Company leadership provides high-touch support for Great Steak franchisees on opening day and beyond
While some franchise systems drop their level of support once a franchisee has opened their doors, Great Steak™ franchisees can rely on world-class support from parent company and franchise industry giant Kahala Brands™ on opening day and beyond. That high level of professionalism and support also makes Great Steak an attractive tenant for busy commercial mall properties.
Great Steak America’s Premier Cheesesteak® franchise owners and their teams have access to some of the most comprehensive training in the franchise industry. Franchisees learn everything they need to know to run their business, from how to manage inventory and back-office functions all the way through inventory control and the how-to’s of making an authentic cheesesteak. These were just a few of the reasons school principal Mark Coleman and wife, Sara, decided that a Great Steak was the best investment for Fair Oaks Mall, an upscale mall owned by Taubman Properties. Not only is Fair Oaks one of the busiest malls in Northern Virginia, but four of the top five wealthiest counties in the nation are within the trade area.
The opportunity for expansion in malls is vast, according to Kari Combs, Vice President of Operations. “Great Steak has been prevalent in malls for 35 plus years. People are looking for that authentic cheesesteak experience and there are not a lot of cheesesteak locations in every city. We haven’t saturated the market; the need for us is definitely out there.”
Ongoing corporate support helps franchisees thrive
The Colemans didn’t take the path to franchisee ownership lightly, spending several years researching franchise concepts. They found that lack of franchisee support was a consistent problem with many franchise systems. Not so with Great Steak. The top notch franchise support Kahala Brands provides to Great Steak franchise owners before, during and after their launch was what make the couple confident that our brand’s cheesesteak franchise was a sound investment.
“We really like that Kahala Brands focuses on developing franchises and working with the owners once they are up and running and stays with them through the whole process,” Mark says. “Kahala Brands supports franchise owners because that is what they do, and they do it so well. It’s been such a pleasurable experience having that support and safety net knowing everything is being done correctly and on time.”
All new Great Steak franchise owners receive a thorough 40 hours of training at the Kahala Brands headquarters in Scottsdale, Arizona, while their food-court or freestanding restaurant is completed. The training covers everything they need to know to launch and run their Great Steak location, from food handling and safety to payroll processing and inventory management. After opening day, the corporate team works on site alongside the franchisee and their team of employees to help ensure everything is operating smoothly.
“Great Steak has made managing the inventory, the training, and maintaining the quality of the product very straightforward. Everyone who wants to go into business thinks about the bottom line, and with Great Steak, the bottom line is very good,” says Moe Elhindi, owner of two Great Steak franchise locations in Northern California.
Our well-respected brand makes us a great mall tenant
Great Steak has tremendous brand loyalty and is a potential big draw for foot traffic, making us an in-demand tenant for many malls. Customers love watching their cheesesteak being made to order, and an authentic sandwich made with real Philly ingredients is a popular lunch choice, standing out in a busy market full of the predictable burgers and pizza.
With food courts on the rise, malls want tenants who make the food court experience more interactive and customized. The reputation of the Kahala Brands’ name is also a huge selling point as malls seek tenants that are low risk with the potential to draw busy shoppers year round.
“These commercial properties are very interested in having a Great Steak cheese steak franchise onsite, because they know what a high-quality brand it is,” Combs says. “They are looking for tenants with a good business history, as well as ones who focus on creating a positive customer experience that will build return business.”
Great Steak is a low-cost investment opportunity with a proven business model in the $19 billion sandwich industry. Since the brand’s founding in 1982, the Great Steak cheesesteak franchise family has grown to more than 60 locations nationwide as it partners with entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing the classic American cheesesteak experience to their communities. Franchise owners enjoy the support not only of Great Steak’s top-shelf management team, but also that of Kahala Brands, one of the most trusted names in franchising with more than 3,000 premier locations nationwide. Whether you’re looking to bring authentic cheesesteak sandwiches to a shopping mall near you or wanting to open a friendly neighborhood eatery, Great Steak offers the right opportunity at the right time. There’s never been a better time to open a Great Steak.
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