A seasoned multi-brand franchise operator will lead Hawaiian Bros’ expansion into Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa and Orlando over the next six years.
- Hawaiian Bros Island Grill partners with Southern Rock for a 52-unit expansion in Florida.
- Southern Rock led by CEO Max Piet to develop restaurants in Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa, and Orlando.
- Menu features include fresh, no-freezer meals with Hawaiian-inspired plate lunches.
Hawaiian Bros Island Grill is bringing its island-inspired plate lunches to Florida through a 52-unit development agreement with Southern Rock Restaurants, LLC and Southern Rock Hawaii, LLC. The agreement calls for restaurants across Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tampa and Orlando over the next six years, with 24 locations planned during the first three. The deal marks the fast-casual chain’s entry into Florida and ranks among its largest development commitments to date.
Southern Rock CEO Max Piet will lead the expansion. Piet and his team currently operate nearly 200 restaurants as franchisees of McAlister’s Deli and Dave’s Hot Chicken across 13 states. Their experience managing a substantial multi-brand restaurant portfolio gives the group an established operational foundation as it prepares to introduce Hawaiian Bros to new Florida customers.
The brand’s menu centers on Hawaiian-style plate lunches featuring chicken or pork with sweet, savory or spicy sauces, served with steamed white rice and macaroni salad or vegetables. Hawaiian Bros keeps its kitchen model deliberately simple, preparing food without freezers, fryers or microwaves. The company says this approach supports consistency, operational efficiency and a focus on freshly prepared ingredients, offering a clear operating model as the restaurant network grows.
Grant Kreutzer, senior vice president of franchise development at Hawaiian Bros, said Southern Rock’s knowledge of Florida and its experience operating restaurants at scale made the group a strong fit for the brand’s expansion. Since launching in 2018, Hawaiian Bros has grown to more than 80 restaurants across 14 states and has additional development agreements covering more than 350 restaurants across 20 states and over 75 markets. The Florida agreement adds another substantial commitment to that pipeline, although specific opening dates and individual restaurant addresses have not yet been announced.
As restaurant groups expand across multiple markets, tracking financial performance becomes increasingly important to evaluating growth and supporting informed decisions. The Financial Reporting feature available through Gorilla Dash can help franchise businesses organize financial data and review performance across locations. For operators managing a growing portfolio, consistent reporting can provide useful visibility as new restaurants move from development plans to day-to-day operations.
Key Facts:
| Development Agreement | Hawaiian Bros signs a 52-unit development deal with Southern Rock, marking entry into Florida. |
|---|---|
| Southern Rock Leadership | Led by Max Piet, Southern Rock plans to establish 52 restaurants in major Florida cities over six years. |
| Culinary Offering | Hawaiian Bros’ menu focuses on fresh, simple meals with no freezers, fryers, or microwaves. |
| Current Operations | Southern Rock operates nearly 200 other franchise restaurants across 13 states. |
| Hawaiian Bros Growth | From over 80 locations, the chain plans more than 350 additional restaurants across 20 states. |
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