Island Fin Poke to bring 20 locations to West Florida

Over the next three years, the build-your-own poke bowl brand will strengthen its U.S. presence.

Island Fin Poke, an emerging F&B brand with 10 locations across five states, has announced development plans to bring 20 new restaurants to the West Florida region over the next three years.

This news comes off the back of a recent partnership between Island Fin Poke and Matthew McNulty, who is the managing partner of Pelagic Hospitality Group; the brand’s area representative for the West Florida market. McNulty brings 25 years of business experience to this new partnership, having began his career on Wall Street before transitioning to operational and strategy consulting.

“As a St. Petersburg native, I am so excited to help Island Fin Poke grow in the area,” said McNulty. “I think that poke is such an underserved segment in the quick-service restaurant market; it’s a unique menu with plenty of healthy and fresh options. The people here will definitely enjoy what Island Fin Poke has to offer.”

Of the 20 planned locations in West Florida, Island Fin Poke already has commitments from local franchisees for nine. These include areas like St. Petersburg, Sarasota, and Tampa.

“Mark [Setterington, co-founder] was a huge reason why we decided to join Island Fin Poke,” said McNulty. “The guest experience is his number one priority and he makes sure that every franchise owner understands that and lives by it. Having a business partner like Mark who embodies these principles and does everything to make sure that each guest has a warm and interactive experience is so important. When you walk through the doors of an Island Fin Poke, you can expect to be welcomed right into the ohana.”