1851

Before becoming a multi-unit franchisee with one of the of sandwich industry&rsquo;s most-loved brands, <a href="http://www.togosfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=multi-unit-franchisee-finds-continued-success-with-togos-in-the-bay-area-11277" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Togo&rsquo;s</a>, Ali Navabpour was first working in the high-tech field.

But after retiring from the industry after almost 25 years, Navabpour was ready for something completely different&mdash;he wanted a career that would allow him more flexibility and the freedom to direct his own life. That&rsquo;s when he looked into franchising opportunities.

&ldquo;When I retired from the high-tech industry, I started to do some consulting on the side. This led me to do some work with Dunkin&rsquo; Brands, which, at the time, owned both <a href="http://togos.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=multi-unit-franchisee-finds-continued-success-with-togos-in-the-bay-area-11277" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Togo&rsquo;s</a> and Baskin Robbins. When I learned that these two brands were eyeing California for further development, it seemed like too good of an opportunity to pass up,&rdquo; Navabpour said. &ldquo;It would certainly be a complete 180 from what I was used to. But this was a chance to leave behind a high-pressure environment and finally become my own boss.&rdquo;

Today, nearly 18 years later, Navabpour is the proud owner of two Togo&rsquo;s restaurants throughout Fremont, California&mdash;one of which is gearing up for its grand opening. And he credits the support from Togo&rsquo;s corporate team for helping to make it all happen.

&ldquo;Transitioning from a field that I had known for 25 years into a new industry that I knew little about was certainly challenging. Not only did I have to learn the principles of the trade, but I also had to learn how to run a business,&rdquo; Navabpour said. &ldquo;The training and support that Togo&rsquo;s provided was essential. You quickly realize that every little detail they put in place during the training process is there for a reason, and it prepared me for where I am today very well.&rdquo;

When a franchisee signs a deal to become a Togo&rsquo;s owner, they&rsquo;re enrolled in an extensive training program that covers all aspects of restaurant operations. The training includes eight hours of food safety certification; a week of classroom training at Togo&rsquo;s headquarters in San Jose (which covers business operations, bookkeeping, marketing and systems for overseeing and managing the business); three weeks of on-the-job operations training at a Togo&rsquo;s restaurant, learning how to make sandwiches, managing inventory and using the point of sale system.

But according to Navabpour, it&rsquo;s ultimately Togos&rsquo; ongoing support that really sets the brand apart.

&ldquo;Over the years, I found that the key to strong performance is execution to brand standards. If you manage your people, oversee your inventory, ensure everyone is properly trained, you&rsquo;ll be able to control costs and create better margins,&rdquo; Navabpour said. &ldquo;If you hire friendly people, you&rsquo;ll be able to provide great service that keeps guests coming back, too. It sounds simple, but there are a lot of pieces that you learn about that need to all come together. It was invaluable having that extra set of eyes.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Today, Navabpour is bringing that same knowledge he picked up while operating his first location over the past 18 years to his second location. After experiencing near-record-breaking success with his catering efforts, he was drawn to this new location due to its proximity to dozens of major businesses and corporations. In the future, this will give Navabpour the chance to drive his catering efforts and off-premise sales.

&ldquo;What excites me most about my future with Togo&rsquo;s is that I can take my business to any level&mdash;you can grow as much as you want, as long as you put in the hard work. Whether it&rsquo;s my third, fourth or fifth restaurant, I&rsquo;m hopeful that my journey with Togo&rsquo;s in the years ahead will be a successful one,&rdquo; Navabpour said. &ldquo;At Togo&rsquo;s, I know that if I want to grow and the market allows, it will not be a problem.&rdquo;

With nearly 300 restaurants that are either open or under development in six states throughout the country, Navabpour is one of many franchisees helping to strategically expand the brand&rsquo;s footprint throughout the Bay Area. After getting its start in San Jose back in 1971, Togo&rsquo;s has long thrived in the area. And now, in an effort to reach more customers than ever before, the brand has announced a refocused development effort in the very community that helped Togo&rsquo;s get its start.

&ldquo;Togo&rsquo;s fans have spoken&mdash;they want more locations in their neighborhoods and near their workplace. As the market has continued to grow&mdash;both with its businesses and its population&mdash;we&rsquo;ve made it a top priority to help make that happen,&rdquo; said Todd Peterson, chief development officer for Togo&rsquo;s. &ldquo;Franchisees now have an incredible opportunity to join an established brand in a prime market where our guests are currently underserved. Our goal is to make Togo&rsquo;s an option for anyone seeking a high quality sandwich in a great environment.&rdquo;

Over the next five years, Togo&rsquo;s is aiming to add 15 to 20 additional locations throughout the Bay Area&mdash;especially in Walnut Creek, Lafayette, Benicia, Rohnert Park, San Rafael, San Bruno, Oakland and San Francisco. And with the help of dedicated franchisees like Navabpour, Peterson is confident that it&rsquo;s a development goal that&rsquo;s well within sight.

&ldquo;We are looking to attract franchisees with a passion for our product.,&rdquo; Peterson said. &ldquo;once you partner with us, our franchise system is designed to help you succeed by providing support in all areas of business operation&mdash;from construction to operations to marketing. Togo&rsquo;s truly works with our partners every step of the way.&rdquo;&nbsp;

Multi-Unit Franchisee Finds Continued Success with Togo’s in the Bay Area

1851 Franchise

Multi-unit franchisee Ali Navabpour credits the support from Togo’s corporate team for helping to make continued growth with the brand possible. 


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

multi-unit-franchisee-finds-continued-success-with-togos-in-the-bay-area

ServiceMaster Restore

ServiceMaster Restore Powers Into the Second Half of 2025 With Growth and Purpose-Driven Impact

ServiceMaster Restore Powers Into the Second Half of 2025 With Strong Growth and Purpose-Driven Impact

servicemaster-restore-powers-into-the-second-half-of-2025-with-strong-growth-and-purpose-driven-impact

Comfort Keepers

Comfort Keepers - Midyear Press Release 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Comfort Keepers® Hits Mid-Year Stride With Strong Franchise Growth and Rising Demand for In-Home Care

comfort-keepers-franchise-midyear-momentum-2025

petbar

petbar - Garrett Dewan - Why I'm Investing - 1851 Franchise

Why Garrett Dewan Is Choosing To Reinvest in petbar

petbar-franchise-austin-garrett-dewan-multi-unit

Paris Baguette

NJBIZ: Paris Baguette Ramps Up Expansion With New Franchises, Facility and 2030 Growth Target

njbiz-paris-baguette-ramps-up-expansion-with-new-franchises-facility-and-2030-growth-target

Busy Bee Jumpers

Top 10 Reasons To Buy a Busy Bee Jumpers Franchise in 2025

top-10-reasons-to-buy-a-busy-bee-jumpers-franchise-in-2025

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

Wendy's CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Wendy’s CEO Kirk Tanner Steps Down Amid Challenges, Leaving Franchisees Facing Uncertainty

wendys-ceo-transition-kirk-tanner-franchisee-uncertainty

"Come in, We're OPEN" sign against abstract background

Small Business Optimism Dips, Raising Concerns for Franchise Owners

small-business-optimism-dips-raising-concerns-for-franchise-owners

Photo of Roof Scientist truck and trailer

Roof Scientist Expands Into Northern Indianapolis as Entrepreneur Dale Speckman Launches New Business in Fishers

roof-scientist-expands-into-northern-indianapolis

Image of Donald Trump pointing with red stripes in the background

August 1 Tariff Deadline Is Said to Have ‘No Extensions’: What This Could Mean for Franchises

august-1-tariff-deadline-franchise-impact

What June’s Jobs Report Means for the Franchise Industry

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

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

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

Coffee & Analytics graphic with photo of Nick Powills

Franchise Growth Is Messy. Lead Gen Is Uncomfortable. Let’s Fix It.

franchise-lead-generation-insights

How Franchise Brands Can Prepare for the Rise of AI-Driven Advertising

how-franchise-brands-can-prepare-for-the-rise-of-ai-driven-advertising

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

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

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores - Agg - 1851 Franchise

Hooters Leans Into Franchising With Closure of 30 Company-Owned Stores

hooters-franchise-model-company-owned-closures

Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

From Corporate Careers to Community Roots: Kansas Couple Revitalizes Local Childcare With Children’s Lighthouse

kansas-couple-opens-childrens-lighthouse-gardner-olathe

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery 

From Prescriptions to Pastries: Kari Khandelwal Creates a Comforting Community Bakery in Overland Park, Kansas

paris-baguette-franchise-overland-park-khandelwal

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

Multi-Unit Franchisee Finds Continued Success with Togo’s in the Bay Area

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS