The Best Thing Since Sliced Bread: Why Toastique is Unlike Any Other Health Food Franchise Out There

The $800 billion health and wellness industry is one of the fastest-growing categories in the franchising industry, and Toastique, the emerging gourmet toast and juice bar franchise based out of Washington, D.C., is one of the most exciting concepts making waves in the segment today. By maintaining a laser focus on excellent product quality, beautiful presentation and outstanding customer service, Toastique has become a local favorite in the D.C. area, expanding to include 13 units open across D.C., New Jersey, Colorado, Utah and Florida with agreements signed for 60 franchise units across the country. Since launching its franchise concept in 2020, Toastique is appealing to like-minded investors who want to introduce a wholesome and delicious experience to their communities and satisfy everyone from college students to families to the business crowd.

“Healthy eating isn’t going out of style,” said Toastique Founder and CEO Brianna 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. If you are dedicated and willing to put in the work, Toastique is a great opportunity to introduce something new and exciting to your community.”

Born Out of a Passion for Healthy Eating

Although Keefe has in-depth professional experience in both the restaurant industry and the hospitality world, the Toastique concept was actually born out of a personal passion: healthy eating. A D1 cheerleader at James Madison University, Keefe developed a love for creating healthy snacks out of necessity in order to fuel her rigorous training and on-the-go lifestyle.

“I was an athlete in college, so I was always on the move, and I had to learn how to eat well,” said Keefe. “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.”

Tired of her corporate hospitality job, Keefe decided to open the first Toastique restaurant in 2017 when she was fresh out of college. By combining her restaurant and hospitality experience with her love for healthy food, Keefe set out to follow her passion and find a way to enjoy going to work every day. Quickly, she discovered that she wasn’t the only one in the D.C. area who was craving a healthy and convenient breakfast option — the flagship Toastique location generated over $1 million in sales during its first year without any marketing spend. 

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 able to stay open, profitable and popular thanks to its adoption of third-party delivery services and the growing awareness of the importance of staying healthy. Now, it’s growing through franchising, gearing up to open 20 units by mid-2023.

Toasts, Smoothies, Juices, Bowls — Oh My! 

While there is no shortage of franchise concepts aiming to tap into the booming health food industry, Toastique stands out with a unique menu that includes customizable gourmet toasts, all-natural cold-pressed juices, smoothies and smoothie bowls, as well as locally-sourced ingredients. Considering Americans currently spend nearly $900,000 per month on avocado toast, and the smoothie and juice bar industry is worth almost $3 billion, this diverse offering fills a much-needed gap in the marketplace, Keefe says. 

“We truly don’t believe we have any competitors — we’ve created a niche by offering all the benefits of a cold juice bar, but with the added toast concept,” said Keefe. “It is putting us in a whole different category that reaches a much broader audience. We have all the offerings of a typical juice bar, but we are more of a micro-café, which lends itself to a dinner crowd. We are healthy, fast-casual food. Fresh, quick and made-to-order.”

All Toastique menu offerings are made from locally sourced ingredients prepared in-house where possible. When It comes to its toast variations — which run the gamut from savory to sweet — Tosatique has perfected the art of combining Instagramable presentation with delicious and healthy substance. Some popular options include the Avocado Smash, 3 Cheese Italian, Smoked Salmon, Greek, Tomato Buratta, PB Crunch and Tuscan Tuna. 

The creative fruit and veggie blends are also all prepared in-house from fresh, organic ingredients to give customers the nutrients they need without compromising taste and presentation. Smoothie options include GingerBerry, Green Machine, Iced Brew, Super Fruit, Purple Heart and Blue Mystique. 

Juices are cold pressed every 24 hours and may change from day-to-day, but some of the usual staples include: the Detoxify with coconut water, lemon, activated charcoal and agave; the Defender with orange, carrot, apple, turmeric and lemon; the Recharge with beet, carrot, apple, orange and ginger; and many more. 

For that morning pick-me-up or afternoon snack, Toastique also offers an array of smoothie bowls, including the PB + B Bowl, DragonBerry, Black Mystique, Cocolada, Blue Mystique, 'OG' Acai, Mango Tango and Matcha. 

Additionally, several Toastique locations have introduced a full bar and cocktail menu, including Mimosas made with freshly-squeezed juice, homemade Bloody Mary mix, and more. 

Why Toastique Has Something For Every Consumer

With such a robust offering and mouth-watering menu, Toastique truly has something for all types of clientele, Keefe says. Whether it be business meetings, family outings or weekend brunches with friends, a local Toastique shop is well-positioned to become a go-to spot for everyone in the community.

“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.”

Looking ahead, Keefe says Toastique is committed to innovation and will continue to roll out new menu items based on what consumers are looking for. A Toastique location in Florida, for example, recently started offering vegan ice cream after noticing that there was a big late-night crowd coming in after work.

“Even if we are just selling juices and toast, we want to connect with customers in every way we can,” said Keefe. “That is why we work with local vendors and encourage franchisees to have as much community involvement as possible. The Toastique brand is built around a sense of community.” 

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/.