Clancy’s Meat Co. CEO Paul Monger didn’t cut any corners when he realized that he needed to rejuvenate his company’s brand if he wanted to take on the competition in the specialty meats franchise industry.
Monger introduced Canada’s specialty food market to the concept of the “modern-day butcher shop.” By adding an extensive line of frozen products accessible by self-serve freezers and a wide range of packaged sauces and marinades, Monger has executed a complete product overhaul designed to appeal to consumers’ evolving desires and tastes.
“We really need to carve out our business like anyone else,” Monger said. “We have to fight hard for that positioning, and this rebrand of our locations will help us achieve that.”
Stocked with fresh and frozen products, the new Clancy’s Meat stores are bright, airy and modern. In the 12 months since it started rolling out its new product line, the Surrey-based company has sold more than 25 new franchise locations across Canada and experienced a 250% system-wide sales growth.
Monger plans to open as many as 10 stores in B.C. over the next year, but, he said a lot depends on real estate.
“We get quite a bit of attention from investors, but the acquisition of real estate is a large focus in target communities and [that] can sometimes create a waiting game. A franchisee in Langford outside of Victoria has been looking for quite some time. Patience will pay off, but they do have certain restrictions because of similar grocery-anchored locations,” said Monger. “[Lease] rates are excessively high, up to $50 to $60 a square foot.”
But he added that there are good opportunities in the local marketplace and pointed to Burnaby’s Kensington Square Plaza as an example.
“Normally, we don’t find space in a grocery-anchored site because they typically prevent Clancy’s or other fine meat shops from getting in there.
“It’s a busy plaza with restaurants, grocery, banks, and a real local win for the company to get in this area.”
Clancy’s has another location in Burnaby under construction, a store in Cloverdale opening in spring of 2012 and is close to completing its first outlet in Kamloops.
“A lot of what we’ve been doing is outside of B.C., developing ‘seed’ stores in Alberta, Saskatchewan and Ontario,” he said.
The first Clancy’s store opened in Langley in 1997. Since then, another seven locations have opened in the Metro Vancouver area. In 2008, the company accelerated growth through franchising.
It takes a minimum investment of from $200,000 to $500,000 to own a turnkey Clancy’s Meat franchise, including a franchise fee of $25,000.
The franchisee is also on the hook for 3% advertising and 3% royalty fees.
With around 400 coffee shops in the Lower Mainland, it takes something special to stand out from the competition.
Longtime restaurateurs and brothers Dean and Steve Punzo think they’ve done just that.
Throughout August, seven Metro Vancouver Take Five Café locations reopened with a new look highlighted by a revamped logo and in-store rebranding.
“We’ve changed the look and feel of the cafés, but the much-loved coffee and Italian-inspired foods remain the same,” said Steve.
Having experience with consulting agencies for creative and business decisions in the past, the Punzo brothers worked together to come up with the chain’s first rebranding since opening in 2003.
“What really separates Take Five Café from the rest of the competition is the quality of our coffee,” said Steve. “It’s a balance – not over-roasted – right through the espresso to the drip coffees and decaf … and the food is top notch.”
He added that while initially it was a challenge to explain the entire scope of the rebranding to franchisors, “everyone has embraced the new look and is excited for the future of the company.”
Take Five Café opened a café kiosk at Richmond Centre in January and plans to open a ninth location at New Westminster’s Brewery District redevelopment this fall.
The European-style coffee houses evolved from the Punzo family’s original business, the upscale Caffé dé Medici restaurant on Robson Street, a recipient of the Distinguished Restaurants of North America as well as several Wine Spectator Awards. Dean and Steve started working at Caffé de Medici in the early 1980s and took over the business in 1995 when their father retired.
When asked about expanding Take Five outside of the Lower Mainland, Steve responded, “We want to grow, but grow responsibly.”
Take Five franchise prices were not available as of press time.
In May, June and July, Subway franchisees have opened nearly 600 new locations in 48 countries, 42 U.S. states and seven Canadian provinces. That brings the total of new Subway restaurants to just over 1,200 for the year. All of the new restaurants account for roughly 1.4 million square feet of retail space and provide jobs for approximately 12,000 people.
In total, 27 new franchises have opened in Canada this year, including B.C. locations at Simon Fraser University, Victoria’s Royal Jubilee Hospital and Home Depot in Port Coquitlam. International milestones for the period include establishing more than 600 locations in Brazil, 200 in Russia and opening the first Subway restaurant in Liechtenstein.
One of the most popular franchises in the world, the Subway chain now has more than 8,000 locations across the globe.
A Canadian Subway franchise requires an investment of from $80,000 to $310,000, including a $15,000 franchise fee.
Embroidery franchise EmbroidMe has signed a master franchise agreement with serial franchisee Stuart Erskine to develop the brand in Canada over the next few years.
Its initial focus will be in Alberta and Ontario.
“We are very excited to welcome Stuart Erskine into the EmbroidMe system,”said EmbroidMe president Mark Johnson. “Stuart brings with him several years of experience in the franchising industry, which will enable him to grow the EmbroidMe brand across Canada.”
Erskine is also master franchisor for Billboard Connection, an outdoor advertising agency, and owns and operates sign promotional and advertising franchise Magnetsigns.
EmbroidMe handles screen-printing and marketing specialties. The franchise requires a total investment of between $66,000 and $187,000, including an initial franchise fee of $35,500 under a 35-year agreement. There is also a royalty fee.