1851

Since COVID-19 hit, businesses across all industries have been forced to pivot operations in order to survive amid mandated shutdowns — especially in the restaurant industry. Now, as states slowly begin to reopen, franchisors are helping restaurant operators prepare for the complex process.&nbsp;<a href="https://www.togos.com/franchising/why-togos/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-togos-is-bouncing-back-from-covid-19-2713813" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Togo’s</a>, the West Coast’s original big-and-meaty sandwich concept, was founded in San Jose, California in 1971 and has since grown to nearly 200 locations. While almost all of<a href="https://1851franchise.com/togos/info/index.html"> Togo’s</a> locations have been able to stay open for pick-up and delivery services during the pandemic, dining rooms have remained closed. Now, guidelines are slowly starting to change throughout the country and Togo’s restaurants have been able to open for outdoor dining.“Togo's is preparing to reopen our dining rooms in many ways,” said<a href="https://1851franchise.com/togos/true-to-the-sandwich-aligned-to-the-consumer-togos-30-brand-refresh-keeps-togos-director-of-franchise-development-john-dyer-excited-about-the-growth-potential-for-the-brand-2711002#brand-latest-stories"> John Dyer, director of franchise sales and real estate</a>. “Social distancing guidelines are set to become long-lasting in certain areas and Togo’s has created a thorough plan that includes supplying franchisees branded decals for the floors to ensure social distancing, and we’ve been gradually making other safety decisions around store operations. All employees are required to wear face masks and employees are&nbsp; given a wellness check before starting their shift.”<a href="https://1851franchise.com/togos/for-farid-biglari-of-togos-its-all-about-the-people-and-an-honest-sandwich-2710480#brand-latest-stories">As Farid Biglari, senior director of operations services</a> points out, Togo’s has already had to pivot operations in order to succeed during this difficult time. “Our business has certainly shifted over the past few months and off-premise service is more important than ever,” he said. “We have also increased<a href="https://1851franchise.com/togos/reasons-to-look-at-togos-franchise-opportunity-over-the-competition-three-decades-of-history-and-fresh-quality-products-2711004#brand-latest-stories"> support and communication with franchisees</a> about staff training, CDC guidelines, testing and more. We’ve provided flyers and in-store signage to help franchisees prepare for reopening and ensure that operations run smoothly.”According to Biglari, 30% of Togo’s systemwide sales are now from online orders and third-party delivery. To further minimize guest interactions during the pandemic, Togo’s has added a curbside pick-up option so customers can place orders online and have the option of staying in their car. . In addition, all take-out bags are sealed with tamper resistant stickers to promote sanitation.With this adaptable business model, Togo’s has seen sales slowly bounce back. “In April, our systemwide sales were down over 40% compared to the same time last year, but as of August, we're only down 9%,” said Biglari. “Compared to most other concepts, that’s really great and shows that our customers truly love our products. All the steps we have taken for our franchisees and our guests have created loyal customers.”While Togo’s has always stayed ‘true to the sandwich,’ the fast-casual brand has spent the last year working to align their flavorful offering with a younger generation of fans thanks to a brand refresh known as<a href="https://1851franchise.com/togos/how-togo-s-continues-to-stand-out-in-the-increasingly-crowded-sandwich-segment-2710146"> Togo’s 3.0</a>.&nbsp;Biglari points out that this<a href="https://1851franchise.com/togos/how-togos-30-added-cutting-edge-technology-to-better-serve-customers-and-employees-2710999#brand-latest-stories"> Togo’s 3.0 model has proven to be incredibly valuable amid COVID-19 and will position the stores for success when they reopen.</a> For one, the revamped restaurant layout focuses on off-premise services, with streamlined pick-up areas that make the process easier for employees and customers. The 3.0 stores also feature third-party delivery partnerships with couriers like DoorDash.Even amid the pandemic, Togo’s has been able to give the green light for remodels at some of the brand’s established locations. By the end of the year, the brand also plans to remodel two or three more stores in the Northern California area.“We’ve analyzed everything from product offerings to vendor partnerships to technology to restaurant layout, and we feel great about where Togo's is headed in relation to the new normal,” said Biglari. “The landscape of the industry will be very different coming out of COVID-19 and we’ve been working hard to ensure that our restaurants are cost-effective for franchisees and create an unmatched experience for our guests.”The current initial investment for Togo’s franchise ranges from $268,000 to $501,500, which includes a $15,000 to $30,000 franchise fee. For more information, visit<a href="https://www.togos.com/franchising?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-togos-is-bouncing-back-from-covid-19-2713813" target="_blank" rel="nofollow"> https://www.togos.com/franchising</a>.

How Togo's Is Bouncing Back from COVID-19

1851 Franchise

The famous sandwich chain is leveraging technology and a strong support infrastructure to position franchisees for continued success in the new normal.


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-togos-is-bouncing-back-from-covid-19

Melting Pot

Photo of interior of Melting Pot restaurant

Lexington Herald Leader: This Restaurant Chain Eyes a Return to Lexington After 10 Years

melting-pot-return-to-lexington

Keke's Breakfast Cafe

Keke's Breakfast Cafe - John and Kimberly Ehrhard - 1851 Franchise

Empowering Leadership, One Pancake at a Time: How John and Kimberly Ehrhard Are Building a Franchise Legacy with Keke’s Breakfast Cafe

john-kimberly-ehrhard-kekes-franchise

Comfort Keepers

More Than a Caregiver: Loretta Smith's Support Extends to Fellow Caregivers, Clients and the Community

more-than-a-caregiver-loretta-smiths-support-extends-to-fellow-caregivers-clients-and-the-community

Photo of Melting Pot CEO John "JC" Crawford

Melting Pot Names New CEO, Celebrates 50th Anniversary With Continued Growth and Leadership Promotions

melting-pot-franchise-mid-year-2025

Layne's Chicken Fingers

Texas Layne’s Franchisee Secures Real Estate in Austin, Set To Open Early Next Year

texas-laynes-franchisee-secures-real-estate-in-austin-set-to-open-early-next-year

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

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

Hardee’s Lawsuit Highlights the Risk of Going Off-Model in Franchising

hardees-franchise-lawsuit-paradigm-investment-group

Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-costs-fees-2025

How-petbar-Makes-Pets-and-Their-Owners-Happy-as-Part-of-the-Family-in-a-Clean-and-Fun-Environment

How petbar Makes Pets and Their Owners Happy as Part of the Family in a Clean and Fun Environment

petbar-franchise-opportunity-boutique-pet-grooming

petbar Franchisees Win the $6.89B Global Market With Complete Transparency, Self-Service and Membership Models, Creating the Happiest Place for Dogs

petbar-franchise-opportunity

Bringing Robots to Main Street: How Elad Inbar’s RobotLAB Franchise Is Powering the Local AI Revolution

bringing-robots-to-main-street-how-elad-inbars-robotlab-franchise-is-powering-the-local-ai-revolution

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

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

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

How Togo's Is Bouncing Back from COVID-19

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS