FDD ITEM 20 · FISCAL 2022–2026
THE MELTING POT Item 20: outlets, closures & growth
In its latest FDD Item 20 (fiscal 2026), THE MELTING POT reported 88 franchised outlets at year end. 0 of 85 franchised outlets open at the start of the year left the system — an annualized exit rate of 0.0%— while 3 new outlets opened. Systemwide units moved -2.1% over 2022–2026.
| Status (FTC) | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outlets at start | 96 | 95 | 93 | 92 | 89 |
| Opened | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Transfers | 3 | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 |
| Terminations | 1 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 0 |
| Non-renewals | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Reacquired by franchisor | 0 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 |
| Ceased — other reasons | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Outlets at end | 95 | 93 | 92 | 89 | 93 |
| Net change | -1 | -2 | -1 | -3 | +4 |
0 terminations + 0 non-renewals + 0 ceased (other) = 0 exits ÷ 85 at start = 0.0%
These are the three FTC Item 20 statuses in which a franchisee involuntarily or terminally leaves the system. Transfers (1) are resales, not exits; reacquisitions by the franchisor (0) are tracked separately. There is no official “failure rate” — this annualized exit rate is the disclosed, measurable floor.
| State | Franchised | Company-owned |
|---|---|---|
| FL | 14 | 1 |
| VA | 7 | 0 |
| TX | 6 | 0 |
| GA | 5 | 0 |
| CO | 4 | 0 |
| NC | 4 | 0 |
| OH | 4 | 0 |
| PA | 4 | 0 |
| CA | 3 | 0 |
| MD | 3 | 0 |
| NY | 3 | 1 |
| SC | 3 | 0 |
| WA | 3 | 0 |
| WI | 3 | 0 |
| AZ | 2 | 0 |
| IL | 2 | 0 |
| MI | 2 | 0 |
| OK | 2 | 0 |
| TN | 2 | 0 |
| AR | 1 | 0 |
| CT | 1 | 0 |
| DE | 1 | 0 |
| ID | 1 | 0 |
| IN | 1 | 0 |
| KY | 1 | 0 |
| MA | 1 | 0 |
| MO | 1 | 1 |
| NJ | 1 | 1 |
| NM | 1 | 0 |
| OR | 1 | 0 |
| UT | 1 | 0 |
| MN | 0 | 1 |
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