I Heart Mac and Cheese and More - NYI Heart Mac and Cheese and More

The vendor opportunity at I Heart Mac and Cheese

I Heart Mac and Cheese and More - NYI Heart Mac and Cheese and More is a quick-service restaurant concept headquartered in Florida and part of Mac and Cheese Franchise Group, LLC. According to its 2023 Franchise Disclosure Document, the system comprises 34 total units—33 franchised and 1 company-owned—with a year-over-year unit growth rate of 83.3%. That rapid expansion signals an organization in scaling mode, where new technology needs often emerge. For software vendors, the addressable market is small but concentrated: 34 locations under a single franchisor with centralized purchasing signals.

The franchise operates across at least five states, with the largest footprints in Florida (2 units) and one unit each in Oklahoma, Arizona, Nevada, and Texas. All seven mapped operators are single-unit franchisees, meaning no multi-unit operators currently exist in the system. This structure reinforces HQ’s role as the primary gatekeeper for technology decisions.

Who controls software purchasing

The 2023 FDD lists five executives in Item 1, providing a clear map of the buying center. Stephen Giordanella serves as Chief Executive Officer. Kevin D. Ayers holds the role of Vice President and General Counsel, a title that often intersects with software contract review and data compliance. Joseph Amodio is Vice President of Franchise Development, a position likely involved in tools that support franchise sales and onboarding. Delia Valles is Director of Finance, and Carlos “Max” Gonzalez is Director of Operations—both roles that typically influence operational and financial software selection.

With no multi-unit franchisees and a franchisor that mandates specific technology, the decision-making authority sits squarely at headquarters. Vendors should direct outreach toward the CEO and VP of Franchise Development as initial entry points, with Finance and Operations directors as key stakeholders in evaluation.

Mandated and current tech stack

The FDD mandates two categories of technology: a Proprietary Software Program and scheduling software. The specific vendor names behind these mandates are not disclosed in the 2023 filing, which is common when franchisors use internally developed or white-labeled systems. For software vendors, this presents both a challenge and an opportunity. If the proprietary program covers core functions like POS, inventory, or reporting, displacing it may require a strong ROI case. Scheduling software, however, is a category with many competitive alternatives, and a mandated but unnamed system could be ripe for replacement if franchisee satisfaction is low.

No other mandated or recommended technology vendors are named in the available data. Vendors selling adjacent solutions—such as loyalty, delivery integration, HR, or accounting—should note the absence of mandates in those areas, which may indicate an open field for adoption at the unit or HQ level.

Procurement, renewals, and timing

The 2023 FDD does not include an Item 8 extract, so the formal procurement model—whether designated supplier, approved supplier, or open—is not publicly known. Similarly, Item 17 contains no renewal or term-length disclosures, leaving contract windows opaque. However, the system’s 83.3% unit growth rate and recent FDD filing suggest an organization actively building infrastructure. Rapid expansion often strains existing systems, creating natural openings for vendors who can demonstrate scalability and ease of deployment across new locations.

With a 5.0% royalty rate and a parent company structure under Mac and Cheese Franchise Group, LLC, the franchisor likely keeps a close eye on unit-level costs. Vendors who can tie their pitch to operational savings or revenue uplift will align with that incentive.

How to read the I Heart Mac and Cheese FDD

The 2023 FDD is embedded below for full reference. It contains the legal and operational disclosures filed with state franchise regulators, including the executive team, unit count, mandated technology, and financial performance representations (if any). For software vendors, the most actionable sections are Item 1 (the officers), Item 11 (franchisor’s assistance and mandated systems), and Item 20 (outlet summary). Average unit volume is not disclosed in the most recent FDD, so vendors should rely on unit count and growth rate as primary sizing metrics. For a ranked target list of franchise systems matched to your software category, FranCloud can help.