Cheba Hut | EXECUTIVE Q&A
Q&A With Cheba Hut Founder Scott Jennings
What about Cheba Hut makes it unique within its industry?
Cheba Hut stands out in a crowded market with sandwiches that have robust flavor profiles. Our “Toasted Subs” are stacked with high-quality meat and vegetables, topped with our proprietary sauces and held together with delicious breads. Our shops are also complete with a bar that creates a community atmosphere that franchisees are encouraged to embrace. Serve local beer. Commission a local artist to create your wall mural. Create two sandwiches unique to your location. At Cheba Hut, franchisees are encouraged to break the mold and embrace the non-traditional.
What have been some of the brand's most important milestones over the past five years?
We strongly believe in corporate development —many brands clearly do not believe in their brand by opening up corporate stores, but we do. we have also bee building up our operations to the expected levels of an emerging brand, continuing to drive sales—same-store sales have been up by 30% + percent over the past five years and celebrating 20 years in business.
What plans does the brand have in the coming years?
We are looking to expand our current markets: California, Oregon, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, Colorado, and Wisconsin. New markets we would like to target include Texas, Florida, Washington, Chicago, Georgia and the Carolinas.
What does an ideal franchisee look like?
We have a no asshole policy, we want people who are fun and authentic. We are looking for someone who is passionate about the brand, who’s looking to be a member of a team. Whether you’re new to franchising, or a sophisticated investor, we want someone who is hungry to succeed and grow in multiple markets. Our franchisees must have the drive to dominate their market and we want their customers to feel like their local Cheba Hut is the only Cheba Hut.
Why is Cheba Hut a good investment?
Our initial investment is affordable, between $315,500 and $664,500. We keep it simple with no flat tops, deep fryers or expensive hoods. This allows for ease of operations and revenue and stability of the traditional restaurant model without the headache. In addition, our average store sales are $1.25 million which are growing by an average of 15% each year. We have an industry-leading sales-to-investment ratio and we are riding the "green wave" as the legalization of marijuana continued to sweep the nation.