Moe’s Southwest Grill, the three-year-old brand in Martin Sprock’s Raving Brands! portfolio, received the call this month that it would be recognized in May in Chicago as “Hot Concept of the Year” on the 10th Anniversary of the Nation’s Restaurant News Hot Concept! Award presented this year by Tyson Foods, Inc.

Moe’s Southwest Grill is the only brand chosen in the much publicized emerging fast casual category. Dennis Lombardi, analyst for Technomics, indicated recently at a Dine America conference in Atlanta that the quick casual category has taken a bite out of quick service and casual dining concepts. Moe’s may be credited with making the biggest impact against the struggling Fast Food category. Not only has it shown dramatic growth, going from 40 to 100 stores in 2003, but opening in 2004 at a pace of four a week with 700 Franchises signed and ready for construction. And Moe’s accomplished all that in the face of two fast food giants, McDonald’s which owns Chipotle and Wendy’s which owns Baja Fresh, each growing half as fast as Moe’s.

“We have believed in this brand’s national potential from inception,” explains Martin Sprock, founder and chief, Raving Brands!. The Hot Concept Award means a great deal to us because we know it has a tangible benefit to our current and new franchises who can tell their constituents that the industry believes they have one of the hottest concepts in the country.”

In recent months, Moe’s Southwest Grill has expanded its national presence to the Northeast, Midwest and West Coast. It currently has 118 stores opened in 14 states and has announced new market signings in an additional 24 states.

Nation’s Restaurant News, which chose Moe’s as the first “true” national Fresh Mex, Fast Casual concept in its 10 years of Hot Concept Awards, was drawn to its healthy and colorful menu. In the March 15 issue, it reads, “Southwestern fare made daily from scratch with healthful ingredients. The menu features a variety of items, many with offbeat names, like a burrito called ‘Joey Bag of Donuts,’ a taco named ‘The Full Monty’ and a fajita called ‘Fat Sam.’”

In addition to the Hot Concept of the Year award, Nation’s Restaurant News also rewards a Hot Again winner. This year’s recipient is another Georgia-based company, Huddle House, based in Scottsdale, Georgia. The 366-unit chain is celebrating its 40th anniversary. Some of the other Hot Concept winners include Fox Sports Grill and New Orleans favorite, Crescent City.

About Moe’s Southwest Grill
Moe’s Southwest Grill offers fun, fresh, southwest cuisine with a healthy twist. The Atlanta-based company was founded by Martin Sprock in December 2000 and currently has 118 restaurants in operation. Sprock, a runner-up in the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year, successfully launched Planet Smoothie in 1995 and currently has more than 130 stores in 22 states. His latest concept, a quick casual Pan-Asian restaurant called Mama Fu’s opened early June in Atlanta and has 205 units sold. Greeted with a trademark "Welcome to Moe's" cheer that sets the tone for a lighthearted experience in each store, Moe's is quickly becoming the southwest concept to watch with a total of 700 more Franchise units scheduled for 38 states.