1851

Daryl Hunter spent decades working as a software consultant after realizing he was ready for a change. The job demanded&nbsp;constant travel, and Hunter was eager for a career and lifestyle that would allow him to spend more time with his family.

&ldquo;I loved my previous career as a software consultant, but I hated the travel,&rdquo; said Hunter. &ldquo;My wife and I always had that entrepreneurial spirit and we knew it was time to look for something a little closer to home. That&rsquo;s when we started the process of researching our options.&rdquo;

The &ldquo;process&rdquo; began when Hunter attended a franchise show in London, Ontario. He recalls being completely overwhelmed after walking into the convention and seeing the number of different franchise concepts to choose from. Also exhibiting at this show was&nbsp;Dave Broughton, a &nbsp;franchise consultant with FranNet Southwestern Ontario. Broughton works with individuals considering business ownership to match them with a franchise business.

&ldquo;Dave&rsquo;s booth was the last one I visited that day,&rdquo; said Hunter. &ldquo;And it was a nice change from the typical &lsquo;sales&rsquo; approach I had been experiencing.&rdquo;

Hunter was particularly interested in franchising because of the added security a franchise is able to provide by way of established systems and procedures. He saw a parallel between his previous career of installing systems in different places to now taking a proven franchise system and establishing it in a new market. He decided to meet with Broughton to learn more about the different franchise options available to him.

After working together to help identify Hunter&rsquo;s goals and skillsets, Broughton introduced a few franchise concepts that he considered a good fit. One of those concepts was&nbsp;<a href="http://www.zoupfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-daryl-hunter-spearheaded-zoups-first-location-in-canada-12183" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Zoup!</a>, and Hunter was drawn to the company right away.

&ldquo;I loved the idea of entering the booming fast-casual industry. But even more than that, I loved the role that&nbsp;Zoup!&nbsp;was playing in the space. Its business&rsquo; operational hours were in line with what I was looking for. And I enjoyed the corporate culture and the genuine story behind its soups,&rdquo; Hunter said. &ldquo;I wanted a unique opportunity&mdash;one with growth potential. I found that with Zoup!&rdquo;

This was back in 2011, and at that time, the franchise had yet to come to Canada from the U.S., where it currently has nearly 100 locations. So when Hunter opened his first location in Waterloo, Ontario in June 2011, he officially became the franchise&rsquo;s first franchisee in Canada. Just eight days after opening, Hunter and his wife welcomed triplets into the family. They both credit the brand&rsquo;s support system for making such a hectic time as seamless as possible.

Two years later, in 2013, he opened a second store in Kitchener, and then a third in London, Ontario. That same year, he was awarded the &ldquo;Passion for the Brand&rdquo; award at the annual Zoup! Franchise Reunion. He believes that a lot of his growth over the years is due, in large part, to the brand&rsquo;s unparalleled soup, salads and sandwiches.

&ldquo;Our food is incredible. Fast-Casual dining is still fairly new in Canada, and the cold climate makes Zoup! a really good fit,&rdquo; Hunter said.&nbsp; &ldquo;I think the intangible qualities of soup &nbsp;are so appealing, too. Just the thought of soup conjures up feelings of warmth, comfort and well-being. And I&rsquo;m so excited that I&rsquo;ve had the chance to bring that to Canada.&rdquo;

How Daryl Hunter Spearheaded Zoup!’s First Location in Canada

1851 Franchise

Multi-unit franchisee Daryl Hunter decided to reinvest in Zoup! after realizing the brand’s limitless potential


This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

how-daryl-hunter-spearheaded-zoups-first-location-in-canada

Onigilly Japanese Kitchen

Unlocking the Potential: How Much Can You Earn as an Onigilly Franchisee?

unlocking-the-potential-how-much-can-you-earn-as-an-onigilly-franchisee

Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions

DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno 

Grease, Grit, and Growth: DeWitts Ignite New Chapter for Filta Environmental Kitchen Solutions in Reno, Nevada

grease-grit-and-growth-dewitts-ignite-new-chapter-for-filta-environmental-kitchen-solutions-in-reno-nevada

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Layne's Chicken Fingers-50 Unit-Wendy's-Franchisee-June-2025

Why This 50 Unit Wendy’s Franchisee Is Betting on Layne’s for His Next Big Move

wendys-franchisee-expands-with-laynes-chicken-fingers-texas

CapitalSpring

CapitalSpring’s Jim Balis Talks Growth, ROI and the Future of Fast Casual on “Rock My Restaurant”

capitalsprings-jim-balis-talks-growth-roi-and-the-future-of-fast-casual-on-rock-my-restaurant

Children's Lighthouse

Children’s Lighthouse Ramps Up Growth in First Half of 2025 With Strategic Expansions, Franchise Signings, and New Headquarters

childrens-lighthouse-ramps-up-growth-in-first-half-of-2025-with-strategic-expansions-franchise-signings-and-new-headquarters

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

what-junes-jobs-report-means-for-the-franchise-industry

Drone Delivery Takes Flight in QSR: The Future of Franchise Operations?

drone-delivery-takes-flight-in-qsr-the-future-of-franchise-operations

Chick-fil-A Tops Customer Satisfaction Rankings for 11th Year as Challenger Brands Gain Ground

chick-fil-a-tops-customer-satisfaction-rankings-for-11th-year-as-challenger-brands-gain-ground

Technomic Releases Annual Ranking of the Top 15 Fast-Food Chains in the U.S.

technomic-releases-annual-ranking-of-the-top-15-fast-food-chains-in-the-us

Rising Jobless Claims Could Signal Challenges — and Opportunities — for Franchising

rising-jobless-claims-affect-franchising

The Ultimate Guide to Selling Franchises: How To Create a Strong Incentive

how-to-build-strong-incentives-to-attract-prospective-franchisees

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Carol DeNembo — Chief Marketing Officer, Mountain Mike’s Pizza

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-carol-denembo-chief-marketing-officer-mountain-mikes-pizza

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Kelsey McManemin — Vice President of Marketing, HTeaO

top-25-franchise-marketing-leaders-kelsey-mcmanemin-vice-president-of-marketing-hteao

Missy Maio - Gong Cha - Top Franchise Marketing Leaders - 1851 Franchise

Top 25 Franchise Marketing Leaders: Missy Maio — Vice President of Marketing and Global Partnerships, Gong Cha

franchise-marketing-leader-missy-maio-gong-cha

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise

How Vishal Juneja Turned a Family Tradition Into a Paris Baguette Franchise Built on Heart and Community

paris-baguette-franchise-rockaway-new-jersey-vishal-junjea

petbar Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

petbar-franchise-deep-dive

Design with outline of three houses and people working on laptops within them

Top 10 Low-Cost Home-Based or Mobile Franchises for 2025

low-cost-home-based-mobile-franchises

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Juan & Whitney Fernandez & family, BIGGBY COFFEE logo

From Chiropractic to Coffee: These BIGGBY® COFFEE Franchisees Are Brewing Something New in Troy, Ohio 

biggby-coffee-franchise-coming-to-troy-ohio

How Daryl Hunter Spearheaded Zoup!’s First Location in Canada

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS