Expansion momentum Potbelly is actively expanding with multiple new store openings in 2026 across Florida, Georgia, and Virginia, including non-traditional and high-traffic locations like military bases, presenting opportunities to offer franchising partnerships, co-branding, or regional supply deals tied to new openings.

Military & high-traffic focus Strategic growth on military installations and other high-traffic settings signals potential sales opportunities for catering, bulk meal programs, and on-base or corporate campus partnerships, as well as targeted marketing collaborations with base commissaries and facility managers.

Menu innovation leverage New product launches such as the English Toffee Shake indicate appetite for limited-time offers; sales teams can propose localized menu partnerships, seasonal promotions, and cross-sell campaigns with distributors to boost average order value at new and existing shops.

Franchise & culture signals Recognitions as a top franchise culture and fast-growing brand enhance credibility for franchise development deals, supplier negotiations, and enterprise partnerships; consider outreach to franchise-centric service providers and regional developers seeking strong franchise brands.

Technology-enabled ops Adoption of analytics and operations tools (Databricks, BigQuery, NetSuite, etc.) suggests readiness for data-driven partnerships; propose B2B collaborations around loyalty program enhancement, centralized procurement, and vendor-managed inventory to improve store-level efficiency and sales uplift.