Growth Club
1851 Growth Club
Raw Replenish Franchise Creates Healthy Communities Through Genuine Connection
Founder and CEO Kate Coleman discusses her journey to franchising and shares how, in her business, relationships are the most important thing on the menu.
Raw Replenish, a plant-based cafe franchise, initially started in the home of Kate Coleman. Coleman was a stay-at-home mom who worked part-time teaching fitness classes at her local YMCA, but she had a dream of providing nourishing, healing juices to her community. The business quickly outgrew Coleman's home garage and was moved to a commercial space, eventually becoming a full-service cafe. Then, in the first year of franchising, Raw Replenish grew to 10 units across multiple states.
Coleman joined 1851 Franchise Publisher Nick Powills on the “Meet the Zor” podcast to discuss her journey in franchising and key differentiators for Raw Replenish.
“[This was] definitely more of a hobby. I was extremely passionate about wellness, fitness, serving people in the community … I’m not coming from a culinary background, so a lot of it was just doing personal research,” Coleman said. “It was truly a passion. Seeing the demand, getting the feedback and building those relationships in the community, still to this day, that’s where it’s at.”
These relationships are crucial to the success of the business, Coleman explained, because customers can tell when owners are trying to make a quick sale and when they actually care about the product and mission.
“Empathy and humility are the two main ingredients that are a big part of my brand,” she said. “If you go into a drive-thru line, you’re not getting that. You’re getting a quick service. You might get a good product, but you’re not ever able to connect with that person.”
Through the brand’s growth to 10 units and six franchise owners, there have been multiple cases of customers turning into franchisees. After experiencing the benefits of plant-based food with a wellness-focused approach, they felt the same passion Coleman did to increase access in their own communities.
“We do have delicious products, but the opportunity is in those relationships,” Coleman said.
Watch the full interview above or by clicking here.
