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The better-breakfast brand appeals to franchisees thanks to a scratch kitchen, flexible operating hours and a focus on treating both its customers and employees with respect and admiration.
Famous Toastery has been one of the fastest-growing better-breakfast chains in the U.S. As an early pioneer of the breakfast-and-lunch-only sector, Famous Toastery has made a name for itself by offering all-day breakfast long before the quick-service giants had discovered the sales potential of this daypart. In addition to breakfast staples like waffles and avocado toast, the restaurant also serves an extensive array of traditional lunch selections, like burgers, wraps, a crab roll and grilled cheese on sourdough bread. Toasted, of course.
After starting a franchise program in 2013, the North Carolina-based concept jumped from three to more than 25 stores in just five years, and franchisees were particularly drawn to the brand’s proven business model and strong support infrastructure and to the opportunity for an attractive work-life balance.
Here are the top five reasons to invest in a Famous Toastery restaurant in 2020.
For those interested in franchising with Famous Toastery, the brand offers a wide range of available territories in states all over the country.
“A lot of our competitors in the FSR industry are either sold out or don’t franchise, and it gives us the opportunity to reach more consumers,” said CEO Robert Maynard. “As we continue to grow, we are focused primarily on territories close to home in order to make sure franchisees receive the support they need to scale their business.”
Franchisee Stacy White started with Famous Toastery in 2015 in Mooresville, North Carolina and was quickly able to grow thanks to the wide open availability. “My family has always loved Famous Toastery, and after deciding to franchise with the brand in 2015, we saw tremendous success in the community,” said White. “We were able to scale our business and open a second Mooresville location in 2018. Robert was able to help us negotiate with landlords, and we received a ton of support from corporate when searching for an available site.”
Famous Toastery offers an elevated breakfast/brunch/lunch experience by using all fresh ingredients, offering seasonal specials and creating top-quality meals from a scratch kitchen. In addition, the brand is on trend with dietary needs and nutritional preferences — Famous Toastery is currently working on menu innovation for plant-based options. Even with its exceptional food, its service is faster than that of many FSRs.
“The scratch kitchen and high-quality ingredients are definitely an edge we have over other restaurants,” said Roanoke, Virginia-based franchisee Dave Arnold. “Our recipes are better as well. We keep things simple, and it works very well. So many restaurants try to add so many ingredients to make the dish sound good but then fail in the execution because the complexity makes consistency hard to accomplish. Guests notice our fresh food, and that is why they keep coming back. It is one of the major keys to our success.”
According to Maynard, Famous Toastery is the antithesis of the greasy spoon. “All of our food is made in house and nothing is shipped in from a vendor,” he said. “When it comes to trends, we’ve been offering gluten free options for 12 years and plant-based eggs when no one knew what those were. We offer indulgent food, but having healthier options is really important. Plus, we still have 4-6 minute ticket times — the right menu to execute fast requires a lot of training, but it is worth it.”
Maynard notes that the brand’s motto of “Every Server is Your Server” is what ensures exceptional customer service at all locations. “It is a team effort at Famous Toastery — one server brings the food and another brings the check. This ensures that everyone standing up is serving those sitting down, and no customer has to worry about a server putting the responsibility onto someone else.”
The “Every Server is Your Server” motto has had a major impact on Arnold’s restaurant’s operations. “It allows us to provide a fast and high level of customer-focused service and allows our serving staff to make great money, which keeps them around and happy,” he said.
White notes that the key to success is to make sure that all staff is trained properly. “You never want to over-serve, and it is important to train staff to communicate with customers to understand their specific needs,” she said. “We have been very successful, and it has worked very well for us, but it really requires extensive training to pull off. In addition, we have been very fortunate to be the leading breakfast place in town, which means all of our servers know everyone that comes in the store. That relationship can only happen because every server is your server.”
With a menu that only includes breakfast and lunch fare, Famous Toastery’s operating hours are from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. local time. This allows franchisees and their employees to be home by 4 p.m. every day, avoiding the late-night lifestyle that accompanies most of the other opportunities in the full-service restaurant category. Moreover, landlords see Famous Toastery as an appealing addition to their parking lots because the restaurant opens up parking lot spaces in the afternoon and evening.
“When I discovered Famous Toastery, I really liked the daytime hours, and I could see how successful the current location in my area was at the time,” said Arnold.
Famous Toastery operates on a proven franchise model that has been tested and refined over the last 15 years, leading to impressive results. In conjunction with real estate assistance, an extensive new owner training program and ongoing franchisee support, the brand’s system is structured to bring passionate, motivated business owners success from the moment they open their doors. Relatively low start-up costs in the full-service restaurant segment coupled with solid unit-level economics make Famous Toastery a lucrative opportunity for prospective franchisees.
“We are in the breakfast/lunch business, so our goal is to get a new store open for a price that is affordable and makes sense for generating ROI,” said Maynard. “We don’t want to be building a restaurant space for a million dollars. We want to keep it looking nice, hip and fast, but still be economical. Our kitchen is built for speed, maximizing space and costs.”
Famous Toastery recently ranked in Restaurant Business’ The Future 50 thanks to a 21.2% YOY sales change and 8% YOY unit change, despite the economic downturn caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Although the restaurant industry is likely to see continued hard times during the pandemic, Famous Toastery seems to be on a path to further success. During the crisis, the breakfast brand restarted its franchising program and initiated a new point of sale (POS) system to permit online ordering. Since then, the brand has continued to receive inquiries from franchise candidates to join the system. In fact, two stores opened during COVID-19, and a third is planned to open before the start of 2021. Maynard says he believes in the versatility of their franchise model and the drive of their franchisees to keep the momentum going.
To learn more about franchise opportunities, visit: www.OwnAToastery.com.
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