Flunch is a French fast casual restaurant chain, owned by the Agapes Restauration group.
Contents |
The first Flunch branch opened in the Englos shopping centre on the outskirts of Lille in 1971. There are currently around 200 outlets in France, over 50 of which are operated on a franchise basis.
The Flunch concept is somewhat comparable to the Sizzler group of restaurants in the United States, in that the majority of the company's restaurants are located in out-of-town shopping centres or as part of motorway service areas. The chain serves 60 million customers a year according to their corporate website.
Flunch restaurants are operated on a self-service basis, where customers select their food and proceed to a checkout where any items are paid for prior to their consumption. Specific hot meals, namely cooked meats, are prepared to order in front of the customer at 'la grille', which is the part of the 'Flunch experience' the chain is known for.
Agapes Restauration have opened Flunch outlets in Spain, Portugal, Italy, Poland and Russia.
The word 'flunch' is a portmanteau of 'fast' and 'lunch'; it has become part of French slang, coining the verb, 'fluncher'.