Nathan's Famous, Inc. is teaming up with Ghost Kitchen Brands to drive expansion with goals to open 60 non-traditional U.S. locations and 40 stores in Canada by year's end.

Many of the locations will reside within Walmart stores, with some providing seating and all offering carry-out and third-party delivery, according to a press release. Ghost Kitchen Brands has a portfolio of over 20-plus brands and each kitchen prepares branded products like a one-stop food court for walk-ins or third-party delivery customers.

The news comes on the heels of Nathan's Famous announcing a virtual kitchen brand called Wings of New York.

"We're excited to continue our expansion across the US and Canada, and this partnership with Ghost Kitchen Brands grows our footprint even more," James Walker, Nathan's senior vice president, restaurants, said in the release. "We look forward to beginning this journey with GKB in their current kitchens and cities, with hopes of continued expansion over the coming years."

Ghost Kitchen Brands will sell Nathan's Famous menu as well as Wings of New York, with plans to grow up to 150 new locations by next year, according to the release.

"We are thrilled to partner with Nathan's Famous, an iconic brand synonymous with American tradition and the flavor of New York," George Kottas, founder and CEO of Ghost Kitchen Brands, said in the release. "As we continue to grow and reinvent the restaurant industry with our unique restaurant concept, we take pride in helping iconic brands scale to reach and serve more customers, allowing customizations and combinations with other brands, all in the convenience of one order."

Nathan's is a Russell 2000 company that distributes products in 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, and 14 foreign countries.

Last year, over 700 million Nathan's Famous hot dogs were sold.

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