Franchise Updates
YOU SHOULD BUY A HEALTHY FOOD FRANCHISE IN 2021: HERE’S WHY
If you’ve ever wanted to get into the restaurant industry, this is the right time to do it. The economy is opening up and the pent-up demand for eating out is about to hit the sector. But instead of building an independent restaurant from scratch or being part of a casual fast-food chain, your best bet might be to buy a healthy food franchise. After more than a year in suspended animation, the economy is getting back on track. There was a pause in customers’ engagements with their usual restaurant brands. Now they’re willing to try out new names. This is the best time to start your entrepreneurial journey as customers would be looking to try out new products and formats of services. Let’s pause for a second here. Who’s the ‘you’ in the sentence? Who does this apply for? You should consider buying a healthy food franchise if you are a: ‘Food’ entrepreneur: You’ve always wanted to be in the restaurant industry. You love cooking and serving food. You know all the celebrity chefs and watch all the cooking shows on television. Your social media feed has more than its share of food-related posts.You probably ran a restaurant at some point. Now you’re looking for a concept that’s proven and growing. No matter what, you can’t think of being in any other industry. ‘Non-restaurant’ entrepreneur: You believe entrepreneurship is the way to go. You’re not sure what industry or sector to get into but you’re sure that it’s time to start something on your own. You’ve been looking at viable opportunities and have done your research on at least one. Although you don’t have any experience in the restaurant industry, you know the potential of the sector and you are a fast learner. Business owner: You already run a business, typically, a small-scale, neighborhood venture. It could be a grocery, an office supplies store, or a bookshop. Maybe you’re looking for something with steady growth potential or something that’s immune from the e-commerce competition.You probably have your own commercial space or have ready access to it. You know how to get the necessary approvals and can hire people fast. All you want is a viable idea. If you’re from the restaurant sector, what you need is a future-proof concept. You need something that doesn’t have the usual risks associated with the sector and is in sync with the market demands. Plus, one that doesn’t require any wasted spending. If you’ve never considered the food business, a healthy food franchise is a highly viable opportunity. Amidst all the talk about startups, what we tend to forget is that a business ultimately has to find customers, get consistent revenue, and be stable. A healthy food franchise does all of that. It checks all the boxes. WHY HEALTHY FOOD FRANCHISES ARE THE FUTURE As Americans flock to find their new favorite restaurants, the focus will be different this time around. They won’t be blindly patronizing the typical fast-food chains or drive-throughs. They’ll be looking at healthier choices, and restaurants that are not synonymous with healthy food won’t be their priority anymore. The pandemic was the biggest disruptor in the last half a century or more. It brought to a halt all economic and commercial activities and confined us to our homes. In a way, that gave us time to assess our lifestyles. As normalcy returns, people will be looking at alternatives to their previous choices. Eating healthy will be prime among them. But is the pandemic the only reason for people discovering healthy food choices? Is it another trend that’ll go away within a year or so? Should one make a life-changing decision like buying a healthy food franchise based on a fleeting trend? Eating healthy isn’t a trend that people have suddenly discovered. And the pandemic isn’t the only trigger for the growth in the industry. It’s the result of several factors compounding over the years. Let’s take a deep dive to discover why healthy eating is here to stay. OFFSETTING PANDEMIC INERTIA Let’s admit it, the pandemic made us all passive. Work from home meant that there was a substantial reduction in our physical activity. We didn’t have to drive, didn’t have to walk to meetings or the pantry, and didn’t have to take the stairs. Importantly, we couldn’t head to the gym or go for a walk in the park. We were glued to the chair or the couch. Either we were working or binge-watching shows on television or our computers. It also meant that we could snack at any time without fear of being judged by our colleagues. Whether we were at our desk or on the couch, we could afford to eat whatever we wanted. Barring a select, disciplined few, there was not much physical activity, exercise, or healthy eating for the vast majority of us. And now there’s a realization that things have to change. People know that they’ve got to put an end to the unhealthy and sedentary lifestyle they’ve pursued over the last 18 months or so. So, when they step out, they might consider moving away from the usual calorie-ridden fast-food staples and opt for something healthy. INCREASING HEALTH AWARENESS Whether or not they prefer to eat healthily, people are aware of the consequences of unhealthy food. Most people know that there are healthier options that are superior to the mass-produced ones they’ve been consuming. The pandemic has also revealed the problems of obesity that arise from carb-filled diets. Consumers are now aware of the need for a healthy lifestyle that builds immunity. The age-old junk food recipe of fast-food chains will still find takers but there’ll be a perceptible demand for food that’s good for the individual and the local economy. There’s increased demand for everything from organic to locally sourced ingredients. Kombucha, agave, multigrain tortillas, and steel-cut oats may not have been well-known even a few years ago. But today, consumers are asking for such ingredients. Concepts such as plant-based meat, only in the fringes until even two or three years ago, are fully mainstream now. The trend is led by millennials, the largest consumer group in the United States. According to some surveys, 30% of them prefer to eat organic, while the demand for gluten-free or low-carb options is steadily growing. Consumers are also mindful of where their food is sourced from and its carbon footprint. Locally sourced food that supports the local economy and independent farmers is preferred over others. Sustainability is also of the utmost importance to this new breed of consumers who don’t mind spending extra for ethically sourced food. Women are at the forefront of choosing healthful foods that are low-calorie and low-fat. Their behavioral and buying intentions are more pronounced than those of men. Since women play a significant role in where a family gets to eat, this will be good news for healthy food franchises. MEDIA EXPOSURE One of the biggest drivers towards healthy eating has been cooking shows and their celebrity chefs on television. Until a few years ago, visual appeal and taste were the primary features to judge the food. But the various food shows have changed those yardsticks. Now there’s an increasing focus on how healthy what’s on the plate is. There has also been an explosion of ‘healthy celebrity’ chefs with massive followings on social media. This moved healthy food options from the periphery to the mainstream. Ingredients that were otherwise considered too offbeat, like kale, quinoa, or asparagus, are now in the spotlight due to the efforts of these chefs. It also made healthy food tastier. The earlier assumption was that if the food was healthy, it certainly wouldn’t be appetizing. The cooking shows and the Instagram feeds of these celebrity chefs have changed that notion. People now know that they can have food that’s organic, gluten-free, nutritious, sustainable, and tasty. With the normalization of healthy food, there’s increasing peer pressure to opt for healthier diets. When all their friends and colleagues start posting about superfood smoothies and juice cleanses, there’s a social endorsement for healthy eating. That makes it easy to suggest a healthy food franchise when eating out. It also encourages people to post their healthful food on social media which creates a virtuous cycle. WHY YOU SHOULD BUY A HEALTH FOOD FRANCHISE INSTEAD OF STARTING AN INDEPENDENT RESTAURANT As we’ve seen, there’s a demonstrable move towards healthier diets and healthy foods. If you’re an entrepreneur, it’s the right space to get into. But some of you might wonder why you’ve to buy a franchise. What’s wrong with building one from scratch? After all, buying a franchise is joining a business, as opposed to starting something, right? Plus, when you build a restaurant, you get the chance to name it and make it yours. So, why buy a health food franchise? SAFER INVESTMENT Starting something entails a significant amount of risk. Setting up the restaurant means investing in a place, getting all the necessary equipment, finding the right staff, and then creating a viable menu. Even with all that, there’s no guarantee that customers will flock to your place. When you buy a proven healthy food franchise, you’re minimizing your risk. The concept has already been successful in other markets which means that so you don’t have to start from scratch. That business model will show you where you have to focus and where you don’t have to splurge. PROVEN MENU If you’re starting an independent health food restaurant, you’ll have to spend a significant amount of time coming up with the right menu that has the right value proposition. It’ll have to be different and in sync with customer expectations. Also, it can’t be merely trendy as the initial interest may go down soon. As a restaurant entrepreneur, you may have to experiment for months until you find a functional and profitable selection. With a healthy food franchise, you’re getting a menu that customers already like. The experimentation and optimization have already been done. COST AND TIME SAVINGS Every new business needs to attract customers and the products may not be enough to entice them. When launching an independent restaurant, since there’s little brand equity or awareness, you’ll have to spend on the ambiance and interior decoration. Other than the expected costs, you’ll also be wasting time on this front. When you buy a health food franchise, you’re also buying a proven format. There’s no need to needlessly spend on infrastructure or interiors. You only have to repeat what has already worked elsewhere. This saves you money and time. MULTIPLE REVENUE STREAMS Building a restaurant from scratch means focusing on one thing until it works. Most fast-casual dining establishments are geared toward increasing walk-ins with delivery as an afterthought. This reliance on a single revenue source can be risky and limiting to growth. Depending on the franchise you buy, you may get one with several revenue streams. If the walk-ins are slow for some reason, you can always turn to other sources to maintain your revenue. Some established brands are also good at catering. All these translate to steady and growing revenue, which is something every business needs. BUILT-IN BRAND EQUITY Any product or service needs to be advertised to get people interested. If you’re launching an independent restaurant, you’ll have to spend on marketing to influence and persuade customers. So, you’ll have to start from scratch and think of a unique brand name. Then you’ll have to pay an advertising or design agency to design the logo, menu, signboards, staff uniform, and all other marketing collateral. As anyone who’s ever been involved in the launch of a product or service will tell you, all these will take time. Once you finalize a name, logo, and other design elements, it’ll be time to market your brand. You may have to create and release newspaper ads, billboards, leaflets, and even go for paid promotion on newspapers or find an influencer on social media. You may also have to do public relations through food bloggers or restaurant critics. Along with that, you’ll have to hire a digital marketing agency. Then it’s time to create a website, run a digital marketing campaign with paid ads, and work on your local search engine optimization (SEO) strategies. Of course, then comes the important task of building social media profiles and getting followers. All these will require consistent investments. Even with the best digital marketing strategies, your social media pages and website will need some time to gain traction. Remember that you’ll have to pay the advertising or digital marketing agency on top of the media costs involved with the campaigns. If marketing is new territory for you, it would be sensible to hire someone who’s experienced. That too will cost money. There’s something else that most entrepreneurs forget about digital marketing and social media in particular. It’s that creating assets can also be expensive and time-consuming. For example, you’ll have to hire a professional photographer or videographer to take pictures and videos of the food, the restaurant, your staff, etc. for your social media pages. One of the greatest advantages of buying an established healthy food franchise is that you don’t have to do most of the above. The brand would – or rather should – be well-known and hence there won’t be any need to advertise it. Aside from the savings, this means that you can launch faster. You’ll also save time that you’d otherwise have spent on designing your collateral and getting your digital assets in order. The healthy food brand would have a website and social media presence. Some of them even have thousands of followers on Instagram which will make your task exponentially easy. You won’t have to start your follower count from zero and rely on paid promotion for visibility. Your business already would’ve followers. Once the brand mentions your new location, those followers who’re in your vicinity would be excited to know more about you. Plus, there’s no need to spend time and money taking photographs and videos. The brand’s existing digital marketing team would be glad to assist you with those. CHOOSE WELL AND START YOUR HEALTHY FOOD FRANCHISE JOURNEY It makes immense sense to buy a healthy food franchise to minimize your risk and maximize your returns. What you want is a growing brand with a proven business model and credible social media presence, like Toastique. Along with the exceptionally high returns, multiple revenue streams, and the lean model, what the brand also offers is a network spearheaded by the Founders to help new Franchise Owners. Plus, Franchise Owners will have exclusivity on their zones to avoid needless competition that’ll erode the brand equity and drive down prices. To know more about this immensely profitable opportunity, please visit our franchise website for more information. Like us on Facebook. Follow us on Instagram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel. (Warning: May result in intense cravings- visit at your own risk!)
Learn more
WE’RE MUCH MORE THAN JUST A TOAST FRANCHISE! DISCOVER TOASTIQUE
After an exceptionally challenging year, the restaurant industry is finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel. Government benefits, rising employment, increasing disposable income, and the massive pent-up demand from the pandemic months are fueling this growth. For the industry, including toast franchises, things are about to look much better. Not all restaurants were affected the same way during the pandemic. Some sectors like breakfast franchises were able to weather the storm better than others. That’s due to the inherent advantages and efficiencies they offer through the adoption of technology. Quick service restaurants (QSRs), with digital ordering, takeaway-friendly menus, and strict adherence to hygiene protocols stand to benefit from the growth in the industry. Plus, formal dinner or fine-dining establishments will still have to wait for customers to feel confident about indoor dining. Franchises specializing in brunch or breakfast will have an advantage over other restaurants in this new reality. That doesn’t mean all breakfast franchises or QSRs will grow at the same level. Some have distinct differences that place them well above the rest. Toastique, for example, has not only made a mark among breakfast franchises but is also redefining fast-casual dining. It isn’t just a toast franchise; it’s an economical, consumer-friendly, and future-oriented concept that’s been proven in several markets. HOW TOASTIQUE IS DIFFERENT FROM THE REST The ordinary breakfast or brunch franchise specializes in speedy delivery of the same dishes. The focus is not on reimagining the menu, creatively approaching it, or making it healthy but churning out more and more of the same. Toastique is different because it has made the universally common toast a gourmet dish through exceptional creativity. GOURMET CREATIONS There’s toast and then there’s Toastique! Rather than the plain old boring kind of toast served as a side dish at most breakfast and brunch spots, Toastique offers creative renditions of the concept. Whether it’s the Greek version or the Avocado Smash, Toastique’s offerings are distinct and effortlessly appealing. The toasts are customizable gourmet creations served on wood cutting boards for added appeal. It’s not just the gourmet toasts that have got customers rallying behind the brand. The smoothies and acai bowls are unlike anything you’ll find at any ordinary casual dining or breakfast outlet. The fresh juices and toasts stand out from the crowd because of the attention to detail that has gone into them. RUSTIC & CHIC Think of any standard breakfast or brunch chain and you’ll think of the same interiors. Again, the focus is on familiarity and speed rather than creativity or character. This results in uninspiring and bland exteriors and interiors. Sophisticated design and interiors seem to be the monopoly of only fine dining businesses. Toastique destroys that cliche. Its interiors are rustic and chic. The aim is to deliver the ambiance of a boutique restaurant rather than a speedy brunch service. From the wood cutting boards to the color scheme inside, Toastique creates a brand experience that’s premium and refined but one that’s also affordable. HEALTHY MENU While before there was a discernible trend toward healthy eating, the pandemic has added pace to it. There’s widespread awareness of the dangers of unbalanced eating habits. Now the focus is on the consumption of wholesome and healthy food, especially, when ordering from outside. Toastique will gain from this consumer movement because the brand was created to fill that need gap. Toastique Founder Brianna Keefe, while in college, realized that almost all the breakfast or brunch restaurants were demonstrably unhealthy. She wanted to create a restaurant that would deliver healthy meals that could be made and consumed quickly. With Toastique, she proved that health, convenience, and speed could co-exist. Healthy cold-pressed juices, delicious and wholesome smoothies, and of course, creative toasts were what she came up with in reply to the prevailing unhealthy menus of major fast-food chains. And consumers flocked to her Washington, D.C. outlet for this unique and healthy combination. LOCALLY SOURCED More and more consumers are aware of the need for sustainable practices in the restaurant industry. They demand that the outlets serving them adhere to policies that will help the local economies in which they operate. The other fast-dining restaurant chains can’t meet those customer expectations as they have centralized procurement and distribution. Their focus is on uniformity rather than flexibility. In their efforts to offer standardized menus with little room for customization, there’s little room for local suppliers. But it’s different at Toastique. As the brand likes to say, no ingredient comes out of a package at Toastique. The Franchise Owners use locally sourced ingredients, ensuring that the brand is rooted in the place it operates. UNIVERSAL APPEAL This is a significant difference between Toastique and almost all fast-casual chains, whether they specialize in breakfast or dinner. The other chains are decidedly focused on a particular set of customers, whether it is families or working professionals. Toastique, because of its varied, wholesome menu and chic and rustic appeal, delights all customer groups. For those who go to health clubs, cold-pressed juices are an excellent post-workout option. For parents looking for a healthy and nutritious brunch for their kids, the brand offers delicious toasts. For those on a strict diet who still crave something sweet, açaí bowls are irresistible. CUSTOMER-FRIENDLY FORMAT The usual brunch outlets focus mostly on a dine-in format to accommodate as many families as possible. While this may have worked years ago, it’s not suited for the post-pandemic shifts in customer behaviors. There’s increasing demand for contactless interactions at restaurants. Due to credible fears about the spread of communicable diseases like COVID-19, customers want to limit their contact with large crowds. This doesn’t bode well for the traditional establishments. Toastique is poised to reap the benefits of this shift in consumer expectations. The brand has a grab-and-go format that benefits both delivery and takeout options. Plus, digital ordering has always been an option at Toastique that makes it the ideal candidate to serve the demands of a post-pandemic world. The format also ensures that consumers can fit their consumption into their routines. Someone coming from a workout can easily order a cold-pressed juice or smoothie and either enjoy it there or take it home. OWN A TOASTIQUE FRANCHISE Toastique is successfully disrupting the fast-casual breakfast and brunch industry with its unique and healthy menu, chic ambiance, and consumer-friendly formats. You too can become a Franchise Owner with an initial investment of $280,750 and gain from the brand’s popularity without spending anything on marketing. The brand’s clutter-breaking proposition and an exceptionally efficient business model also include multiple revenue streams including dine-in, takeout, delivery, and catering. Click here to learn how Toastique can help you become a successful entrepreneur in the fast-dining sector.
Learn more
WHICH BREAKFAST FRANCHISE IS SET TO BE THE FAN FAVORITE FOR 2021?
What does the landscape look like for restaurants in 2021? Now that the world has opened up a bit more, Americans can’t wait to head to their favorite eateries. After the past 18 months or so, all of us have been waiting to unshackle the restraints of remote work and social distancing. As we do that, breakfast and brunch franchises will top the list of destinations for many a family. It’s a uniquely satisfying experience. To order from or dine in at a breakfast or brunch franchise in the company of family or friends. It’s an excellent start to the day and a ritual for millions of people that had to be halted during the pandemic. Now that restrictions are being lifted around the nation, it’s time to hit our preferred spots again. But which ones? What are the breakfast and brunch franchises that stand out from the clutter? Which ones have stood the test of time and which ones are designed to meet the demands of tomorrow? Which ones have an irresistible combination of the right menu, distinct ambiance, and friendly format? To make it easy for you, we have selected the four brunch franchises that are already either household names or are about to be. Here are our picks for breakfast franchises that stand out as fan favorites every time. 4 BRUNCH FRANCHISES TO CHECK OUT IN 2021 1. TOASTIQUE Most brunch franchises approach toast as an afterthought that doesn’t need any imagination. Not the people at Toastique. They realized that the good old toast needed a reinvention. And they’ve done it…and how! The gourmet toasts you find at Toastique are unlike anything you’ll find elsewhere. It’s a modern and creative rendition that’s delicious and exceptionally appealing. But it isn’t just the appearance where Toastique scores. The menu is focused on the health-conscious consumer who doesn’t like to compromise. Cold-pressed juices and açaí bowls are only some of the reasons behind the brand’s growing popularity. The fact that they use only locally sourced ingredients places them rooted in the communities they serve. And of course, the chic, rustic feel of Toastique might make you think that you’re at a premium boutique outlet. The brunch franchise also has a grab-and-go format suited to the changing consumer demands of a post-COVID world. Customers are increasingly asking for non-crowded outlets that enable digital ordering and contact-less service. Since these are inbuilt into Toastique’s model, the brand hasn’t had to reorient its services. Toastique’s gourmet creations and chic decor have also made the brand exceptionally Instagrammable. Without any paid media or marketing during their first year in business, the brand managed to grow to over 6,000 followers on Instagram! Their health-focused power meals and all-natural smoothies are redefining the standard fast-casual dining in the brunch space and winning followers online. This crowd-sourced marketing and word-of-mouth have demonstrable impacts on the brand’s bottom line. In a highly challenging environment, Toastique’s first location in Washington DC earned over $1 million in its first year of operation. That’s a single outlet without any influencer marketing or media outreach. 2. IHOP Think pancakes and most people would quickly think of just one name. That’s because few things are as inherently American as a breakfast of pancakes at IHOP, or if you’re feeling fancy, the International House of Pancakes, which makes it a compulsory destination for millions of families nationwide. From the classic buttermilk pancakes to the Mexican trés leches, the brand has it all. What makes it exceedingly appealing and enduring is the simplicity with which IHOP approaches its menu. No needless tinkering, just a laser-sharp focus on providing dishes that answer their customers’ cravings. Breakfast at IHOP can be a feast for the entire family. It’s a remarkable experience and a distinctly American one at that. But it isn’t just the buttermilk pancakes and crepes that people like at IHOP. Their scrambled eggs, sausage links, smoked bacon strips, omelets, Belgian waffles, syrup caddy, and burritos and bowls are equally sumptuous. Like most brunch franchises (but not all), IHOP too was severely affected by the pandemic. The brand has had to reexamine its menu and delivery models. The IHOP ’N GO Family Feasts were the brand’s answer to customers’ reservations about dine-in. Still, if there’s one thing consumers know, it’s that pancakes and waffles don’t tend to travel well, leaving IHOP’s takeout and delivery strategy up in the air if we ever have to return to dine-in restrictions again. 3. WAFFLE HOUSE The whole world may be going health conscious but Waffle House knows what works for its patrons. And that is comfort food that has all the traditional charm and unrestrained love for an old-fashioned breakfast. Maybe that’s why they stick to the basics. If it has worked so well for so long, why unnecessarily change it? Why chase the calorie-conscious when the existing customers treat it as an indulgence? So, how well has it worked? Well, if your brand has over 2,100 locations, you bet it’s worked remarkably well. And everything is designed around, you guessed it, waffles. Every day you’ll find hundreds of thousands frequenting the brand for lunch and dinner but their breakfast is what most people remember them for. While there are hash browns, sausages, sandwiches, steak, and burgers, it’s waffles people seek. So, why do people frequent a brand that doesn’t care that much about health-conscious diets? Because it reminds Americans about an intrinsic part of their childhoods. It takes them back to a time when breakfast was simple, homemade, and delightfully traditional, and simple. Every day, people across the country head to their outlets to relive those wholesome moments. Waffle House, in that sense, is in the business of serving memories. However, due to growing concerns about how what we put into our bodies affects our overall health, Waffle House has become synonymous with one of America’s guilty pleasures, rather than as a viable, go-to option for frequent breakfast dining. 4. CRACKER BARREL Looking for a traditional Southern breakfast? Can’t go wrong with Cracker Barrel! Starting in Tennessee, the brand has now become a ubiquitous sight around highways, and a go-to destination for road-trippers and locals alike. Cracker Barrel’s decor can be best described as resembling an old-fashioned general store from the South. Rocking chairs, front porch, and fireplace are elements common to its outlets. Its commitment to the Southern way of life isn’t just limited to the food or the ambiance. The brand’s deeply committed to everything from country music to support for war veterans. So, how Southern is the menu? From the very first outlet, it started serving catfish, fried chicken, and biscuits. Cracker Barrel now is synonymous with country bacon, ham steaks, fried apples, and apple butter, grits, and pancake mix served with natural syrup. Their eggs-in-the-basket and hash browns are also crowd favorites. What’s important to remember is that the restaurant chain has two menus – one for breakfast which is served all day and one for lunch and dinner. You can walk in any time and order a classic breakfast dish. Those who are trying to stay on the lighter side for breakfast fare may not find a lot on the menu to choose from, but Cracker Barrel is an enduring part of Americana that is a genuine pleasure for the occasional Sunday family brunch. YOUR TURN NOW As you can see, when it comes to breakfast and brunch spots, consumers have a broad range of choices. From the health-conscious to the traditional, there’s a world of options out there. And most of it is just a short drive away. But if you’re thinking like a potential Franchise Owner, it’s important to consider where the future of breakfast is headed. People are becoming more health-conscious than ever, particularly in light of the events of last year, and are really taking stock of what they’re putting into their bodies. Moreover, with uncertainty still surrounding the future of dine-in eating, it’s important to select a breakfast franchise with an easy-to-pivot model so you can be sure you’re always a step ahead of the game. 2021 just may be the best year to invest in a breakfast franchise concept in a long time. With the restaurant industry beginning to bounce back in a big way, coupled with real estate prices at all-time lows in some communities, this could be your chance to become a successful entrepreneur. What you have to do is look for a brand that has a future-friendly and health-conscious menu, friendly format, and proven revenue streams. A brand like Toastique, that’s poised to reap the benefits of the post-pandemic customer demands and a steady, growing, and profitable business model. Click here to join the tribe of entrepreneurs who are rewriting their futures by becoming Franchise Owners of Toastique.
Learn more
WHAT KIND OF NEIGHBORHOOD DOES OUR TOAST FRANCHISE THRIVE IN?
It’s difficult to believe that Toastique has only been awarding toast franchise locations in cities across the United States for a year now. Looking at the growth of our Franchise Owners, the interest we’ve had from entrepreneurs around the country, and the phenomenal response from our customers, you might think that we’ve been around for ages. Since its establishment in 2018, Toastique has grown by leaps and bounds since first franchising in 2020. THE IMPORTANCE OF THE RIGHT LOCATION A crucial factor that has led to the success of the brand is the neighborhoods it operates in. Unlike other fast-casual franchises, Toastique is not interested in a wild spree of store openings with little understanding of the target market and their connection to the brand’s identity and mission. Of course, the other unique attributes of the brand also help Toastique win the hearts and minds of customers. Delectable gourmet sandwiches, cold-pressed juices, and açaí bowls have always been a crowd favorite. Their beautiful, Instagrammable look coupled with the fact that they’re supremely healthy gets Toastique enviable brand recognition without having to spend much on marketing. Then, there’s the rustic and boutique charm of each store that elevates the experience. When you learn that everything’s made from locally sourced ingredients for a convenient grab-and-go format, you understand why Toastique’s growing so incredibly well. But along with all that, what makes it work is the curated list of regions it operates in. Our Founder, Brianna Keefe, has always believed that Toastique should be selective about which markets it opens in so that it doesn’t sully the brand image, or, importantly, hurt the profit potential of our hardworking Franchise Owners. Therefore, the team works had to ensure that there is a brand-fit between Toastique and the market to which it caters. From the successes of the existing stores, the brand has developed some insights about the ideal neighborhood for a Toastique outlet. If you’re an entrepreneur who wants to partner with the brand and become a Franchise Owner, here’s how you can spot the right neighborhood for your operations. SIGNS OF AN EXCELLENT TOASTIQUE NEIGHBORHOOD WELL POPULATED A brand like Toastique works better in densely populated residential areas. These could be close to offices, universities, colleges, hotels, or other commercial centers. The key here is that the outlet should be in an area that naturally sees high foot traffic. A place frequented by tourists is also well-suited for a Toastique outlet. It also means that the location shouldn’t be on highways or places with little routine traffic. Customers shouldn’t be expected to go out of their way to find a Toastique. PREDOMINANTLY WHITE-COLLAR The target consumer of Toastique is educated and middle to upper-middle class. This doesn’t mean that others don’t frequent our outlets. What it means is that typically, our brand flourishes in and around communities populated by professionals. The primary reason could be that what we offer is unmatched in the industry. That requires a rethinking of the traditional choices for the individual and their families. It also means that people who are aware of better options – and those who demand them – prefer Toastique. HEALTH-CONSCIOUS MINDSET One primary distinguishing aspect of a Toastique customer is that they’re more aware of the need for healthy food and lifestyles. These are not individuals who’re wedded to their couches and continue consuming countless calories every day. No, the brand is decidedly for those individuals who demand healthier breakfast and brunch choices, like in Toastique Westlake Village. So, the ideal Toastique neighborhood would have health clubs, fitness centers, Pilates studios, or yoga studios. Even if the store is in a commercial center, there will be some of these health and wellness spots nearby. We’ve also noted that several of our regulars pick up their cold-pressed juices after their workouts and have integrated Toastique into their routines. OUTDOORSY COMMUNITY Another standout feature of our franchise locations is that the members of our communities love being outdoors. It could be a coastal borough with waterfronts or a downtown district with its walkaways. Whatever it is, the neighborhood is typically one that incentivizes and celebrates people spending time outdoors. This has both practical and behavioral advantages for a Franchise Owner. If people spend more time outdoors, they’re more likely to interact with the brand and become its customers. What’s important is that these are not transient consumers but people who go outdoors as part of their routine. As we’ve seen from our existing outlets, our customer retention is assuredly high. The fact that they’re more likely to be out at the same place next week assures our Franchise Owners of regular repeat purchases. Secondly, those who spend time outdoors, whether on walks, jogs, trails, or hikes, are also usually health-conscious. These are not individuals who would choose the same old calorie-filled offerings from the traditional fast-casual chains. They would want something healthier, something that matches their lifestyles. TOURIST DESTINATIONS We’ve also noticed from the success of our Franchise Owners that the brand works well if the neighborhood or a nearby area is a vacation spot. It need not be a top tourist destination but one that draws crowds regularly. It can also be a seasonal haven where people flock to their second homes during the summer. From our outlet at The Wharf in Washington, D.C. to the one at the famed Jersey Shore, this has been an unmissable element to the success of our stores. Perhaps it’s the uniqueness of the menu that visitors usually can’t find in their hometowns or their daily lives. Or, the reason could be that the rustic and quaint charm of Toastique appeals to those looking for something authentic and meaningful. DO YOU HAVE A TOAST FRANCHISE LOCATION IN MIND? Maybe it’s where you grew up or went to college. Or it could be near where you work or vacation. But if you have a location in mind, we can help you become a successful entrepreneur as a Toastique Franchise Owner. We will give you all the necessary guidance and offer exclusivity for an approximately two-mile radius so that you don’t end up competing with other Franchise Owners. To know more and to live the life of your dreams, click here.
Learn more
WHAT DROVE THIS FORMER D1 ATHLETE TO START A TOAST FRANCHISE?
College athletes are certainly interested in healthy food and an active lifestyle. But few think of starting a healthy breakfast franchise and inspiring others to become entrepreneurs. That is unless you’re Toastique Founder Brianna Keefe. AHEAD OF HER TIME Brianna was always interested in the restaurant business. But she wasn’t too fond of the standard industry practices. She disliked the way food was commoditized with the focus being only on speed. She had always wanted to open a café but not like the ones she was used to. Healthy eating hardly seemed a concern for the fast-food giants. While the emphasis was placed on convenience – mostly to the restaurants – Brianna knew things could be better. The D1 athlete wanted to serve food that she and athletes and other health-conscious people would love. It had to have proteins, the right fats, and carbohydrates. Also, it had to be easy to carry. None of that leaky, messy fast-food that most outlets dish out. THE BREAKTHROUGH IDEA So, she experimented in college. You know, with toasts. They’ve been a breakfast staple for generations but as Brianna realized, little had been done to reinvent the good old toast. She worked to change that, creating delicious gourmet toasts that were as healthy as they were appealing. But she didn’t want to limit her offerings to healthy toasts. They had to be complemented by equally healthy options that you normally wouldn’t think of pairing with toasts. She found her answer in cold-pressed juices, smoothies, acai bowls, and others. By adding toasts to juices, she rightly felt that “you’re adding a whole new level to the business.” Now, her menu looked healthy, different, and wholesome. All that was left was finding the right spot to open her breakfast franchise. A SPOT BY THE WATER She found it while on a walk in The Wharf area in Washington DC. Brianna saw the location and immediately could imagine her healthy cafe and juice bar there. She “fell in love right from the start.” The next step was building an outlet that was minimal, elegant, exciting, and welcoming. Which was a challenge that her boyfriend, Kyle Izett, with a background in commercial construction, gladly accepted. From designing to building, it took just 40 days. In a little over a month, Brianna Keefe’s dream came true in the form of Toastique’s first location. But what happened next was beyond her wildest dreams. SUCCESSFUL…AND HOW! It would be an understatement to call Toastique’s first franchise location a success. In its first year of operation, the outlet brought in over a million dollars in revenue! What makes it exceptional is the fact that the Founders did nothing to market their brand. Customers just fell in love with her gourmet toasts and healthy smoothies. Those who had a taste of Toastique wanted more and became repeat customers. There was also significant word-of-mouth marketing from existing customers that brought in new visitors. The brand started gaining traction without any promotional push. There were no giant hoardings, no newspaper ads, and no digital marketing campaigns. It was people experiencing a product, loving it, buying it again, and sharing it with their friends and families. Toastique opened its second breakfast franchise in under a year and the third in less than two years, finding success in each new market even despite the COVID-19 pandemic and its accompanying challenges. With more Franchise Owners joining the brand, the future looks exciting for this brand that’s redefining the brunch experience for thousands of customers. BRIANNA’S BELIEFS For the Founder, this has been more than an entrepreneurial journey. It’s the validation of her beliefs and confirmation that customers will always support a venture if it solves their problems and adds value to their lives. Product first That’s one of the primary lessons an entrepreneur can learn from Brianna. Focus on your product first. When launching your business, it’s easy to get caught up in the administrative chores. But to make a difference, an entrepreneur needs to put all their energies into making a product that’s unique, appealing, and hugely relevant. No amount of marketing or public relations can save a half-baked product. Eventually, customers will know the truth, and the business will suffer. Not transactional but experiential Brianna was always keen on making Toastique an experience rather than a mere outlet. Everything from the design of the place to its menu to food presentation was created as an exciting and meaningful experience for the visitors. As she states, the intent was to deliver a “destination where you can enjoy a whole meal and a whole experience.” That’s one of the reasons Toastique won the coveted Best New Restaurant of DC in 2019. Yes, in the first year of its operations! Create a culture The unique toasts and cold-pressed juices are only part of what Toastique offers. It’s also elegantly user-friendly. Brianna always knew that what Toastique offers should be “easy to understand” and not packaged in pretentious language, or design. “Everything here is good,” says the former athlete. “We’ve created a culture that makes people want to come back.” Multiple revenue streams What makes Toastique successful in exceptionally challenging circumstances is that it offers Franchise Owners several revenue streams. Customers can dine-in, take out, or get their orders delivered. In a world where contact-less ordering is on everyone’s minds, this format flexibility has served the brand well. Plus, Franchise Owners can also cater to events. JOIN BRIANNA Toastique is looking for Franchise Owners across the US. We’re looking for strong candidates with commitment and a desire to build a healthy food brand that’s rooted in the community it serves. If you have any business management or food industry experience, it will be a significant advantage. As Franchise Owners have found out, the relationship between the Founder and new Owners isn’t purely functional. Brianna and her team will guide and help you along the way to ensure your success. There will be comprehensive training on all aspects of running a Toastique outlet. Click here to learn more.
Learn more
TOASTIQUE EXECUTIVE TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: MEET NICOLE VALENTIN!
If you’re an entrepreneur hoping to get into a successful breakfast franchise business, you should be willing to work hard and learn from the successes and failures of others. But there’s another truth about entrepreneurship that few people talk about. No one makes it alone. You need the help and guidance of someone who cares about you, who’s knowledgeable about the industry, and who can help you avoid the mistakes most people make. In other words, an individual who’s invested in your success. Without a guide and mentor like this, you’ll waste your time and effort. NURTURING CULTURE AT TOASTIQUE At Toastique, we’re not just about giving our customers healthy and sumptuous toasts and cold-pressed juices in an aspirational ambiance. We’re also about supporting our Franchise Owners and their staff every step of the way. One of the key individuals who’s responsible for guiding and nurturing our Franchise Owners is Nicole Valentin. In charge of the employee hiring and development program, Nicole’s focus is on nurturing, shaping, and sustaining the overall cultural strategy. Brianna Keefe, the Founder of Toastique has always believed that, other than our products, employees are how and why we will differentiate ourselves in the market. As our loyal customers have found out, employees are a key part of the Toastique experience across markets. Nicole’s mandate is to train and nurture those key assets and deliver demonstrable benefits to Franchise Owners. In her current position, she directly supports the CEO, CFO, and COO at Toastique. NURTURING CULTURE AT TOASTIQUE At Toastique, we’re not just about giving our customers healthy and sumptuous toasts and cold-pressed juices in an aspirational ambiance. We’re also about supporting our Franchise Owners and their staff every step of the way. One of the key individuals who’s responsible for guiding and nurturing our Franchise Owners is Nicole Valentin. In charge of the employee hiring and development program, Nicole’s focus is on nurturing, shaping, and sustaining the overall cultural strategy. Brianna Keefe, the Founder of Toastique has always believed that, other than our products, employees are how and why we will differentiate ourselves in the market. As our loyal customers have found out, employees are a key part of the Toastique experience across markets. Nicole’s mandate is to train and nurture those key assets and deliver demonstrable benefits to Franchise Owners. In her current position, she directly supports the CEO, CFO, and COO at Toastique. THE RELATIONSHIP BUILDER Building businesses and relationships come easy to Nicole who has a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture from Virginia Tech. She comes with an extensive background in the construction industry. She was associated with various firms and projects in the DC area for more than five years. She met Kyle Izett, Toastique’s CFO and Director of Construction when they were colleagues at a construction firm. She kept in touch with him and when an opportunity opened up, Kyle reached out to her, and Nicole was delighted to come on board. What she liked about Toastique when joining was the fact that we’re building a healthy lifestyle and encouraging people to make wholesome choices. One of the biggest advantages of being a Franchise Owner with Toastique is that you’ll be able to get into the market faster than most restaurant franchises in the country. That’s because of the highly efficient, economical, and optimized build-out process that the brand specializes in. Kyle spearheads Toastique’s build-out systems and Nicole is instrumental in partnering with Franchise Owners and enabling them to construct viable, economical, efficient, and aspirational outlets for their business to flourish. Her background in construction also comes in handy when she has to assist construction managers with construction and inspection processes as and when needed. As Toastique’s Director of Strategy and Development and a member of the Executive Team, Nicole’s primary responsibility is to make it easy for Franchise Owners to help build the outlet and hire and train the right employees. She helps Franchise Owners with established workflows and standardized procedures for faster build-outs and easier employee onboarding. SIMILAR CHARACTER, REGIONAL NUANCES Toastique has made a distinct mark in the breakfast franchise space due to its unique healthy toasts, cold-pressed juices, and ambiance that’s markedly different from that of other fast-food brands. All the outlets have a similar style and structure and it’s Nicole’s responsibility to ensure that the brand experience stays the same irrespective of the location. She regularly engages with architects and others responsible for the build-out to ensure that a Toastique customer will feel at home no matter what city they experience the brand in. This calls for strict adherence to brand identity protocols. Nicole ensures that Franchise Owners know what those are and helps them build spaces that will attract the consumer base that the brand has set its eyes on. But that doesn’t mean Toastique doesn’t assimilate influences from its markets. While each outlet will have common elements, they will also have motifs inspired by their location. For Nicole, those are the “little touches that are specific to each.” An excellent example is a mural in the DC outlet which is inspired by the location. The management has also empowered Franchise Owners to choose artworks that appeal to them and have distinct relations with the location. They can also opt for something they may have a preference for. These ensure that each outlet, while common in appearance and experience, offers admirable decorative and artistic nuances that the local consumers would appreciate. ON THE GROUND FLOOR OF SOMETHING GREAT That’s how Nicole feels about her job at Toastique. The architecture graduate is aware that the Founders are not building just another fast-food brand. She knows that she’s part of a larger movement that’s changing the way people view brunch. Something that inspires people to pursue healthy and active lifestyles, which is the need of the hour. As she’s assisting with the build-out on the first Toastique outlet in Denver, she can’t wait for the grand opening when customers in the region would experience a healthy, nutritious, and wholesome brand that she had a part in building. While that might be the reward for most people, for Nicole, being around such gourmet food is in itself satisfying. “I can’t resist being around such delicious food,” she says. “But at least, it’s healthy.” LEARN HOW NICOLE CAN HELP YOU BUILD YOUR FRANCHISE If you’ve ever wondered about taking on the restaurant industry by opening a breakfast franchise like Toastique, this is the right time. As the economy opens up, Americans are returning to restaurants. But now they want healthier and nutritious choices as there is widespread awareness about the dangers of traditional fast food. By being a Franchise Owner with Toastique, you can build a profitable business with an established business model that has multiple revenue streams. Visit our franchise website for more information on how you can build and launch a successful business in a few months.
Learn more
WHAT ROLE DOES SEAN KEEFE PLAY IN YOUR BRUNCH FRANCHISE SUCCESS?
Businesses don’t succeed just because they have a founder with an exceptional idea. They need individuals who can handle the day-to-day operations, leaving the Founders to handle the big picture and take it to the next level. This is true for businesses across sectors, whether you’re planning to start a brunch franchise or marketing agency. Toastique needed such an individual to take care of its franchise relationships, manager training, and everything else that a Franchise Owner would need to get their outlet up and running. The individual in this role would ideally need a background in hospitality and be proficient in project management. Luckily, our Founder Brianna Keefe didn’t have to look far for such a talented and experienced professional. She found one in her family. With his project management background, commitment to health and wellness, and years of hospitality industry experience, her brother Sean Keefe was the right person to become Toastique’s Director of Operations. ALWAYS INTO HEALTH The Keefe siblings had hopes of following their parents’ footsteps and entering the medical field. Both Brianna and Sean went to James Madison University, with Sean initially wanting to become a pharmacist and Brianna’s original aspiration to be a pediatrician. But as we know, they found their calling in a different health-oriented industry. Sean wasn’t a stranger to the hospitality industry. He has been in the sector since the age of 14. Although after college he was doing project management for government agencies, he was also helping his sister build Toastique. The brother-sister duo was “always hand-in-hand,” as Sean says. Both decided to enter the hospitality sector. Both moved to the Washington, D.C. area. And, now both are in the Toastique brunch franchise business together. One of the reasons why Sean finds his role a natural fit is that Toastique combines two of the Keefes’ passions- hospitality and health. It isn’t just another brunch franchise or fast-food chain with traditional junk food. Toastique’s healthy and delicious toasts and cold-pressed juices are centered around the long-term health needs of its customers. “We went through so many trials and tribulations when we were making the menu,” Sean recalls about the early stages of Toastique. But their love for good food and good health was all the inspiration they needed to stay the course and grow the brand. HEALTHY BRUNCH FRANCHISE, HEALTHY GROWTH! Sean was with Brianna when they were coming up with Toastique’s signature gourmet toast and smoothie recipes. His primary responsibility was figuring out how to run the business. But they soon ran into a challenge that most entrepreneurs only dream of. Toastique started growing “way quicker than we thought,” as Sean says. When they were starting the business, they had a five-year expansion plan. They estimated that they would have two to three restaurants in that span. But consumers wanted more of Toastique. Three and a half years since it started, the brand that’s redefining brunch is poised to have around 15 brunch franchises up and running by 2022. For Sean, that customer validation was the sign to leave his career in project management and come on board full-time. At Toastique, he handles all operations of the brand’s expansion, leaving Brianna and Kyle Izett, CFO & Director of Construction, to step back and handle the big picture. EXCITED ABOUT THE EXPANSION Sean is delighted about taking Toastique to different states and partnering with new Franchise Owners as they build a new brunch culture centered around healthy and yummy toasts and cold-pressed juices. He is in charge of helping the managers create efficient systems to handle their day-to-day operations. He trains the Franchise Owners on how to create and manage timesheets, people management, training videos, manuals, and everything else they would need to successfully run the brunch franchise. Sean’s responsibility is to create a handbook that the Franchise Owners would need to manage on their own. The key is not to micromanage but to empower them with what Brianna, Sean, Kyle, and the team have learned from other locations. When a new Toastique opens, Sean will be there for the first week or so to guide them. After that, they will have weekly and monthly calls to ensure that everything is going smoothly. Toastique’s objective, in Sean’s words, is that “we want all out Franchise Owners to be confident from day one and we want to set them up for success.” No matter what challenge comes their way, the managers should be able to handle that. “I want them to feel on the first day that they’ve been doing this for years.” BUILT ON RELATIONSHIPS Aside from assisting with routine operations, a key area for Sean is helping Franchise Owners find local vendors and build mutually beneficial long-term relationships with them. Sean knows the value of those connections. Brianna has excellent relations with vendors, which has been crucial for the continued operations of the brand even in challenging times. “If we run out of bread, they would hop in a van and send it to us,” Sean notes. That’s exactly the kind of relationship that he and the rest of Toastique’s support team want every Franchise Owner to have. “In the end, it’s all about the people you can count on and the people who can count on you.” It’s not just professional relationships that Sean has been keenly building. He recently got engaged to his girlfriend of six years. The Executive Team member at Toastique certainly has a lot to look forward to in both his personal and professional life! WORK WITH SEAN AS A FRANCHISE OWNER! You too can benefit from Sean’s expertise and guidance, just as other Franchise Owners are doing now. If you’ve ever wanted to be in the restaurant industry, this is the time to open a brunch franchise. With Toastique, you’ll be joining a brand that’s carved a unique space with healthy and delicious toasts and cold-pressed juices. The brand also has a lean business model and several revenue streams that can withstand the challenges that restaurant owners usually have to face. With increasing consumer awareness about the need for healthy and wholesome food, the future is bright for those entrepreneurs who will partner with Toastique. Click here to start a successful entrepreneurial journey and reframe your future.
Learn more
HEALTHY RESTAURANT FRANCHISE FOUNDER RECEIVES TOP INDUSTRY HONORS
It’s not just customers who have fallen in love with the healthy restaurant franchise that Brianna Keefe, the Founder of Toastique started. Industry insiders are also now celebrating the whiz kid who has redefined brunch and reimagined a classic breakfast side dish as an exciting and nutritious main course. Two renowned franchise industry publications, Franchise Dictionary Magazine, and 1851 Franchise, recently honored Brianna for her innovative and healthy fast-casual concept and the ever-growing popularity of Toastique. This is another feather in the cap for the Founder, who has become one of the most successful and inspiring entrepreneurs in the fast-casual restaurant sector. Each October, Franchise Dictionary Magazine releases its ‘Women of Wonder’ issue celebrating prominent women in franchising who are making an impact. The list honors female entrepreneurs whose work is both unique and impactful. This year, the magazine chose Brianna as someone who is making her mark in the industry. As one of 1851 Franchise’s ‘Young Ones to Watch,’ Brianna is also one of the industry superstars under the age of 40. The entrepreneur who has won the hearts of both customers and Franchise Owners is now being recognized by the industry for what she has already achieved and what she is planning to do. PURSUING HER PASSION Some people get into the restaurant industry by accident after trying out other careers. But for Brianna, hospitality was her calling. Her first job was in a restaurant and it was love at first sight. But she knew that she required professional training and in-depth knowledge of how to run a business. So she majored in hospitality management with a minor in business.“I always found myself in the hospitality sector,” as Brianna says. The primary reason for that is that she was always a people-oriented person, as anyone who has ever worked with her would know. “Interacting with people all day is what I love,” she says with a smile. But she didn’t want to start just another quick-service restaurant, the kind that has flooded the market and buried Americans under unhealthy choices. She wanted to combine two of her passions– food and health– and create something unique, healthy, and suited to the demands of health-conscious consumers with active lifestyles. The result was Toastique. REIMAGINING AN AMERICAN CLASSIC The brand elevates toast, a classic but often bland side dish, into a health-focused power meal. Toastique has elegantly reinterpreted traditional toast as a perfect on-the-go fuel-up that is pleasing to the taste buds as well as the eye. Toasts have never looked this sumptuous, creative, or healthy. It’s not just through gourmet toasts that Toastique has differentiated itself. There are also açaí bowls, cold-pressed juices, and all-natural smoothies. It’s this combination, that too in a comfortable grab-and-go format, that has worked wonders for the brand. For Brianna, however, the initial store was her passion project. She never considered that one day the brand would be highly sought-after by similarly passionate franchise investors. It was the “positively overwhelming feedback” from customers that encouraged her to think about franchising in the first place. Plus, she always knew that the product was only part of the magic of Toastique. It was the experience that she was obsessed with. Everything from the presentation of the food to the interior decor to the demeanor of the staff was crucial to delivering customer delight. She constantly reminds the team that “the environment and atmosphere should be unlike any other quick-service restaurant.” To recreate that, she knew she couldn’t be in 50 or 100 locations at once. That’s when she actively considered the franchising route. She knew that she needed to find the right individuals with the right purpose and spirit. But she wasn’t in a hurry to expand and profit. She didn’t want to grow fast or recklessly because that would have diluted the Toastique brand experience. THE FUTURE OF FAST-CASUAL DINING So, what kind of Franchise Owner does Brianna want to partner with? According to her, Toastique has always “looked for people with the same passion, people who’re gonna take care of the brand” as much as she does. She loves meeting other entrepreneurs with similar passions. Helping them realize their potential is her greatest reward. “We’ll help you with the resources, the recipes, and everything you need,” Brianna assures would-be Franchise Owners who also want to make a difference in the restaurant sector with a healthy fast-casual brand. What’s validating for Toastique as a brand is that Franchise Owners want to open more. That proves that the lean business model with an endearing customer experience has worked across markets. It’s that uniqueness that has helped Toastique successfully weather the pandemic. As people got more health-conscious, they wanted to avoid traditional junk food and opt for wholesome food choices. Plus, the fact that the brand has several delivery formats, including, dine-in and takeout, helped it grow when the entire industry faced one of its darkest periods. What also helped is the diverse revenue model of Toastique. Franchise Owners can also offer catering to increase their cash flow. BRIANNA’S ADVICE TO FRANCHISE OWNERS So, what does the industry superstar have to say to entrepreneurs looking for franchising opportunities? “Choose your partner wisely,” Brianna is quick to reply. She warns entrepreneurs against partnering with brands that promise a lot in the short run. This, as Brianna says, is a long-term business. What you need is a partner who will share the opportunities, challenges, and best practices they would have learned along the way. That will help you make the best of available resources and avoid the mistakes others would have made. But more importantly, potential Franchise Owners should choose a partner who’ll be interested and invested in their success. They should enable entrepreneurs to succeed and grow by unlocking their potential and providing all necessary support. “You’re signing up for a 30-year relationship,” Brianna reminds entrepreneurs. “Your passion and values should align. So, partner with those who care.” If you want to join this successful group of entrepreneurs who are discovering the potential of a healthy restaurant franchise through Toastique, this is your opportunity. Click here to learn how Brianna and her team can help you succeed as a Franchise Owner and live a life of freedom from the 9-to-5.
Learn more
GRAND OPENING! HEALTHY RESTAURANT FRANCHISE OPENS NEW LOCATION
What was special about September 25, 2021? That’s the day Toastique opened its fourth Washington D.C. location, in the DuPont Circle neighborhood! That’s right, our nation’s capital city now has four outlets of the healthy restaurant franchise that’s redefining brunch. The newest location is at 1899 N St NW and has already started getting rave reviews The DuPont Circle location joins other D.C.-area Toastique locations in the Wharf, Old Town Alexandria, and Navy Yard neighborhoods, as well as a new location in Stone Harbor, NJ, which opened this past summer. In addition to the Toastique cafés already in operation, quite a few more are scheduled to open their doors in 2022, in markets such as Las Vegas, Denver, Austin, and Orlando! TRIUMPH AMID A CHALLENGING YEAR There are several reasons why this news is special. To begin with, the restaurant industry has been through one of its most challenging periods over the past year and a half. Unfortunately, many established names have had to suspend their operations or shut down permanently. Customers have been naturally worried about eating out and spending time in crowded places. Those restaurants that couldn’t accommodate these health concerns were in trouble as the uncertainty over social distancing refused to go away. In such difficult circumstances, where it’s exceedingly difficult for restaurants to stay open, here’s a brand that’s opening outlets regularly! How is Toastique doing it? Because this isn’t just another restaurant. This isn’t another brunch place. This is a healthy restaurant franchise that’s markedly different from the way others serve brunch. This isn’t fast food that compromises a family’s health. This is healthy fast-casual food suited for health-conscious customers who are growing in numbers every day. TAKING TOAST TO NEW HEIGHTS The second reason for the brand’s phenomenal growth is that what you find at Toastique is something you won’t find anywhere else. Our Founder, Brianna Keefe, didn’t want to roll out fast food that customers were already familiar with. She took a classic staple of every American household, good old toast, and reimagined it. Toastique has elevated toast from the sidelines and recreated it as a healthy power meal. The gourmet toasts at this healthy restaurant franchise deliver a convenient and wholesome meal that no other fast-casual restaurant has been able to deliver. But it’s not just gourmet toast that the brand is known for. Our loyal customers love our açaí bowls and cold-pressed juices, and we’ve just rolled out a new espresso bar menu in select locations (more on that in a minute!) Toastique is designed for those customers who have active and healthy lifestyles. These are individuals who know that traditional fast-food restaurants are about speed and not health. While this group was growing even before the pandemic, the past 18 months or so have added more people to this consumer group. NOT JUST TOAST- A WORK OF ART! Another reason why Toastique has grown so remarkably well is that it combines health with artistry. As our customers have found out, everything from the food presentation to interior decor has been designed for an elevated customer experience. In other words, Toastique is highly Instagrammable! How do we know that? Well, without the services of any advertising or digital marketing agency the brand has been consistently growing and engaging with our audiences on Instagram.In a world where everyone’s after social media influencers, it’s Toastique’s customers who have been sharing the gourmet toasts and cold-pressed juices on social media. In that sense, our customers are our influencers. CONVENIENCE AND SCALABILITY Toastique’s delivery model is also exceptionally customer-friendly. People can dine in, take their gourmet toasts, bowls, and juices with them, or get them delivered. This flexibility was extremely convenient for customers during the pandemic. The brand also has a lean business model with several revenue streams. The objective is to enable a Franchise Owner to get started without incurring unnecessary expenses. The Toastique executive team will share all the best practices on how to structure the outlet to create the right ambiance without losing the unique brand identity. The multiple revenue streams ensure that Franchise Owners aren’t tied to any one source. Other than dine-in, grab-and-go, and delivery, Toastique also offers catering opportunities. This makes this healthy restaurant franchise concept highly scalable in a neighborhood. PERSONALIZED FRANCHISE SUPPORT Finally, Brianna and the leadership team are always there to help Franchise Owners every step of the way. All Franchise Owners are given adequate training on not just the product but also on hiring and training their staff. The corporate team also ensures that Franchise Owners can find stable vendors to depend upon for quality locally grown ingredients. This support has been highly helpful for the brand’s Franchise Owners, especially in the initial months. That’s why the brand’s Franchise Owners want to open more outlets, which is a stellar endorsement for Brianna and the team. With several new Owners slated to open multiple locations in their communities in 2022, the Toastique footprint is quickly growing across the U.S.! One of the most special features about the new DuPont Circle location is that this is the first Toastique to feature an espresso bar. If it continues to perform as well as it has so far, the espresso bar may become a regular part of the Toastique menu in all locations. Our Franchise Owners love being on the ground floor of a new healthy restaurant franchise and working alongside the Toastique Executive Team to help build our brand by testing out new ideas and products. Contributing opinions and suggestions for new products is just another way that our Owners are helping to shape the Toastique healthy restaurant franchise experience! A HEALTHY RESTAURANT FRANCHISE FOR THE FUTURE So, how has the new location in the DuPont Circle neighborhood performed so far? Glad you asked! After just two weeks of operation, the latest Toastique outlet had sold 886 toasts, 595 smoothies, 394 açaí bowls, 595 juices, and 429 espresso drinks. The newest kid on the block has already made a mark! What makes it special is that this tremendous response was achieved with hardly any marketing help. Our existing customers did the job for us! Toastique healthy food franchise fans who already love our other Washington, D.C. locations were excited to turn out and visit our newest café, telling their friends, colleagues, and family members in the process! If you’re an entrepreneur looking to start something in the fast-casual restaurant sector, this is your time to break the mold and open a healthy food franchise like Toastique. Customers are craving healthy options and Toastique fills the largely unmet need for nutritious food on the go. Our business model has been designed to get Franchise Owners to be stable and profitable as early as possible and to keep them that way no matter what curveballs get thrown their way. Our success during the COVID-19 shutdowns is a testament to how easy-to-pivot our franchise model is, and how simple it is for Franchise Owners to operate with limited staff. Click here to start your successful journey with the healthy restaurant franchise that’s winning the hearts of customers and Franchise Owners.
Learn more