BIGGBY® COFFEE’s latest Indiana franchise owners, Jessica Blumenfeld and Kerry Wright, have spent most of their careers in the world of franchising, beginning with McDonald's. Blumenfeld worked with a franchise owner of 11 McDonald's stores, where she discovered her passion for community interaction and business ownership. Wright, on the other hand, spent 35 years with McDonald's in Australia and the U.S., working both on the corporate and franchising sides. 

Both women share a deep love for franchising and are excited to introduce BIGGBY® COFFEE to Portage, Indiana. The duo plans to bring the unique drive-thru-only with a walk up window model, called "BCubed," to the community in November, offering a fresh take on the coffee experience. 

1851 Franchise spoke with the business partners about their journey and what led them to BIGGBY® COFFEE. Here’s what they had to say.

1851 Franchise: Frame your personal story for us. What did you do before franchising, and how did you decide franchising made sense for you?

Jessica Blumenfeld: Franchising helped me through college, as I worked at McDonald's during that time and developed a deep interest in it. After graduating, I pursued a different career but later returned to franchising. For 12 years, I worked with a McDonald's franchise owner who operated 11 stores, and I loved it — the community interaction and the people we worked with. I’m currently working in another industry, and while I will continue in that role, I was drawn to BIGGBY® COFFEE because of its culture. I love that they encourage you to live your best life, and I’m passionate about their coffee and food. 

Kerry Wright: I’m similar to Jess, but I started in Australia. I’ve worked for McDonald’s since I was 15 years old while I was at school and then made it my career, so it has been a huge part of my life. I was fortunate to travel when I was younger, and while home and abroad, I was amazed how the franchise model works to create consistent experiences and products wherever you are. That brings comfort to me as a customer and now as an owner. BIGGBY® COFFEE has been around since 1995 and is well-established in Michigan. We’re opening in Indiana, and we love the people and culture here. I left McDonald’s last year after 35 years, working on both the corporate and franchising sides. Franchising requires effort, but the concept of being in business for yourself (but not by yourself) is something we really appreciate.

1851: What was your perception of franchising prior to becoming a franchisee, and what do you want people to know about franchising now that you are in it?

Blumenfeld: I know for a fact that as soon as I started working with a franchise, I realized there was a huge opportunity to learn so much more about business. I've always had a super positive outlook on franchising because I see it as a stepping stone. For some, it’s their first job, leading to another career, while for others, it’s a path to building a great company. Like Kerry said, we have a team cheering us on, helping us succeed. In franchising, you often find great teams, set goals together and work toward making everyone's lives better.

Wright: From my experience, the franchise community is like a family, as Jessica mentioned, where people can grow. I started as a crew person and now, owning a franchise with Jessica is one of the most exciting things I’ve ever done, with the great support of my husband.

Franchising offers real opportunity. You can be the entrepreneur you want to be within the franchise model. Whether you want one or several locations, the system provides strength with routines and systems, great suppliers and the best people and food safety practices. The community aspect of franchising, mirroring the opportunity to truly be part of our local communities, is something I really value.

1851: What made you pick this brand? What excites you most about this company?

Blumenfeld: I was really interested in the vision of Bob Fish, one of the co-founders, and his "One Big Island in Space" philosophy. The culture he's implementing within BIGGBY® COFFEE is fascinating and really inspiring, especially how he’s involving the franchisees. What I love most about BIGGBY® is their strong people culture — it’s fantastic and was a big draw for me. I was also a customer, and I loved their Bragels and the fun, creative names for their drinks. It all really pulled me in.

Wright: That's such a great point. Jessica actually introduced me to BIGGBY® COFFEE — I hadn’t heard of them before. After visiting stores and speaking to some owners and their teams, I truly see BIGGBY® COFFEE has done an amazing job of staying true to their mission. Their focus on creating positivity in the workplace and genuinely caring for their people is clear. They even put it on their cups: "We love our coffee, but we love our people even more."

1851: What do you hope to achieve with your business? What are your plans for growth? 

Blumenfeld: I’m so excited to be able to partner with Kerry. One of the things that drew me to BIGGBY® COFFEE was the opportunity to have partners, and working with Kerry is amazing. As she mentioned, we share similar values, and we both love the franchising business. I think we’re going to have a lot of fun with it.

We’re focused on growing our business in Portage and making it the best QSR [quick-service restaurant] in town — a place where everyone wants to go for coffee, bagels and great service. I’m really committed to making BIGGBY® COFFEE the go-to spot in Portage.

Wright: One of the things Jess and I really love is that we’re doing the drive-thru-only model, which we thought was such a cool concept. We’re excited to bring the first one to Portage. It’s a different and unique setup, with a walk up window and seating patio as well, and we’re hoping to offer Portage and our greater communities not just the brand, but a new experience — how customers engage with our menu and our people.

This is a fully woman-owned business, and I really hope it can be inspirational to young people out there. Jess and I both started as young crew members at McDonald's, and now we’ve had this amazing opportunity to own our own franchise. I hope our journey can inspire others to pursue their dreams. We also want to develop great leaders within our team, offering them career opportunities to grow alongside us.

1851: What is the one thing about your story you want us to know?

Blumenfeld: Franchising has been a big part of my journey. I started as a crew member at McDonald's and worked my way up through the system, learning to love the franchising model along the way. Now, I’m thrilled to be able to partner with my great friend and business partner Kerry to open a BIGGBY® COFFEE. I’m truly excited about this new chapter.

Wright: I’d say that we are incredibly proud and fortunate to have the opportunity to bring BIGGBY® COFFEE to Portage. We want to be an active part of the community while also giving back, and we're really looking forward to building those connections and making a positive impact.

1851: What advice do you have for other people thinking about becoming a franchise owner?

Blumenfeld: I would say really take the time to research the companies thoroughly. Once you’ve done that, I think you’ll just know if it’s a good fit for you and if you’re passionate about it. If it feels right, then go for it!

Wright: To add to that, franchising is a rapidly evolving environment that’s continuously growing. It’s a lot different now than it was 20 or 30 years ago, and the opportunities available today are exciting. The great thing is, many people who might have thought they could never own a franchise now have the chance. So, definitely make research your first step, and then put your heart into it.

About The BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchise 

BIGGBY® COFFEE, based in East Lansing, Mich., was started with a single store on March 15, 1995. One year later, and on the cusp of opening a second location, Bob Fish and Michael McFall, on a handshake and $4,000, decided to franchise the concept. The brand’s cultural values of Make Friends, Have Fun, B Yourself and Share Great Coffee help coffee-lovers and the coffee-curious alike benefit from a less pretentious and fun approach to the standard gourmet cafe paradigm. Besides connoisseur-worthy drinks with names like Teddy Bear® and Caramel Marvel®, BIGGBY® COFFEE baristas provide a unique experience focused on brightening their customers’ day and supporting them in building a life they love. The “Big ‘B’” on the orange background caught on, and today BIGGBY® COFFEE has 400+ cafes across many states, including Virginia, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Idaho, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Wisconsin, Tennessee, Kentucky and Florida.