News

Corner Bakery Café accelerates national growth plan

August 15, 2013

Corner Bakery Cafe today announced that it is entering the Oklahoma and Massachusetts markets, as well as three new markets in Florida and California, as part of five multi-unit restaurant franchise agreements.

The agreements represent nine new restaurants in San Diego, seven in Oklahoma, 14 in Tampa, 10 in Northeast Florida and 21 in Boston. The first cafes in each market are expected to open next year.

Corner Bakery Cafe recently promoted Gregg Koffler to vice president of franchise sales to spearhead overall sales and growth of the franchise division for the fast casual brand.

"These new markets are a perfect fit for Corner Bakery Cafe," Koffler said. "Each community is known for its strong neighborhoods, and with our neighborhood approach to development, we expect each new restaurant to quickly become a favorite gathering place for local families and friends."

Overall, the agreements add 61 new cafes, raising the total to almost 300 committed cafes, as the company moves forward on its goal to more than double its U.S. footprint in the next three to four years.

"As a leading brand in the fastest growing segment of the restaurant industry, there is no question that Corner Bakery Cafe has an advantage with $2.3 million AAVs and outstanding unit level economics," Koffler said. "Adding to that advantage, our new franchise partners include some of the most successful veteran restaurant professionals in the industry."

The new franchise partners include:

• FEAST California Cafe LLC, through its FEAST Foods LLC partnership group, owns and operates more than 170 Jack in the Box restaurants in Southern California and the Pacific Northwest U.S., as well as several Denny's restaurants in Southern California, and plans to open nine new Corner Bakery Cafes in San Diego.
• CBCOK LLC, which also owns and operates more than 30 hotels nationwide including Hilton, Marriott and IHG Hotels, as well as Subway, plans to open seven new Corner Bakery Cafes throughout Oklahoma.
• CB Restaurant Holdings, which also owns and operates more than 25 Wendy's restaurants in Southern Florida and Panama, plans to open 14 new Corner Bakery Cafes in and around Tampa.
• Lee-Wesley Restaurants LLC, which also owns and operates several Panda Express, Burger King, Nathan's Famous, Auntie Anne's and Taco Bell restaurants, plans to open 10 new Corner Bakery Cafes in Northeast Florida.
• Parikh Network, which owns 68 Popeyes Louisiana Kitchens, plans to open 21 new Corner Bakery Cafes in and around Boston.

Bacon-themed Facebook promotion

Additionally, Corner Bakery Cafe is kicking off the return of the seasonal BBLT sandwich with a 10-week Facebook trivia contest that will offer participants the chance to win one of two bacon-themed prizes each week.

The BBLT, which stands for bacon, bacon, local tomatoes, features six thick slices of applewood smoked bacon, locally grown tomatoes, leaf lettuce and homemade cracked pepper balsamic mayo.

The "Bring the Bacon" Facebook contest runs through Sept. 18. Participants who correctly answer the weekly bacon trivia question posted every Wednesday at noon CST on the Corner Bakery Cafe Facebook page will have the opportunity to win the following prizes:

Top Winner: One fan who submits the correct answer will be chosen at random to receive a $100 gift card.

Winners: 10 fans who submit the correct answer will be chosen at random to receive a free BBLT.

Read more about franchising and growth or social media marketing.