Operations

Togo's expanding with tech-centric prototype, broker-sourced leads

Photo: togo's

June 22, 2026

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Founded in 1971 near San Jose State University, Togo's Sandwiches is gearing up for a major Western U.S. expansion after partnering with Franchise FastLane's CarPool program to scale its next-generation 3.0 restaurant model.

The 55-year-old West Coast sandwich chain, which has more than 170 locations open or under development across California, Arizona, Nevada, Oregon and Washington, aims to capture a larger slice of a booming market. The U.S. sandwich sector is projected to reach $72.43 billion this year.

By joining the CarPool program — Franchise FastLane's specialized coaching, technology and support platform for brands managing development in-house —Togo's plans to accelerate growth through broker-sourced leads and a refined discovery process.

"We have 55 years of product credibility, a next-generation operating model that's proven itself, and now the right partner to scale it," John Dyer, vice president of franchise development at TOGO'S, said in a company press release. "This is the right moment to accelerate our expansion and unlock the next chapter of growth for the Togo's brand."

Inside the 3.0 model

The expansion strategy centers on Togo's modernized 3.0 operational format, which leadership says drives higher average unit volumes compared to its legacy stores. Key features of the next-gen concept include:

Tech-driven throughput: A pay-first operating platform that integrates with third-party delivery providers, alongside in-store ordering kiosks designed to reduce wait times.
Expanded hot menu: The introduction of combi ovens, allowing the brand to roll out warm menu segments like cheesesteaks and French dips.
Streamlined operations: A contemporary aesthetic overhaul paired with a three-position labor training model to accelerate staff onboarding.

Driving franchise development

Franchise FastLane, which has helped award more than 10,000 franchise units since 2017, designed its CarPool segment to provide established brands with full-service infrastructure — including territory checks, marketing, compliance oversight, and proprietary tech stacks—while letting them maintain control of their internal sales pace.

"Togo's has the heritage, the product, and now the infrastructure to grow significantly," Tim Koch, president of Franchise FastLane, said in the release. "The 3.0 model is exactly the kind of differentiated, proven concept we look for when bringing a brand into our program."

As part of the partnership, Togo's will also gain access to FastLane's MasterMind program, a collaborative network where founders and executives share operational insights and strategies to improve franchisee support systems.