Every lunch hour throughout the country, thousands of hungry Canadians wrack their brains over what to eat. Chances are, they will make their way to one of Canada’s more than 75,000 food service franchise units. It’s a fact: Canadians love to dine with the franchise model, which accounts for 38 per cent of the Canadian Franchise Association’s (CFA) membership base. More CFA members are involved in the food service industry than any other sector, and with good reason. The food services sector makes up a significant portion of the franchise industry’s total growth, and continues to thrive.
Take a bite out of the Franchise Canada Food Issue, as we dive deep into everything you need to know about franchising in the food industry. Our cover story on page 23 features Symposium Cafe, the Ontario-based restaurant brand that took home the CFA Award of Excellence Grand Prize for Traditional Franchises. Also featured is Little Kickers, which has become a regular at the CFA’s annual awards gala. Winning their fourth grand prize as a Non-Traditional Franchise (2014, 2015, 2016, and 2018), Little Kickers is keeping kids active with their system of soccer programs for pre-schoolers.
Are you interested in a food franchise, but are having trouble distinguishing between quick service, fast casual, and full service restaurant franchise models? No problem. We break down what makes each model unique, profitable, and attractive to prospective franchisees on page 40.
We also provide valuable insight into what prospective franchisees need to know before investing in a food service franchise. From hiring qualified staff to procuring the right equipment, we speak to industry experts in staffing, location, training, and other vital areas in our in-depth Food Franchise Guide over on page 68. On page 30, we go coast to coast to explore franchises that serve a Canadian favourite – coffee and baked goods – in our Across Canada feature before taking a look at franchises that are cooking up dishes from all over the world on page 47.
When it comes to franchises that have been feeding Canadians for generations, M&M Food Market continues to find their products on kitchen tables across the country. We catch up with this iconic franchise, which recently underwent an extensive rebrand, over on page 89. We’ll also meet an A&W franchisee who is happily adjusting to life in rural Quebec in our First Year feature. As always, the Millennials in Franchise article tells the story of a franchisee who got her start with Pumpernickel’s as a General Manager, and now has a Pumpernickel’s franchise of her very own.
We hope that this issue whets your appetite for food franchising! When it comes to franchising in the food industry, there is a multitude of options out there. Navigating the waters of one of the most popular franchise sectors can be a little overwhelming, but we hope this issue of Franchise Canada can equip you with the information you need to make your franchising dreams become reality.