1851

For multi-unit <a href="https://www.pretzelmakerfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker-2716160" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Pretzelmaker</a>® franchisee <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-frandle-b7b19496/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker-2716160" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Mark Frandle</a>, the decision to buy his first franchise in Mason City, Iowa, boiled down to one thing: his love of pretzels. “For me, it’s all about the pretzels,” he said. “I strongly believe that Pretzelmaker’s pretzels are superior to all the other pretzels on the market. Ours are softer, sweeter and overall so much better.”Frandle first learned about Pretzelmaker, the iconic pretzel brand with 234 locations spread across 10 countries, through a friend who co-owned a Pretzelmaker franchise with a business partner. “His partner wanted out, so I decided to jump in as his new partner,” Frandle said. “We ended up growing our footprint to include 13 stores.”As a former banker, Frandle felt well-equipped to handle all financials, but he was looking for a partner with previous business experience. “Partnering with my friend, who already knew how to run the business successfully, really eased my mind,” said Frandle.&nbsp;&nbsp;Fast forward to 2021, and Frandle is now the sole owner of 10 Pretzelmaker stores — two in Iowa, one in Nebraska, four in Minnesota, two in Wisconsin and one in Georgia, plus the original location which he ultimately took over.Now an experienced business owner, Frandle has learned that delegation is the key to success. “I have really great managers who I trust implicitly. I communicate with them daily and travel to see them once every couple of months,” he said.Still, even with strong managers, problems can arise. “I deal with challenges on a daily basis,” Frandle said. “Managing the day-to-day is the hardest part of the business.”Luckily, Prezelmaker is backed by <a href="https://www.globalfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker-2716160" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Global Franchise Group</a> (GFG), the multi-brand franchisor behind leading snack brands including Hot Dog on a Stick® and Great American Cookies®, among others, so when Frandle has problems he can’t resolve on his own, he knows where to turn.&nbsp;“GFG helped us quite a bit during COVID,” Frandle said. “They kept us up-to-date on government programs that were available to us, and their franchise business consultants provided us with constant support. During the height of the pandemic, all of my 10 locations were closed for 55 to 60 days, but we still had to pay rent and bills. It was an exceedingly challenging time.”Thankfully, with the support of GFG, Frandle and other Pretzelmaker franchisees were able to meet the challenge.“Despite the fact that many Pretzelmaker storefronts are located in high-traffic venues that were largely impacted by the pandemic, we were able to navigate as a brand to make it out on the other side,” said <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/damico5?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker-2716160" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Paul Damico</a>, CEO of Global Franchise Group. “Now, not only is Pretzelmaker bouncing back but it's poised for growth and continued innovation in 2021.”&nbsp;Frandle not only made it through, but he’s also seeing renewed demand and sales. “The difference is unbelievable,” he said. “Customers are coming right back. I think a lot of people are looking to get out of the house and return to a sense of normalcy, and our products offer a little taste of that.”&nbsp;&nbsp;While all of Frandle’s Pretzelmaker locations are boasting a strong start to 2021, his most successful location is in St. Cloud, Minnesota. “It’s been there for 25 years and is in a well-established mall. That in itself is a great little hub because there’s nothing for an hour in any direction,” said Frandle. “When we reopened after COVID closures, it was like Christmas every day. The demand was incredible and it was heartwarming to see how much the community missed us and our pretzels.”&nbsp;&nbsp;In addition to his traditional store model, Frandle is intrigued by the brand’s new <a href="https://pretzelmaker.com/2018/04/09/pretzelmaker-introduces-new-concept-featuring-all-day-menu-offerings-fresh-twist-by-pretzelmaker/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker-2716160" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Fresh Twist concept</a>, which offers Pretzelmaker’s beloved hand-rolled pretzels, pretzel bites and pretzel dogs and adds breakfast and late-night menu options, allowing it to be competitive in both traditional and non-traditional venues across the country.&nbsp;“It’s a new direction for Pretzelmaker, and one that allows them to compete in airports, sporting arenas and colleges,” said Frandle. “Universities are a tough venue to get into, but it’s intriguing.” Pretzelmaker is currently working with higher education development firm OnCampus Brands to market and connect Fresh Twist to college and university dining programs and auxiliary services across the country.&nbsp;Pretzelmaker franchisees like Frandle also have the opportunity to grow within the Global Franchise Group family, whose quick-service brands, in addition to Pretzelmaker, include <a href="https://www.greatamericancookiesfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker-2716160" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Great American Cookies</a>®, <a href="https://www.hotdogonastickfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker-2716160" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Hot Dog on a Stick</a>®, <a href="https://roundtablepizzafranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker-2716160" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Round Table Pizza</a>® and <a href="https://www.marbleslabfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker-2716160" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Marble Slab Creamery</a>®.“At one point, I also had a Great American Cookies franchise,” said Frandle. “What I learned from that experience is that I’m a pretzel guy, not a cookie guy, but it was a great experience nonetheless. At the end of the day, you have to find what your passion is and stick with it.”Startup costs range from $201,200 to $323,000. Learn more about franchise opportunities here: <a href="https://www.pretzelmakerfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker-2716160" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">https://www.pretzelmakerfranchise.com/</a>.

Why This Multi-Unit Franchisee Invested in Pretzelmaker®

1851 Franchise

For pretzel fan Mark Frandle, the superior product Pretzelmaker® is known for ultimately sealed the deal. 

why-this-multi-unit-franchisee-invested-in-pretzelmaker

Benjamin Franklin Plumbing

image of a benjamin franklin plumber employee franchise

Top 5 Reasons To Invest in Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Right Now

benjamin-franklin-plumbing-franchise-5-reasons-to-buy

Mister Sparky Electric

image of mister sparky cars franchise authority brands

Wired for Success: 5 Powerful Reasons To Invest in a Mister Sparky Franchise Now

mister-sparky-franchise-5-reasons-to-invest

image of Mister sparky electric employee working with customer

On-Time, Every Time: How Mister Sparky Delivers the Electrical Service Homeowners Can Count On

mister-sparky-electric-service-franchise

image of mister sparky electric on time elctricians from franchise mister sparky

The Electrician You Can Count On: How Mister Sparky Delivers Power, Punctuality and Profitability

mister-sparky-franchise-power-punctuality-profitiability

image of a benjamin franklin plumber employee helping a customer

The Punctual Plumber That Wins: How Benjamin Franklin Plumbing Redefines Home-Service Reliability

benjamin-franklin-plumbing-home-service-reliability

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

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K to Support Texas Flood Relief - 1851 Franchise

Planet Fitness Franchisees Donate $100K To Support Texas Flood Relief

planet-fitness-texas-flood-relief

McDonald’s Is the Latest Franchise To Bet Big on Beverages with 500-Store Premium Drink Test

mcdonalds-is-the-latest-franchise-to-bet-big-on-beverages-with-500-store-premium-drink-test

Friendly’s Parent Company Acquired by Multi-Unit Franchisee as More Owners Take the Lead in Brand Acquisitions 

friendlys-parent-company-acquired-by-multi-unit-franchisee-as-more-owners-take-the-lead-in-brand-acquisitions

Subway - John Fitzpatrick Named CEO - Breaking News - 1851 Franchise

Subway Names Jonathan Fitzpatrick as New CEO, Effective July 28

jonathan-fitzpatrick-subway-ceo-leadership-change

AI Is Reshaping Franchising: $100 Billion Valuations and Hyper-Localized Advertising

ai-is-reshaping-franchising-100-billion-valuations-and-hyper-localized-advertising

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

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Open Caring Transitions in Texas

Navy Veteran and Professional Artist Couple Set Out to Build a Purpose-Driven Business With Caring Transitions in Texas

navy-veteran-and-professional-artist-couple-set-out-to-build-a-purpose-driven-business-with-caring-transitions-in-texas

Why This Real Estate Broker Decided To Bring Caring Transitions to Central Texas

caring-transitions-san-marcos-kyle-chad-hardin

Sola Salons Franchisee Grows Salon Freedom Into a Multi-State Powerhouse 

sola-salons-franchisee-grows-salon-freedom-into-a-multi-state-powerhouse

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

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

Why This Multi-Unit Franchisee Invested in Pretzelmaker®

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS