Newk’s Eatery closed 2025 with 10 new franchise deals and 5 new locations, exceeding growth targets.

Newk’s Eatery ended 2025 with 10 new franchise deals and five new locations, expanding into Pascagoula, MS, Statesboro, GA, Mandeville, LA, and Wichita, KS, including a campus location at the University of Georgia. The chain surpassed its development goals, boosted by the return of Chris Cheek as Chief Development Officer, a shift to TV and connected TV advertising, and the July launch of its “Pick Three” menu. Off-premise sales rose, loyalty sign-ups increased, and operational upgrades included a new cloud-based POS system and customer feedback platform. Newk’s was ranked No. 25 on the Fast Casual Top 100 Movers & Shakers list, with CEO Frank Paci projecting over 15 new development commitments in 2026.