Fuelled by an average annual sales growth of 10 per cent, patty company Juici will open its 63rd franchise location in the newly constructed Hungway Shopping Mall in Portmore Pines later this month.

The new franchise operation marks the second location in Portmore, St Catherine; the first was set up at the Port Henderson Plaza. Both franchise locations are being operated by businessman Richard Mullings.

“We’re very excited about this new venture. We have high hopes because of the location. It’s located in what we call the new Portmore, where we have quite a few business establishments around us and residential developments, and based on this fact, we’re expecting robust business,” Mullings said in a news release for the company.

Mullings declined to respond to questions fielded by the Jamaica Observer on the overall investment in the new location but said the hope is that there will be a positive return on the investment made within a year.

The opening of Juici Patties in Hungway Mall is scheduled to take place on August 31, 2024, further cementing the company’s status as the country’s largest franchise network. However, Mullings has promised that there is more to come.

“We are always looking for new opportunities to expand our reach and further serve our people. Once the opportunity becomes available, we will assess it to see its viability,” he told the BusinessWeek.

Like other Juici Patties franchise locations, the Hungway Shopping Mall operation will offer its signature patties among other dishes, including a traditional Jamaican breakfast menu, fried chicken, and an array of lunch and dinner options.

The patty company has been rapidly expanding in Jamaica and recently in the United States, owing to what Mullings says is continuous investment in new equipment and machinery to improve the brand’s consistency, quality, and efficiency to deliver “the best possible value” to customers.

“We have seen an average overall growth of over 10 per cent every year for the past few years. As we expand our menu offerings, we have seen even more growth in those other menu items, such as our fried chicken, jerk chicken, and traditional Jamaican cooked lunches,” he said.

In recent years, the company is said to have expanded its production facility locally, invested in the development and training of its team, and has also been steaming ahead outside of Jamaica’s shores.

“We have also seen growth in our export market throughout the Caribbean, as well as expansion into the US market,” he said.

Earlier this year, the company disclosed plans to build out 50 franchise operations in the United States, some of which are timed for opening as far as 2028.

So far, Juici Patties has signed 40 franchise agreements in the US after receiving what it has termed “overwhelming demand” following the opening of its first franchise location in Hollywood, Florida.

The store made record sales on opening day of some 5,000 patties and has since averaged 3,000 patties per day.

“We are thrilled to expand our reach together and continue to provide exceptional experiences for our guests in our restaurants. This expansion is not only a testament to our continued growth but also to our dedication to serving Jamaica,” Juici Patties Director Alyssa Chin said.