How Toastique’s Founder Used Her Passion for Healthy Living to Bring a Fresh Concept to the Market

Twenty-nine-year-old Brianna Keefe, Founder and CEO of the gourmet toast franchise Toastique, started the brand with two goals in mind: to do something she could be passionate about and enjoy going to work every day. Now, that passion project has become a local favorite in all the markets it serves. Since 2017, Toastique has grown to include 13 units open across D.C., New Jersey, Colorado, Utah and Florida, with agreements assigned for 60 franchise units across the country. It is the perfect opportunity for investors who want to be a part of the $800 billion health and wellness category — one of the fastest-growing in the franchising industry.

“Healthy eating isn’t going out of style,” said Keefe. “The health food industry has been trending upwards year-over-year, and the pandemic brought that into overdrive. Our brand is super simple and scalable, and we have worked hard to perfect our operations, support and menu.”

Health and wellness have always been a priority for Keefe. As a D1 athlete, Keefe developed a passion for creating nutritious snacks in order to fuel her rigorous training and on-the-go lifestyle.

“I was a cheerleader at James Madison University, so I was always on the go, and I had to learn how to eat well,” she said. “Toastique’s menu is everything I’ve always loved eating — juices, smoothies, toasts — the perfect amount of carbs, proteins and fats that will make you feel full without being overstuffed.”

The young entrepreneur decided to open the first Toastique restaurant when she was fresh out of college — and tired of her corporate job. After earning a hospitality degree in college, with a minor in business, Keefe started working as an event coordinator for a hotel in Washington, D.C.

“I was getting super burned out,” said Keefe. “It had always been a hope of mine to open my own restaurant, and after being forced to take a month off because the hotel was going through renovations, it really opened my eyes to how little control I had. One day, I stumbled upon the perfect real estate spot on the water, and I knew it was time to follow my dreams of restaurant ownership.”

By opening Toastique, Keefe was able to combine her passion for healthy food with her professional experience to follow her passion and do something she loved every single day. And she soon discovered that she certainly wasn’t the only one in the area with a passion for healthy eating. In fact, the flagship Toastique location generated over $1 million in sales during its first year without any marketing spend.

After such a successful first launch, Keefe opened a second location just six months after the first, followed by a third store later that year. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Toastique was not only able to stay open but became profitable and popular with local customers, thanks to its adoption of third-party delivery services and the growing awareness surrounding the importance of healthy living. The brand is now growing through franchising, gearing up to open 20 units by mid-2023.

Much like the founder herself, Toastique’s consumers see the importance of quality when it comes to food and beverages. The brand’s unique menu includes customizable gourmet toasts, all-natural cold-pressed juices, smoothies and smoothie bowls. In addition, all Toastique menu offerings are made from locally sourced ingredients prepared in-house where possible.

“Our primary consumer is anyone who doesn’t mind paying a bit more for a good, quality product,” said Keefe. “This could be young professionals in some markets and wealthy seniors into active lifestyles in other markets. We have products that accommodate any age, which is why we’ve grown so fast.”

Keefe’s passion for the brand and its audience continues to be what drives it forward. Looking ahead, Toastique has 20 units expected to open by the end of Q2 2023 and 30 by the end of next year.

“At the end of the day, it’s all about how we can really connect with our consumers,” said Keefe. “It's that sense of community, coupled with the freshness and quality of our food, that makes Toastique more than just a restaurant.”

The initial investment required to start a Toastique franchise ranges from $367,570 to $695,975. For more information on franchising with Toastique, visit https://toastiquefranchising.com/.