op direct mail franchise. Since 1982, SuperCoups direct marketing solutions have delivered local coupons with super savings to consumers, helping small businesses grow while maximizing returns on their advertising investment. For more information about SuperCoups or its franchisees visit
About AAFD: The AAFD is a national non-profit trade association representing the rights and interests of franchisees and independent dealers throughout the United States. Formed in 1992, the AAFD is focused on market driven reform to achieve its mission to define and promote collaborative franchise cultures that the AAFD describes as Total Quality Franchising. Since its formation the AAFD has grown to represent more than 50,000 franchised businesses throughout the United States. The AAFD currently has members in all 50 states and represents more than 100 different franchise systems. For more information about the AAFD, visit: 



