How Mr. Mac’s Took a Beloved Northeastern Staple and Turned it Into a Franchise

While the origin of macaroni and cheese arguably dates back to 14^th century Italy, there is no denying that this savory dish is an American staple.  So American, in fact, that it’s nearly impossible to find someone who doesn’t enjoy this time-honored comfort food. It’s no surprise that a restaurant dedicated to this delectable dish has been met with great success. Mr. Mac’s was born in 2010 in Manchester, New Hampshire, featuring more than 20 signature entrees, along with the finest quality ingredients and an impeccable customer experience, and has experienced rapid growth since. 

Co-founded by the brother-sister duo of Patrick Cain and Valerie Anderson, Mr. Mac’s has been a local favorite since its inception.  With their vision being much bigger than a single location, both siblings agreed they needed to hire a general manager with restaurant experience. Mark Murphy, who originally joined the team five years ago as a line cook right out of college, immediately saw the opportunity with Mr. Mac’s and was eventually promoted to that GM role. 

Fast-forward five years and the co-founders believed the brand was established enough to expand, but needed guidance on how to make that happen. Enter Steve Beagelman, the president and CEO of SMB Franchise Advisors*. Cain had originally met Beagelman at an industry trade show a couple years prior and reconnected when he accepted an invite to attend an SMB client event to learn more about franchising. After that event, Cain knew he’d found the resources to take Mr. Mac’s to the next level. 

In October 2015, Mr. Mac’s engaged with SMB under a full-service launch into franchising. This scope of work has included everything from competitive research and analysis to the creation of business terms and its Franchise Disclosure Document (FDD) in early 2016. More recently SMB has played an integral role in building Mr. Mac’s operations manual, as well procuring potential franchisees. 

When it comes to signing new franchisees, Mr. Mac’s isn’t looking to sign 100 deals in its first year. 

“We’re being very selective with our initial franchise partners. We want them to have an emotional connection with our products and our customers. Macaroni and cheese is nostalgic. It reminds people of growing up. It’s important that our partners embrace this,” said Cain.

In April 2016, Mr. Mac’s officially signed its first franchise partner, who committed to a three-pack deal in the Northern Massachusetts area. Projected dates for the first openings are February and May 2017. 

Weighing in on his franchising experience so far, Cain said, “It’s a completely different hat, I’m learning a ton, and it’s great to have SMB just a phone call away.”

The sky is truly the limit for Mr. Mac’s. With Mark Murphy taking on the new VP of Franchising role, and SMB guiding the way, it’s only a matter of time before Mr. Mac’s takes the franchising world by storm.