Crave
Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ is a US fast-casual restaurant franchisor founded in 2018, selling Brick & Mortar, Walmart Express, and Food Truck franchise units serving all-beef hot dogs and BBQ to families and casual diners nationwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersNew York, United States
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Crave does
Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ is a US fast-casual restaurant franchisor founded in 2018 by Samantha and Sal Rincione and headquartered on Long Island, New York. The company sells a multi-format franchise system built around an all-beef hot dog and BBQ menu, offering three distinct unit types: full-service Brick & Mortar restaurants (800-1,500 SQFT, $45,000 franchise fee), Express kiosks inside Walmart stores ($45,000 fee, under a master tenant agreement), and Food Trucks ($30,000 fee, lower capital requirements). The operating technology stack is assembled from third-party platforms rather than proprietary AI: Applova and Apptizer power online ordering, DoorDash and EZCater handle delivery and catering, Roaming Hunger and FoodTruck Pub support food truck bookings, Untappd tracks beer selection, and ActiveBooker manages ax throwing lane reservations at select locations. An iOS mobile app provides a rewards program and a Secret Menu feature to drive repeat visits.
The revenue model combines upfront franchise fees ($30,000-$45,000 per new unit), undisclosed ongoing royalties, marketing fund contributions, and direct food and beverage revenue at franchised locations. The company targets two primary customer segments: prospective franchisees and multi-unit operators (who must meet net worth thresholds of $150K-$1M+ and credit score minimums of 700-720+), and end consumers comprising families and casual diners seeking affordable, entertainment-adjacent dining. Geographic reach spans approximately 30 US states with a target of 12-15 new unit openings annually and an active pipeline approaching 100 locations. The company has no disclosed institutional funding, operates with a lean 1-10 person corporate team, and is currently subject to a Minnesota regulatory dispute over credit card surcharge practices.
Crave firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Crave
- Legal name
- Crave Hot Dogs & Barbecue
- Website
- https://iwantcrave.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ is a US fast-casual restaurant franchisor founded in 2018, selling Brick & Mortar, Walmart Express, and Food Truck franchise units serving all-beef hot dogs and BBQ to families and casual diners nationwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Crave is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- New York
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Crave business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Operations, Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Franchise Fees: One-time franchise fees for opening new locations: Brick & Mortar $45,000, Express (Walmart) $45,000, Food Truck $30,000. These fees are charged upfront upon signing franchise agreements.
- Royalty/Ongoing Franchise Fees: Franchisees pay ongoing royalty fees as part of their franchise agreement, though specific percentages are not publicly disclosed on the website.
- Restaurant Food & Beverage Sales: Revenue from direct customer purchases at brick-and-mortar locations, food trucks, and Express (Walmart) locations. Menu items include all-beef hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, mac & cheese bowls, wings, and sides, with beer and beverage sales contributing additional revenue.
- Catering Services: Crave offers catering for events including buffet platters, party platters, family packs, boxed lunches/dinners, and football kickoff packages. Available across all format types (Brick & Mortar, Express, Food Truck).
- Delivery & Third-Party Platform Fees: Revenue from third-party delivery platforms including DoorDash, Roaming Hunger, and FoodTruck Pub. Take-rate/commission costs are absorbed as part of the delivery model.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Brick & Mortar Franchise |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Express (Walmart) Franchise |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Food Truck Franchise |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Restaurant Menu Pricing |
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels11 records
Crave product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ operates a fast casual restaurant franchise featuring all-beef hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, mac & cheese bowls, wings, and craft beer across three formats: Brick & Mortar restaurants (800-1,500 SQFT), Express kiosks inside Walmart stores, and mobile Food Trucks. The franchise generates revenue through one-time franchise fees ($30,000-$45,000), ongoing royalties, and supports franchisees with 25 hours of classroom training plus 80 hours of on-the-job training, real estate assistance, and marketing support.
Product overview
Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ is a fast casual restaurant franchise established in 2018, operating a multi-format business model consisting of three core products: Brick & Mortar full-service restaurants (800-1500 SQFT with self-pour beer walls and optional ax throwing), Food Trucks for mobile operations and catering, and Express locations within Walmart stores. The company also offers catering services, a mobile app with secret menu and rewards program, and self-pour beer wall technology across locations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Crave Express: Walmart-based Express format locations offering streamlined menu options
- Crave Food Truck
- Crave Brick & Mortar
- Crave Catering
Products and services
- Crave Brick & Mortar Franchise Full-service fast casual restaurant franchise featuring all-beef hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, mac & cheese bowls, wings, and self-serve beer walls. Standard locations include 800-1,500 SQFT with options for drive-thru and patio seating. Franchise fee $45,000.
- Crave Express (Walmart) Franchise Compact express-format kiosk franchise operating inside Walmart stores, serving a streamlined menu of hot dogs and BBQ items with catering capabilities. Franchise fee $45,000, Crave signs master tenant agreement with Walmart.
- Crave Food Truck Franchise Mobile food truck franchise serving hot dogs and BBQ at events, private bookings, and public locations. Lower investment entry point at $30,000 franchise fee with $75,000 liquid cash requirement and valid drivers license.
- Crave Catering Services Off-site catering for corporate events, parties, birthday gatherings, office lunches, and weekend events. Options include buffet platters, party platters, family packs, boxed meals, and football kickoff packages with optional wait staff. Available across all format types.
Quantifiable outcome
- Top 13 Fast Casual Movers & Shakers list (2022), up from #20 in 2021 — 7-spot improvement in rankings
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Crave
Customer profileNamed customers4 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Crave technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration7 records
Feature4 records
Crave partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- WalmartcoreCrave signed a master tenant agreement with Walmart to open Express-format locations inside Walmart stores nationwide. This enables rapid expansion with built-in foot traffic in high-visibility retail locations. The agreement positions Crave as the preferred food venue for Walmart shoppers.
- Every Bud's PlaceminorEvery Bud's Place nationwide will include a Crave Restaurant as their food venue of choice. This cross-promotional partnership positions Crave as the exclusive food provider within Bud's Place entertainment venues.
- Applova / ApptizercoreCrave uses Applova and Apptizer platforms to power online ordering for restaurants and food trucks. The ordernow.applova.io and ordernow.apptizer.io platforms enable customers to browse menus, place orders, and pay ahead for pickup.
- DoorDashcoreDoorDash serves as the primary third-party delivery partner for Crave Express locations (New Philadelphia OH, Uvalde TX) and select Brick & Mortar locations. Enables delivery convenience for customers ordering via the DoorDash platform.
- Roaming HungerminorRoaming Hunger is a food truck ordering platform used by Crave food trucks in Fayetteville NC, Morristown TN, Midlands SC, Stafford VA, Leesburg GA, and Chandler AZ for event bookings and online ordering.
- EZCaterminorEZCater is used by Crave locations (New Philadelphia OH, Queensbury NY, Kings Mountain NC) as a catering ordering and management platform, enabling corporate and event catering orders.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves2 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Crave competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dickey's Barbecue Pit: The largest BBQ franchise in the U.S., operating hundreds of locations with a comparable franchise-led growth model, menu positioning around brisket and smoked meats, and multi-unit franchisee recruitment strategy.
- Sonny's BBQ: Established BBQ franchise with dine-in and catering focus, directly comparable to Crave's Brick & Mortar and catering offerings across similar customer segments.
- Mission BBQ: Fast-growing BBQ franchise with a strong brand identity and multi-unit franchise model targeting family and casual diners, overlapping Crave's target customer profile.
- Wayback Burgers: Multi-format franchise burger brand with brick-and-mortar and non-traditional formats, comparable franchise fee structure, and aggressive U.S. franchise expansion playbook.
- Portillo's: Hot dog-focused fast casual brand with company-owned and franchised growth, directly comparable to Crave's all-beef hot dog core offering and family casual diner positioning.
- Beef 'O' Brady's: Family sports pub franchise with a similar franchise-led growth model, multi-unit operator recruitment, and family-friendly casual dining positioning.
Broad incumbents
- Famous Dave's: Public BBQ concept with both company-owned and franchised locations, catering, and a broader menu. A larger incumbent operating in the same category as Crave's BBQ line.
- Fatburger: International franchise fast casual burger brand with multi-format locations including non-traditional, comparable in franchise model and multi-unit expansion approach.
- Wingstop: Large fast casual franchise brand demonstrating the trajectory a multi-unit, franchise-led chicken concept can achieve, relevant as a comparable scaling benchmark for Crave's system growth.
Emerging players
- PDQ: Fast casual chicken concept with a comparable franchise growth strategy and limited-service restaurant positioning in the same competitive set as Crave.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Crave social profiles
Digital presenceCrave compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Crave financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Crave leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Crave funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Crave M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Crave
What does Crave do?
Crave Hot Dogs & BBQ operates a fast casual restaurant franchise featuring all-beef hot dogs, BBQ sandwiches, mac & cheese bowls, wings, and craft beer across three formats: Brick & Mortar restaurants (800-1,500 SQFT), Express kiosks inside Walmart stores, and mobile Food Trucks. The franchise generates revenue through one-time franchise fees ($30,000-$45,000), ongoing royalties, and supports franchisees with 25 hours of classroom training plus 80 hours of on-the-job training, real estate assistance, and marketing support.
Is Crave a public or private company?
Crave is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Crave founded?
Crave was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Crave based?
Crave is headquartered in New York, United States, in the North America region.
How does Crave make money?
Five revenue lines are on record. Franchise Fees are the primary driver. The others are royalty/Ongoing Franchise Fees, restaurant Food & Beverage Sales, catering Services and delivery & Third-Party Platform Fees.
Who are Crave's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dickey's Barbecue Pit, Sonny's BBQ, Mission BBQ, Wayback Burgers, Portillo's and Beef 'O' Brady's. Broad incumbents are Famous Dave's, Fatburger and Wingstop. PDQ is listed as an emerging player.
Does Crave have an API?
No public API is recorded for Crave.