Franchise Times: Takeout Gets a French Chef Spin at Grégoire

Grégoire Jacquet, a chef known for his culinary finesse, has introduced a unique culinary concept in Berkeley, California, with his eponymous restaurant franchise Grégoire. The establishment offers fine-dining-inspired selections presented in takeout boxes, designed to cater to the modern consumer's need for fast, high-quality meals.. 

In a recent article talking to Franchise Times, Jacquet explained that his passion for cooking blossomed at a young age. “I learned to love and appreciate food early on,” he said. “At 6 years old, I was already in the kitchen with my mom, making blood sausage.”

This passion led Jacquet to pursue a culinary path that saw him working in esteemed kitchens around the world, including the Ritz-Carlton, before establishing his own restaurant Grégoire in 2002. The restaurant’s menu reflects his appreciation for premium, housemade ingredients and locally-sourced produce, offering a range of premium sandwiches, entrees and soups, with a twist of gourmet.

Grégoire, initiated in a modest 500-square-foot space, managed to do $1.54 million in sales last year, leveraging Jacquet's commitment to culinary excellence and operational efficiency. Now, Jacquet is looking to share that business model and expand the reach of his culinary creations through franchising. He plans to support franchisees by operating a culinary hub kitchen to handle most of the preparation, ensuring consistency and alleviating the need for franchisees to bear chef expenses.

“Because we use high-end products, and everything is fresh, it requires special techniques, and I don’t want franchisees to have that chef expense,” Jacquet said.

Jacquet emphasizes the importance of partnering with franchisees who share his passion for food and his commitment to quality, customer service and employee well-being. To encourage referrals, Jacquet is offering a $10,000 reward to customers who refer a candidate who eventually signs a franchise agreement.

Read the full article here.

The cost to open a Grégoire franchise ranges from $240,794 to $357,370. For more information on franchising with Grégoire, https://1851franchise.com/gregoire.