Food Franchises; Tips on Choosing a QSR Franchise Opportunity

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Crowd at Good Times after the parade

A Typical Quick Service Restaurant Franchise

(This is a guest post from Jason Hardt, a multi-unit Quick Service Restaurant franchise owner.)


People that are successful in their profession tend to be great at one thing. Michael Jordan was great at basketball. Then he tried to play baseball. He discovered he stunk and went back to playing basketball.

The best QSR franchises are no different. The great ones stick to what they do well and strive to do it better than anyone else. This is the first rule to follow when selecting a QSR franchise to buy…

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Filed Under: Food and Drink Franchises

Help Prevent Childhood Obesity; Become The Owner of This Food Franchise

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Samuel with his buddies

Some of America’s school-age children


(Disclosure; this franchisor is a franchise marketing client of mine.)

Childhood obesity statistics are alarming; over the past three decades, childhood obesity rates in America have tripled. Today, almost one in every three children in our nation is overweight or obese.

First Lady Michelle Obama feels that this issue is so serious, she launched “Let’s Move,” a comprehensive initiative dedicated to solving the problem of obesity within a generation, so that children born today will grow up healthier and able to pursue their dreams.

According to the www.letsmove.gov website, “one third of all children born in 2000 or later will suffer from diabetes at some point in their lives. Many others will face chronic obesity-related health problems like heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer, and asthma.”

If you found out that it was possible to become your own boss in a business that truly makes a difference concerning this issue, would you look into it?

If so, read on…

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Filed Under: Food and Drink Franchises, New Franchises

The McDonald’s Franchise

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Mcd's

 

McDonald’s is the most well-known food franchise in the world. It’s the best of the best, when it comes to franchising. The McDonald’s menu hasn’t changed too, too, much over the years, but other things in this franchise have.

The McDonald’s franchise cost? According to the McDonald’s US franchise opportunity website, you better have a minimum of $500,000 in liquid assets to invest.

I consider McDonald’s to be the Rolls Royce of the franchise world.

Everything they do is first-class. They do salads, $3 coffee, and $1 cheeseburgers. They give cool toys away that are related to current kid’s movies. Customers can still get out of a McDonald’s fairly quick, and fairly cheap. It’s the Mac-Daddy!

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It’s pretty easy to blame others for our “issues.” Lots of consumers try to blame fast food chains like McDonald’s for their unsightly body lines. Not this guy. He accepts complete responsibilty, and he loves McDonald’s hamburgers.

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What does a classic movie like “The Manchurian Candidate” have to do with a fast food franchise like the one with the Golden Arches? Check out how McDonald’s actually uses mind-control techniques that are eerily similar to the ones used quite well in that movie.

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Sometimes, citizens have to take matters into their own hands. I’m talking anarchy. (Actually, I’m not.) But, I am going to suggest something that’s really, really radical. I’ve had enough! I’ve decided that it’s time to teach this amazing food franchise a lesson. It’s time for a ….just read this blog post
 

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Filed Under: Hot Franchise Topics, McDonald's

Margarita's, You're The Best. (New England Mexican Restaurant)

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Margaritas_logo


Margaritas was crowned the Best Mexican Restaurant in the "Baby, You're the Best" contest sponsored by NECN, the regional cable television network serving all of New England. The online contest was part of a summer-long quest to find the best food and drinks that New England has to offer.

"We want to thank our loyal guests and friends of the company for their overwhelming support and to each and every one of our team members who have helped us create the ultimate guest experience, "said John Pelletier, founder of Margaritas Mexican Restaurants. "We also send congratulations to the other four finalists, Las Olas Taqueria, Cafe Azteca, Loco Coco's and Ole Mexican Grill, for their tough competition and for being included in such a select group of New England restaurants."

Margaritas Mexican Restaurant Group has 21 locations throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and Connecticut.


www.FranchiseDirect.com

Filed Under: Food and Drink Franchises

Would You Like A Grilled Cheese Sandwich With That Franchise?

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Grilled_Cheese_with_hoisin

(Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons)

Ahhhhhh…The sound and smell of an American cheese sandwich being cooked in a Teflon-coated 14-inch pan, over the blueish-colored open flame of of a gas stove. Doesn’t it conjure up childhood memories of lunch time in a suburban American household, circa 1969?

Those were my thoughts as I read about the Grilled Cheese & Co’s first location in Catonsville, Maryland.

The focus is on flavor and simplicity with a simple menu. “Its grilled cheese at it’s best,” says Matt Lancelotta, co-founder. We use the finest ingredients and our sandwiches provide an explosion of flavor.”

“Our goal was to add Grilled Cheese to the Fast Casual segment of the foodservice industry. With the explosion of burger restaurants nothing had been done with the grilled cheese category.” That’s the reason for the launch of this niche brand, according to co-founder, Vic Corbi. The restaurant has been designed to have the feel of home. Grilled Cheese & Co. interiors are finished with wainscot on the walls, cherry hardwood floors, and warm earthy colors that ties in very well with the brand.

Here’s a video of Vic Corbi grillin…some cheese.

franchise direct

Filed Under: Food and Drink Franchises

Dunkin' Donuts Returns To Russia, With Love

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According to a story in The Wall Street Journal, a culture that has been one of tea-lovers, is now starting to embrace coffee. Will Russian citizens soon become donut lovers, too?

From the WSJ;

"Dunkin' is hoping to match the success of rival Starbucks Corp. of Seattle.
Less than three years after opening its first store in Russia,
Starbucks boasts 31 locations whose sales make it the third-largest
coffee-shop chain in the country, behind an operation called Coffee
House and the market leader, Shokoladnitsa, Euromonitor International
says. In fourth place is McDonald's Corp.'s McCafé
unit, according to Euromonitor."

Are the Russians going to embrace another American icon? Only time will tell. (Larger waistlines could be a giveaway, too)

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If Sean Kelly was going to report on this story, I'll bet he would have suggested some type of American conspiracy to fatten up the Russians. But…for what reason? MMMMM

Fatty
From Mike-http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/photo/p1lYKn_T0y7Du9I-15iJ-g

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Filed Under: Food and Drink Franchises, International Franchises

MSNBC's Your Biz Samples The Chocolate Bar Franchise

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Just the mention of chocolate is enough to turn even the crabbiest person you know into a beautiful human being.

My hometown of Cleveland, Ohio has a couple of tourist attractions, including The Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame. (Although the judges have been rather weird lately, inducting non rock and roll bands like ABBA into the famed venue)

We now have another one;

The Chocolate Bar. And it's a franchise. And my wife and I have been invited to sample it's supposedly scrumptious desserts and libations.

Wife-libations sampler. King-dessert sampler.

We'll report on this new franchise's Grand Opening soon. MSNBC was in town recently, and featured it. I wrote about it in October. Here

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the economy


Ready for some dessert?

Sample this cool virtual business card.

Filed Under: Food and Drink Franchises, New Franchises

Frightened Food-Franchise Owners Are Fuming In New Jersey

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Diet suks

http://www.flickr.com/photos/thecornballer/ / CC BY-NC 2.0


For you calorie counters;

The New Jersey Senate passed a new calorie law. The calorie law would
require chain restaurants in New Jersey to post the number of calories
in a product right on the menu. The calorie food count measure requires
all restaurants with at least 20 locations nationwide to comply with
the new law. The bill would not apply to salad bars or buffets.

(No calories in that chunky Blue Cheese salad dressing huh, Senators?)

Franchisees of restaurants like IHOP and Windmill Hot Dogs are not happy campers.

At all.

The law is intended to help consumers make smarter food choices by arming them with calorie food count facts. According to Philly.com,
this is not the first time a legislative body has addressed this issue.
New York City was the first jurisdiction to introduce a calorie law
last year. It was followed by California followed in July, Maine,
Massachusetts, and Oregon. Similar measures are being considered in 20
states and localities to date. Philadelphia is planning to enact a
similar law in 2010.

Read this story, here.

Is this an early April Fool's joke?

Filed Under: Food and Drink Franchises

Blimpie Subs For Your Catered Holiday Event?

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Blamericasub
C'mon. Catering by BLIMPIE? Isn't that special?

BLIMPIE, America's Sub Shop, has introduced a
fresh catering menu perfect for all types of gatherings. Catering tray
options include fresh sliced deli meats and cheeses, an assortment of
breads, crispy vegetables, condiments and fresh fruit. Additionally,
side salads, dessert trays and beverages are available making BLIMPIE a
one stop shop for the holidays.

“There’s always something new and fresh going on
with our BLIMPIE franchise opportunity. Now is a great time to join our
franchise family,” said Pat Conlin, BLIMPIE Area Developer. “BLIMPIE
restaurants are easy to own and easy to operate—there’s no cooking or
frying involved, simply fresh sliced meats & cheeses custom
prepared on fresh baked bread for every customer. And, we provide
comprehensive pre-opening and on-going training and support that are
benchmarks for the industry.”

I never would have thought that BLIMPIE would've been on my holiday catering radar screen. MMMM

Filed Under: Food and Drink Franchises

Australian Franchise Market Loves Cookies

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Mrs. fields

Mrs. Fields Cookies, that is. It seems that Mrs. Fields Cookies franchisees are quite the happy bakers, down under.

From Franchise.Net.Au ;

One of the recently opened stores is located at Sydney International
Airport. “It has been very successful as has the other recent store
opening at Castle Towers,” said Mrs Fields Australian managing
director, Andrew Benefield.

A
major highlight for 2009 was Mrs Fields’ second ranking in Top
Franchise’s category of ‘Top 10 Overall Best Franchises’. Franchisees
rank franchises in several criteria include franchise support, rewards,
lifestyle and passion for the enterprise.

Speaking of passion, I had the chance to meet Debbie Field’s, the founder of Mrs. Fields Cookies, at a local small business conference last year. She really charmed the cookies off of me. Here’s a really short snippet of her speech during the 2008 COSE Small Business Conference. Enjoy!


Filed Under: Food and Drink Franchises
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