Be the first!
 
 

LAKEWOOD, Colo. — Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc. is sticking to plans to grow mostly by adding licensed locations in 2009 as diners eat out less and credit markets remain tight, the company has announced.

The fast-casual coffee and bagel chain said this month that it plans to open six to eight new restaurants on its own, matched with the same number of franchise restaurants this year, where franchisees develop a new store that meets company guidelines.

It also plans to open 30 to 35 license restaurants, where licensees use the company's brands to open bagel and coffee operations in such locations as airports, colleges and hospitals.

Einstein Noah started the year with 648 Einstein Bros. Bagels, Noah's New York Bagels and Manhattan Bagel restaurants. A little more than one-third were franchised or licensed locations.
 
The company aims for about half its restaurants to be franchised or licensed by 2012. Einstein Noah had 612 total restaurants at the end of 2007.

Paul Carolan, senior vice president of franchising and licensing for the company, said adding licensed and franchised stores will be key to meeting customer demand.

The process of opening new stores also has slowed, he said. In September, Einstein Noah said it hoped to have five new franchised Einstein Bros. Bagels locations open at the end of 2008. Instead it had two, according to a regulatory filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Einstein Bros. Bagels launched its franchise program in December 2006. It has not changed its requirements for franchisees to be worth at least $1 million, with $400,000 in available liquid assets.


Reader Comments

Add a Comment

We welcome your thoughtful comments. All comments will display your real name.

Want to participate in the discussion?

Or log in for complete access.

  • Clear
  • Post
Be the first to post a comment for this story.
Products & Services

Extra

http://global.networldalliance.com/new/images/products/Extra_110px.jpg

1934/Extra

Dry Soak Beans

http://global.networldalliance.com/new/images/products/dry_soak_bean_salad_100.jpg

1756/Dry-Soak-Beans

Truitt Brothers

http://global.networldalliance.com/new/images/products/sustainablelogo.150.jpg

1432/Truitt-Brothers

FETCO GR 1.2 Grinder

http://global.networldalliance.com/new/images/products/GR_1.2_grinder_100.jpg

1634/FETCO-GR-1-2-Grinder

FETCO CBS-2021eG

http://global.networldalliance.com/new/images/products/CBS_2021eG_100.jpg

1627/FETCO-CBS-2021eG

Training and Support

http://global.networldalliance.com/new/images/products/training_7.jpg

132/Training-and-Support

Transportation Digital Signage

http://global.networldalliance.com/new/images/products/transportation100.gif

137/Transportation-Digital-Signage

Media Player - ADFLOW Networks Media Player Engine™

http://global.networldalliance.com/new/images/products/ADFLOW_Player1_100.gif

127/Media-Player-ADFLOW-Networks-Media-Player-Engine

Casino Self Service | NEXTEP SYSTEMS

http://global.networldalliance.com/new/images/products/Nextep_Casino_100.gif

1933/Casino-Self-Service-NEXTEP-SYSTEMS

Online Ordering - An Easy, Profitable Way to Reach Your Customers

http://global.networldalliance.com/new/images/products/Online_Ordering_100.jpg

1735/Online-Ordering-An-Easy-Profitable-Way-to-Reach-Your-Customers

Request Information From Suppliers
Save time looking for suppliers. Complete this form to submit a Request for Information to our entire network of partners.