Franchise Updates
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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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HEALTHY FOOD FRANCHISE FOUNDER MAKES FORBES’ 30 UNDER 30 LIST!
First, it was the consumers. Then the Franchise Owners caught on. Soon the industry followed suit. Now, one of the most reputed publications on the planet has recognized Brianna Keefe. The Founder of Toastique, the breakfast franchise that’s expanding all over the country, has been featured in the prestigious Forbes 30 under 30! AN EXCLUSIVE CLUB One of the most renowned media companies in the world, Forbes has become synonymous with news on business, entrepreneurship, technology, lifestyle, and investing. With over 100 million visitors exploring their website over six months, it’s the go-to name for credible news across categories. Launched in 2011, the Forbes 30 under 30 is a carefully chosen list of 30 entrepreneurs under the age of 30. These are trailblazers that the company believes have already proven their mettle and are redefining the spaces they operate in. This year’s exclusive club of Forbes 30 under 30, for example, has collectively already raised over $1 billion in funding. A WORTHY MEMBER Brianna’s inclusion in this exceptionally exclusive list shouldn’t surprise anyone who has known her or worked with her. She has made a mark for herself in the restaurant industry for her entrepreneurship and the pathbreaking idea that’s making waves and finding customer acceptance all over the country. She didn’t join a family business or venture into a tired and tested area. She opened a whole new category that offers fast-casual food for health-conscious people. And the business she started, Toastique, the breakfast franchise, has now become a movement with a healthy lifestyle. With every week, more and more Franchise Owners are placing their trust in her. The fact that Brianna Keefe’s just 28 makes the achievement nothing short of incredible. A COMBINATION OF ALL HER PASSIONS Toastique wasn’t just another dream for Brianna. It’s the combination of all her dreams. Since childhood, she had been passionate about food, health, and hospitality. As she says it, she was interested in “clean living in all its forms.” The budding entrepreneur used to make smoothies in high school almost every day. At that time, her dream was to open a “smoothie shack by the beach.” At the James Madison University (JMU), Brianna as a D1 athlete cheerleader soon realized that the existing options in fast food were anything but healthy. They were certainly convenient but not at all wholesome. That’s when she started her experiments with toast, the staple of the classic American breakfast. But Brianna didn’t want to make ordinary toasts. She wanted to see how she could make it nutritious, something that had carbohydrates, healthy fats, and of course, proteins. She soon expanded her original avocado toast to several others while being mindful of the fact that what she came up with had to be easy to carry. In other words, she wasn’t just experimenting with the ingredients. She was also looking for an easy format that would appeal to busy professionals. A MOVEMENT IS BORN Brianna’s passion finally saw fruition when she was walking around the District Wharf, DC’s new waterfront area. It was still under construction but she could see the potential and thought to herself, “This is it.” Toastique, the breakfast franchise that would redefine brunch, was finally born. Of course, the fact that Kyle Izett, her boyfriend, had experience in commercial construction helped her launch the concept. From design to the eventual construction, all it took was 40 days for the first Toastique location to come to life. That lean buildout and the minimal investments it requires is another reason why the brand’s Franchise Owners love its business model. Her love for all things healthy is reflected in the luscious delicacies that are synonymous with Toastique now. More than delicious toasts, the breakfast franchise also serves lip-smacking smoothies along with cold-pressed juices. STUNNING RESPONSE The success of the first location was beyond the wildest dreams of Brianna and Kyle. In its first year of operations, the Wharf location of Toastique generated more than $1 million in sales! What’s stunning about this feat is that the breakfast franchise didn’t use any professional advertising or marketing to generate brand awareness. It was all word-of-mouth from its customers. They did the marketing for Toastique. This spectacular success soon led to the opening of two more locations, one in Alexandria, Virginia, and another in the Navy Yard district. What’s striking about the performance of these Toastique locations is that although they were opened during the worst days of the pandemic, they turned out to be phenomenally profitable. THE BEST IS YET TO COME It’s not just customers who have become believers in Toastique. The response from Franchise Owners has also been extraordinary. This has been extremely gratifying to Brianna and the team since her focus has always been on the collective success of all the entrepreneurs who’re part of the Toastique family. In under three years, Brianna and her team have opened four locations of Toastique. There’s also a sister concern, a salad restaurant called Chopsmith. Toastique has also awarded a whopping 37 new franchise locations to new Franchise Owners across the United States. These will open over the next two years. With a steady increase in the number of daily customers which is now at around 1200, Brianna and her team believe that Toastique will clock close to $7 million in revenue this year. So, what inspires this Forbes 30 under 30 entrepreneur? “A sense of adrenaline” is how Brianna puts it. As soon as she wakes up, her mind begins to race with excitement about all that she has to get done by the end of the day. CALLING ALL ENTREPRENEURS Entrepreneurship is not for everyone, according to Brianna. You need to have passion, drive, and commitment. You also need to be hardworking, optimistic, and have a long-term commitment to the community you serve. If you believe you have it, click here to learn more about the franchising opportunities at the breakfast franchise that’s redefining brunch and empowering entrepreneurs.
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START NEW YEAR’S RESOLUTION SEASON WITH A HEALTHY FOOD FRANCHISE!
$800 billion! That’s how much the health and wellness sector grew between 1996 and 2016. With the events of the COVID-19 pandemic inspiring more people to eat healthier, we could be looking at $1 trillion or more in the coming years. Interestingly, Americans spend about $900,000 on avocado toasts every month, a massive jump from $17,000 back in 2014. So, the time for investors in the health and wellness sector to ride the wave of health-consciousness is now. Experts argue that health-conscious businesses like Toastique are recession-resilient. Understandably, people are likely to prioritize healthy living even amid an economic downturn. So, expect Toastique and other health-conscious all-natural meal businesses to trend. SO, WHAT IS TOASTIQUE? Toastique is a wellness-focused gourmet café with all-natural smoothies, healthy customizable snacks, and cold-pressed juices. WHAT DO WE MEAN BY WELLNESS-FOCUSED MEALS? We believe that healthy meals should be fun to prepare, attractive to present to customers, and nutrient-packed. That’s what drives us at Toastique, and here are some of our classic meals: All-natural smoothies and cold-pressed juices – These fruit blends and veggies squash are perfect refreshments for your customers. They can order as post-workout treats, morning refreshers, or in-between meal snacks. Customizable gourmet toasts – We take toast preparation to the next level with our gourmet toasts. These in-house snacks feature all-organic ingredients that offer customers healthy nutrients to get them through the day and boost their immunity. SHOULD YOU BECOME A TOASTIQUE FRANCHISE OWNER? 2021 is quickly folding up, and customers cannot help but make resolutions for 2022. Expectedly, health and fitness are taking center stage, which presents Toastique Franchise Owners with the perfect opportunity to make meaningful returns on investment. That’s how Brianna Keefe, the woman behind Toastique, started. Brianna was passionate about creating a healthy grab-and-go all-natural meal, and the culmination was Toastique. Two years after launching, the flagship Toastique made over a million dollars with zero marketing expenses. We now have four locations up and running in Washington, D.C., along with a recently-opened location in Stone Harbor, New Jersey. Café construction is underway for all-new Toastique locations in Denver, Austin, Las Vegas, Reno, Orlando, and Balboa Island, California…and it’s only the beginning! We’ve only been franchising since 2020 and have already awarded 24 Toastique locations to 10 new Franchise Owners across the United States. HERE’S WHY YOU SHOULD BE PART OF OUR GROWTH: MAKE MONEY The primary goal of any healthy food franchise business is to make money, and Toastique is no exception. After exceeding our initial goal in our original location and doing well in a few other places, we’ve no doubt our branches will make a good return on investment. In 2019, as we mentioned, our sales eclipsed the $1 million mark with zero marketing expenses. Our Franchise Owners remained profitable through 2020 and 2021 despite the pandemic, and we anticipate an even more successful 2022. CREATE MULTIPLE INCOME STREAMS Toastique allows you to diversify and create multiple income streams. You can offer take-outs, home deliveries, dine-in service, and even catering, which means more avenues to make more money. So, the potentials of earning with Toastique are much higher than with a franchise with more limited revenue streams. PROMOTE HEALTHY LIVING Like our Founder Brianna Keefe, you can own a Toastique healthy food franchise to become a bonafide health and wellness promoter in your community. Healthy living is a surging trend, and just about everyone wants to make it a part of their New Year’s resolution. So, make it YOUR resolution to serve your community with our all-natural smoothies, gourmet toasts, and juices! LESS OVERHEAD Thanks to our simple operations and small footprint, the ramp-up period for Toastique Franchise Owners is much more swift than for the owner of a typical fast-casual restaurant. You don’t need expensive equipment like an oven or fryer, and you also don’t need an intricate design to set up your business. Our expert construction manager and CFO, Kyle Izett, and his team will guide you accordingly to ensure you have everything you need to get up and running quickly and efficiently. LOW-RISK INVESTMENT For an investment starting at just $280,000, you can invest in a Toastique healthy food franchise and start reaping the financial and emotional rewards from helping your community eat healthier. So, the risk is much smaller than what many franchise businesses face, especially in the restaurant industry! Even better, we choose our locations keenly to ensure our Franchise Owners make meaningful returns on investment. We can help you discern the neighborhoods with the best potential for revenue and traffic in your area so you can have the highest chance for success with your Toastique café. OUR PROMISE We promise a smooth process to help you set up your Toastique in the most prime location. Here’s what we offer our investors: INTENSIVE TRAINING We offer an initial 2-week intensive course on running Toastique and tracking its success. The course equips you with everything you need to start this business. FIELD SUPPORT Our expert construction manager Kyle Izett and his team will offer you the necessary assistance throughout the construction. Our construction team of experts will ensure your overheads are below the marketplace. MARKETING SUPPORT We don’t leave you just after helping you set up the business. We also go a step further to help you make it noticeable and popular on Opening Day and beyond. Our marketing team offers you the necessary assistance to draw traffic to your business. Through our expert online marketers, we’ll help you reach a wider audience. FOLLOW-UPS We don’t stop at offering marketing support. We also provide ongoing support as your business grows by making bi-monthly calls, organizing annual meetings, and sending occasional newsletters. Additionally, we offer seasonal promotions and events as a form of providing ongoing support. Meanwhile, our customer support phone lines are always open 24 hours to provide Franchise Owners with all the necessary assistance when they call. SO, HOW MUCH DOES A TOASTIQUE FRANCHISE COST? Unlike most other franchise businesses, Toastique is not capital-intensive. You can start with an initial investment of $280,750 and pay a franchise fee of $45,000. You will, however, need a liquid capital of $150,000. You can check here to see our investment breakdown, including equipment, furniture, insurance, and initial inventory. Depending on location, you may see a return on your investment in as few as 12-16 months. MAKE 2022 THE YEAR OF TOASTIQUE IN YOUR COMMUNITY! If you’ve always dreamed of opening a chic, beautiful café that serves healthy, delicious food, now’s your chance! We’re currently awarding franchises in cities across the U.S., and are selling out fast in major markets. Visit our franchise website today to get started on your Franchise Discovery Process and see how owning a healthy food franchise with Toastique can be the right career move for you. If your New Year’s resolution is to be your own boss and leave the corporate grind behind, it’s time to get started!
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ADRIAN LOJO BRINGS HEALTHY RESTAURANT FRANCHISE TO FLORIDA!
For the first time in the history of our healthy restaurant franchise, Toastique is hitting Florida! And who better to lead the charge than a family with decades of experience in the quick-serve restaurant industry? The Lojos – father Arturo and son Adrian – will be at the helm of affairs, with Adrian overseeing day-to-day operations in an owner-operator capacity, as the country’s most-talked-about healthy restaurant franchise opens its first Florida location in Orlando. The family history is a history of hard work and dedication. While in their native Venezuela, Arturo Lojo was in banking and then branched out to the restaurant industry. He managed a popular chain of fast-food restaurants for two decades before moving to the U.S. to manage more of their stores in Florida. TRAINING FROM TEENAGE “A lot of hard work and strong work ethic” is how Adrian Lojo describes his family of entrepreneurs. As they introduce Toastique to Florida, Arturo has entrusted his son to be in charge as the Franchise Owner. He has been working alongside his father since he was 12. Starting in the kitchen making fries and burgers not only trained Adrian to learn and experience all aspects of the business but gave him a genuine perspective of the industry. Slowly his father started giving him more responsibilities and Adrian started running the registers. He understood the key to the success of any fast food restaurant. “It was about understanding the people,” Adrian says. THE SEARCH FOR A MORE MEANINGFUL ENTERPRISE The Lojos also manage a brand of convenience stores that they acquired around two years ago. That gave them more insights into the purchasing habits of people. But while the businesses were profitable, the family felt the need to venture into something that resonated with the changing aspirations of their customers. They wanted to look for a business that “made sense beyond the economic and business standpoint and at a personal level.” “We were looking for alternatives that fit more into our personal priorities,” the new Franchise Owner says. That’s when they found Toastique. The healthy restaurant franchise checked all the boxes. The product was unique, the identity was aspirational, the business model was profitable, and the franchise brand was in sync with the changing priorities of the consumers. The whole package immensely appealed to the Lojos. They realized that Toastique was the franchise brand they would like to partner with. So, how did Adrian know that Toastique would be it? He sums it up like this: “If I had a Toastique two minutes from my house, I know I would be there all the time.” TOASTIQUE – BEYOND TRENDS AND FADS With decades of experience in the restaurant industry, the Lojos have seen many fads come and go, and know the importance of a sustainable idea. They were clear that they didn’t want to join the latest bandwagon in fast food. They wanted to invest in something that had long-term potential in a market that will only grow bigger. As Adrian points out, “There are both hype trends and secular trends in food. Health and nutrition is a secular trend.” He realized that because it’s about one of the fundamental needs and in alignment with consumer concerns across the country and the world, a brand rooted in authentic, nutritious, and tasty food will be here to stay. With greater awareness, there will be greater demand for a brand like Toastique. The events of the past 18 months have shown us that we need to invest in personal health and nutrition. According to Adrian, “There’s a rising belief that we should start paying attention to our health and what we put into our bodies.” But there’s consumer resistance to health and nutrition because, unfortunately, most healthy food found in restaurants is bland and uninspiring. That’s where Toastique redefined the category. The healthy restaurant franchise with its delicious toasts, açaí bowls, and cold-pressed juices proved that food can be both nutritious and delectable. MAKING IT HAPPEN Admittedly for Adrian, “it didn’t come down to a moment of genius” when he met the Founders. He wasn’t swept off his feet. Like any seasoned entrepreneur, Adrian analyzed the performance and conviction of the team. And he was impressed by what Founder Brianna Keefe and CFO/Director of Construction Kyle Izett had achieved. “They’re just two young people. They have a great idea and they’re there, they’re pushing forward and trying to make it happen.” That’s how Adrian describes Brianna and Kyle. He loved the fact that they had the confidence to execute the idea. Importantly, they did it many times over and under challenging circumstances. For someone who’s been in the restaurant industry since that summer when he was 12, that’s an important distinction. Ideas are far too common. But conviction and consistency are something else. He was thoroughly impressed by the effort and commitment of the team. Adrian adds, “That brings me more comfort and security because you realize that it’s not a one-time thing.” AWAITING PEOPLE’S REACTION What’s our latest Franchise Owner looking forward to as the big day nears? For Adrian, it’s related to people. “I want to see how it reverberates and impacts the guests. I want to see their initial reaction.” That’s because, as a concept, Toastique isn’t a concept that is commonly seen in Florida at the moment. So, as he puts it, he is looking forward to the “pleasant surprises on the customers’ faces.” The other thing Adrian is thinking about is how his team will feel when they open. Adrian is excited about seeing that “feeling of accomplishment and teamwork” among his team members. For this Franchise Owner, it all comes down to the product and that’s the reason he’s so confident. “The toast. It tastes just as good as it looks.” JOIN ADRIAN IN THE HEALTHY RESTAURANT FRANCHISE MOVEMENT – OWN A TOASTIQUE! If you’re an entrepreneur who would like to partner with a franchise brand that’s reimagining brunch through delicious toasts and cold-pressed juices, this is your chance. With a lean business model and proven track record, Toastique is inviting potential Franchise Owners. Click here to learn more.
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HOW MUCH DOES IT COST TO START A HEALTHY CAFÉ FROM SCRATCH?
The economy is on a strong growth trajectory and there’s a flurry of entrepreneurship activity. If you too are considering opening a restaurant or a healthy café franchise, it helps to know how much it would cost. Unless you have a clear understanding of the expenses involved in opening and running a healthy café in your community, it’s unwise to invest. So, how much does it cost to open a restaurant? The short answer is that it depends on a lot of factors, from the location to delivery model to cuisine. It also depends on whether it will be a fine-dining restaurant, fast-casual outlet, pop-up, or takeout restaurant. Overall, it’s been estimated that if you lease the building, it will cost you around $3,046 per seat in your restaurant, and if you plan to own the building, it can go up to $3,734 per seat. To understand the costs of starting a restaurant in detail, it would be helpful to break them up into one-time costs and recurring costs. ONE-TIME COSTS These are costs that you’ll have to incur just once. There are true one-time costs including the security deposit for the building that you have to incur only once when you open the restaurant. Other costs like crockery, cutlery, kitchen, and cooking equipment will have to be replaced when they start developing wear and tear. SECURITY DEPOSIT This depends on the location and size of the restaurant. It could be anywhere between $2,000 and $12,000. If you plan to buy the building, then you would need to have around ten percent of the total amount for the down payment. BUSINESS LICENSE FEES You’ll have to pay for city licensing fees, local permits, compliance permits for health and safety, and liquor permits. These depend on governmental rules and could be up to $300. LEGAL FEES You would need the services of an experienced lawyer and that can cost between $500 and $2,000. Your lawyer will ensure that your restaurant is compliant with local laws and formalize the ownership structure. Make sure that you run all your paperwork by your lawyer before you commit to anything. BUILDOUT/REMODELING COSTS You may have to remodel the space, especially the kitchen, to suit your needs. The seating area will also need investments if you opt for a fine-dining restaurant. These costs can add up to around $350,000. KITCHEN AND COOKING EQUIPMENT If yours is a small restaurant, you might be able to do it for under $50,000. It can cost you more than $150,000 if you have a larger kitchen. To reduce your restaurant costs, you can always buy second-hand equipment from restaurants that have gone out of business. TABLEWARE AND FURNITURE These are expected costs if yours is a dine-in restaurant. These might cost you around $8,000 on average for a new restaurant. PAYMENT TECHNOLOGY To keep track of payments, inventory, and orders, you would need a point-of-sale system. This can cost you around $20,000 depending on the model and make you choose. MARKETING One of the most underrated aspects of restaurant expenses is marketing that includes the initial signage and advertising. To increase brand awareness, it might take up to $30,000, and that’s just to get started! RECURRING COSTS These are the associated recurring expenses of running a restaurant. Most of these will fluctuate depending on your size and location. LEASE PAYMENTS The most important of all recurring costs is your monthly lease and it could range from $2,000 to $12,000 or more, depending on the neighborhood where your healthy café is located. The lease will also go up by a small percentage every year. This is another reason why you should negotiate well in the beginning. SALARIES The number of your employees and the size of their salaries will depend on the model and size of your restaurant. Managers might need up to $50,000 in salaries whereas head chefs would demand up to $1,800 per week. If yours is a takeout or pop-up restaurant, you would be saving considerably on these costs. FOOD AND BEVERAGE EXPENSES Your food costs will depend on your menu, which should be based on your target audience and location. You can negotiate with your suppliers and buy in bulk to lower the expenses. You can also go for a satellite license for liquor whereby a brewery, distillery, or winery will designate you as a satellite facility to sell their beverages. UTILITY BILLS AND INSURANCE FEES These include electric, water, phone, gas, internet, trash removal, and internet charges and can add up to around $2,500 per month. You’ll also have to incur the cost of insurance and permits and licenses. ONGOING MARKETING Whether you choose to advertise on hoardings, radio, newspapers, or social media, you would have to consistently spend every month. If you have an agency handling your advertising, you’ll have to pay retainer fees every month. OWNING A HEALTHY CAFÉ FRANCHISE – THE MORE SENSIBLE OPTION Even with all these one-time and recurring costs, there’s no guarantee that the restaurant will succeed. There is immense competition in the industry, which will force you to increase your marketing expenditure or cut down on your prices. But there are no such major risks when you choose to partner with a healthy cafe franchise. To begin with, it would be a proven concept. You don’t have to start from scratch when you invest in a healthy café concept like Toastique that consumers are familiar with. Secondly, consumers would be aware of the product range and you don’t have to needlessly spend on marketing. Toastique, for example, has thousands of followers on Instagram, allowing them to advertise new products and menu offerings for free just using word of mouth and highly Insta-worthy photos! (Of course, our Franchise Owners also receive comprehensive marketing support from our executive team – something else an independent healthy café owner wouldn’t have access to.) Most importantly, with a proven franchise brand like Toastique, you’ll have a dependable and proven business model. With comparatively short buildout and ramp-up time and multiple revenue streams including dine-in, carryout, delivery, and catering, not to mention the minimal need for staff and equipment, you’ll be reducing both one-time and recurring costs while increasing your income. If you’re an entrepreneur planning to get into the restaurant sector, it makes immense sense to go with a proven concept. As Toastique’s Franchise Owners have found out, the brand’s delicious toasts and cold-pressed juices are finding new audiences every day. Click here to know more about how you can get in on this proven and profitable healthy café concept.
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COLORADO SPRINGS COUPLE BRINGS HEALTHY FRANCHISE TO THE COMMUNITY
Colorado Springs, CO now has three new things to look forward to. Toastique is coming to town with not just one or two but THREE all-new locations! And who better to lead this nationally recognized and growing healthy breakfast franchise than Kevin and Krista Christianson? It would be an understatement to say the pair is excited about the venture. “We believe in the brand, and we believe in ourselves! For us, it’s the next adventure in our long-term partnership,” says Krista about owning a healthy franchise with Toastique. One of the things you notice about the Christiansons is they seem to have an uncanny knack for making the right choices. To begin with, they have been married for 23 years. The couple has a son and a daughter, and they have lived in Colorado Springs since 2017. Krista spent 21 years in the Air Force working as a nurse anesthetist. Kevin has over 25 years of experience in the restaurant and retail industry. He also has prior experience in the food service industry, having run his own quick-service restaurant when the family was in California. Kevin and Krista Christianson have demonstrated through their professional and personal lives that they value loyalty, discipline, and commitment. While that makes the couple inspirational, what makes them unique is how they defy the stereotypes around entrepreneurship. There has been an unfortunate assumption that starting your own business is only an option for those in their 20s or 30s, or that owning a business is only possible with years to decades of previous business management experience. In actuality, becoming a business owner through investing in a healthy franchise like Toastique is a smart and fun way to transition from one’s previous career to something that can bring a new level of personal and professional fulfillment. Kevin and Krista Christianson are prime examples of what it really takes to own and run a successful business. Anyone can become an entrepreneur provided they have the commitment to work hard, desire to learn, and can demonstrate people management skills. For the Christiansons, it was also an opportunity to start an exciting journey together. Krista says, “Entrepreneurship seemed like the perfect fit as we redefine our goals for the next several years.” For the couple, investing in Toastique was more than a business venture. Krista explains, “As a family, we experienced both personal and professional transitions in recent years that inspired us to reinvent and reinvest in ourselves.” It’s not just for themselves, though. The Christiansons are also embarking on this exciting phase of their lives to inspire the next generation. As Krista says, “We want to set a positive example for our children.” One can safely say that this family is into sports, particularly soccer. Kevin has played soccer all of his life. He has also been a youth soccer coach for several years. Both of the couple’s children also play soccer at a competitive level. The Christiansons place high importance on health and with Toastique’s focus on healthy, all-natural food, the franchise brand seemed like the perfect fit. “Toastique represents everything we were looking for in a fast-casual concept,” says Krista. The family’s reason for choosing Toastique is perhaps the simplest, yet also the most important motivation for owning a business: “It is a place where we would want to be customers.” The couple saw the positive effects the healthy breakfast franchise can bring to their neighborhood. Krista says they “liked the idea of introducing healthy vibrant food options into our community.” But it’s not just the healthy gourmet toasts or cold-pressed juices that the couple has in mind. They are also extremely serious about “delivering it in a way that meets our high standards for quality and customer service.” Krista is confident that they can do it, saying, “it helps that Kevin works so well with customers and they love him.” The couple was also impressed by the Founder of Toastique Brianna Keefe and Kyle Izett, CFO and Director of Construction. “They welcomed our questions, provided tons of information, showed us their stores, and made us feel like we could be part of the brand,” Krista recalls. THE APPROVAL DAY EXPERIENCE The Christiansons believe that they were fortunate to be able to spend a day with Toastique healthy franchise Founder Brianna Keefe and COO/Construction Manager Kyle Izett, along with the rest of the executive team at their Approval Day in Washington, D.C. What they liked about the leadership of Toastique was the leadership team’s openness. Krista says, “Brianna and Kyle were genuine and transparent about their backgrounds and goals for the brand. It was like hanging out with friends!” The new Franchise Owners loved having a first-hand experience of how Toastique worked during their Approval Day. As Krista explains, “We were able to see Brianna and Kyle in their element and how they interacted with their staff and their team.” What made the couple choose Toastique over others? They did their market research about the product and the Founders and found them to be “far superior to any other concept.” But it was the meeting with Brianna and Kyle that cemented the deal for the Christiansons. “Once Kevin and I experienced Toastique as customers while sitting down with Brianna and Kyle in D.C., we both knew we were in the right place,” says Krista. Do they have any advice for fellow entrepreneurs? Krista’s succinct response sums up the couple’s focus, determination, and drive: “Be patient. It can be a long process.” HEALTHY GOALS FOR A HEALTHY FRANCHISE As Opening Day draws nearer and nearer for Krista and Kevin, the couple looks forward to what they consider one of the most important things about owning a healthy franchise like Toastique: “We can’t wait to provide something healthful and positive in our own community.” Kevin and Krista are excellent role models for anyone thinking of becoming an entrepreneur and helping their community thrive in more ways than one. They are excited to introduce their neighborhood to Toastique’s unique offerings that include healthy gourmet toasts, açaí bowls, espresso drinks, and cold-pressed juices. They are also encouraged by their potential for success, thanks to Toastique’s lean business model and multiple, easy-to-pivot revenue streams and flexible format. We are encouraged to welcome another amazing couple of Owners into our growing healthy franchise family, and can’t wait to see what Krista and Kevin accomplish! 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