Executive Summary Moe’s Southwest grill is a casual atmosphere burrito bar owned by FOCUS brands. Moe’s headquarters is currently located in Atlanta, Georgia. Moe's Southwest Grill is a chain of about 360 quick-service eateries in 36 states that offer standard Tex-Mex favorites, including burritos, quesadillas, and fajitas, in a quirky, fun atmosphere. 800 more franchise deals signed and currently awaiting construction. Menu items are named after TV, movie, and pop culture references, such as the Art Vandalay, the Triple Lindy, and the Joey Bag of Donuts. Nearly all of the company's restaurants are operated by franchisees. Moe’s is a business format franchise and is available for single-location or multiple-location deals. The franchise fee for a single-location deal is $30,000 non-refundable. In order to open a store location a franchise is expected to have $200,000 in liquid capital and $600,000 in total assets. Moe’s Southwest Grill, a 2007 Top Ten Growth Chain according to Restaurant Hospitality and Technomic, is prepared for vigorous franchise growth. Based on the age this franchise and the growth they have experienced so far, this appears to be an excellent investment opportunity. Moe’s primary competition consist of Qdoba Mexican Grill and Chipotle. Franchise History Moe’s Southwest grill is a fairly new franchise concept. Moe’s was organized July 17, 2000 in Atlanta, Georgia by founder and CEO H. Martin Sprock III. The first franchises were offered in 2001. Their parent company is Raving Brands, franchisor of Doc Green’s, Mams Fu’s, Planet Smoothie, PJ’s Coffee, Monkey Joe’s. On April 11, 2007, Raving Brands sold Moe's to FOCUS Brands, franchisor of Carvel, Cinnabon, Seattle's Best Coffee, and Schlotzsky's. There headquarters is located at 2915 Peachtree Rd., NE Atlanta, GA 30305. On March 12, 2007, Raving Brands entered into a 40-store development deal with Canadian partner True North Brands, Inc., representing Raving Brands’ move to an international playing field. On March 27, 2007 Moe’s Southwest Grill contracted with North America’s largest food service marketer and distributor, SYSCO Food Services, to consolidate its U.S. food purchasing and distribution program. The company logo MOE’S SOUTHWEST GRILL and a picture is as follows: Type of Franchise Moe’s Southwest Grill is a business format franchise headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia. Moe's is a chain of about 360 quick-service eateries in 36 states throughout the U.S. In 2007, Raving Brands entered into a 40-store development deal with Canadian partner True North Brands, Inc.
There are many fast food places to choose from in the southwest region of the country. Two of the most common fast food restaurants are In-N-Out Burger and Jack in the Box. I have personally been employed at both of these establishments. The difference between the two is quality, price, and working environment.
1.1 Brief History Chipotle Mexican Grill was founded in Denver, Colorado in 1993. In 1998, McDonald’s became the majority shareholder; however, in 2006, McDonald’s divested its controlling interest. Chipotle became a public company listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2006. It currently has 1,083 locations across the United States and Canada. In May 2010, Chipotle expanded into Europe, opening their first restaurant in the United Kingdom.
When Chipotle first opened in 1993, the goal was to serve quality food fast, but not be considered “fast food.” To avoid falling under the fast food stigma, Chipotle strives to find the best ingredients with respect to animals, farmers, and the environment. In order to achieve these goals, Chipotle has created a matrix organizational structure that is divisional by location and functional by authority. Chipotle recently expanded internationally to the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, each following strict guidelines assigned by corporate employees from their headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Similarly, each location is functionally organized according to authority: regional manager, district manager, store manager, assistant manager, and
...rted In-N-Out Burger where their philosophy was simple “Give customers the freshest, highest quality foods you can buy and provide them with friendly service in a sparkling clean environment.”
LongHorn Steakhouse is a well-known chain restaurant in the United States. The location in Slidell, LA is spacious and is able to accommodate all ages. The food is hearty and delicious. LongHorn Steakhouse is open every day of the week and serves up both lunch and dinner. Those who love a delicious drink will want to partake in a signature cocktail from the bar.
The company started its activity in 1971 as small coffee shop located in Seattle specialized in selling whole arabica coffee beans. After being taken over by Howard Schultz in 1982, following a rapid and impressive growth, by mid 2002 the company was the dominant specialty-coffee brand in North America, running about 4,500 stores, 400 international stores and 930 licenses.
The Santa Fe Grill is a relatively new Mexican restaurant that was started by two former business students from the University of Nebraska, Lincoln. The idea sparked after the two roommates who were both interested in pursuing entrepreneurial interests decided that a Mexican restaurant in their city would be highly successful. While taking an entrepreneur class at the University, the plan for the business began coming together. Their main focus was to create a restaurant that would feature the freshest ingredients, as well as a lively atmosphere, cutting edge advertising and marketing, plus exceptional service for customers. (Research Methods, Pg. 19) By doing so, the students hoped that they could fulfill their dreams of ownership.
As a company, McDonald’s was first introduced in Des Plaines, Illinois in 1955. This was the very first McDonald’s restaurant, which all started in San Bernardino, California in 1954 when Ray Kroc approached the McDonald brothers with a business proposition to start a new company. In 1965 McDonald’s went public and was later, in 1985 added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average. (www.mcdonalds.com) The company has gone through quite a few changes with its changing CEO’s over the years, but the company seems to be on track with CEO Jim Skinner, named in 2004. Skinner was named the new CEO just in time to clean up after McDonald’s first ever quarterly loss. He succeeded by showing that McDonald’s revenue had climbed 11% during 2006 and net profits had climbed 36%. (Dess, Case 40 Pg. 1)
While peddling about the country he came in contact with the super efficient McDonald's hamburger joint, which was started by Dick and Mac McDonald, who were brothers. He saw this place and optimistically envisioned many more opening up all over the country. He convinced the brothers to let him be their first franchisee. They agreed so in 1954 Ray opened up the first McDonalds franchise. A year later, Ray opened up the second McDonalds franchise in Des Plaines, Illinois. Only four years after the second restaurant's opening the one hundredth McDonalds was opened. In 1961 Ray Kroc bought the rights to the McDonalds franchise for a meager 2.7 million dollars. To pay this massive sum at the time he had to mortgage his house and take out numerous loans that would eventually cost him 14 million to pay back. After he bought the rights to the name and the company he forced Dick and Mac to remove their name from their original restaurant. But he went even further when he opened up a McDonalds restaurant a block down the road trying to put them out of business. Also that same year Hamburger University was opened.
Everyone has heard of McDonald’s, but where did this familiar name come from? When people think of American food, it is not uncommon for two golden arches to appear in their minds. This story began with two brothers Dick and Mac McDonald who owned and ran a small restaurant in San Bernardino, California during the 1940s. In 1954 a man named Ray Kroc came across these two brothers while selling multi-mixers and was impressed with the business they were running. The menu was compact, listing options for only a few burgers, fries and beverages, but the restaurant was effective in its operation. Ray Kroc pitched the idea of spreading McDonald’s restaurants across the United States and in 1955 he founded the McDonald’s Corporation. By 1960 he bought the exclusive rights to the name. Kroc was able to expand substantially on this small business so that by 1958 McDonald’s sold its 100 millionth hamburger. (“McDonald’s.com”)
McDonalds. What had started as a humble family owned drive-through has become a multi-million dollar industry. Everywhere one goes, there are reminders of how amazingly widespread this company has become, whether it be seeing McDonald’s famous golden arches on a billboard or hearing the catchy “I’m Lovin’ It” tune in a commercial. But more than this, McDonalds has become part of our global identity– our McWorld.
The McDonald's Corporation is the largest chain of fast food restaurants in the world. It is franchised in over 119 countries and serves an average of 68 million customers daily. The company started in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by Richard and Maurice McDonald in the United States. They reorganized their business as a hamburger stand in 1948. In 1955, Businessman Ray Kroc joined the company as a franchise agent. He purchased the chain from the McDonald brothers and oversaw its global-wide growth (McDonald’s 2014).
Have you ever wondered how the business empire of McDonalds was started? With over ninety nine billion served, it was started in 1940 in San Bernardino, California. It was started off as just a Bar-B-Q that served just twenty items. Its first mascot was named “Speedee” They eventually realized that by setting up their kitchen like an assembly line that they could be much more productive and get their food done faster, with every employee doing a specified job; the restaurants production rate became much higher. A milkshake machine vendor came into their small restaurant one day, his name was Ray Kroc. He saw how much potential the restaurant has, so he bought it out and opened one of the first franchises. Within the first year of Ray Kroc buying it, there were one hundred and two locations all around the world. McDonalds currently is one of the largest fast food restaurants in the world and currently has served over sixty four million customers through one of their thirty two thousand sites. It has almost become a way of life for America. Though, McDonalds started off as a small business between two brothers, it grew into one of the largest restaurant franchises in the world and greatly affects our society and how we eat our food.
Not having to answer to a corporate boss is the dream of many and the flexibility that owning a business franchise creates provides this option. Success is not reached by simply creating a business, however. The level of success is measured by the size and efficiency of the business. Business growth is the driving force of the economy. The additional jobs and revenues created when a business expands allow the economy to grow at exponential rates. One of the fastest and most popular ways to increase the size of a business is to turn it into a franchise, which can then be purchased by individuals. Franchising provides opportunities that are beneficial to both the parent company and the purchaser. The company that owns the business can expand without having to pay such a large initial cost to open a new store since the franchise purchaser pays a cost to open the business. As well, the company can regulate many of the business activities so that there is a sense of consistency throughout all of the locations. The purchaser is allowed to use the trademarks and goods of the franchise which already have a large market presence. As well, they are provided with training and work standards by the company to help their business run smoothly (Kalnins & Lafontaine, 2004, p.761). Looking at the business model of the world’s largest food retailer, McDonald’s, provides great insight into franchising and business growth in general as well a better understanding of a global business that utilizes the franchising technique.
Burger King uses a dispersed configuration for day to day operations as the majority of their restaurants are franchises with local suppliers. Yet Burger King Headquarters uses a concentrated configuration for marketing and development of products, as well as pricing. This centralization of marketing assists all franchises worldwide and provides the greatest value for the company, but the direction of available products and pricing has proven detrimental to the overall success of the firm. An article on CNNMoney.com describes the failure of the $1 double cheese burger to stimulate sales and how a number of franchisees filed lawsuits against the headquarters due to being forced to sell the double cheese burger at less than cost in order to boost revenues for the headquarters and shareholders and not the franchisees.