Often people consider Cafes and Bakeries as simply another restaurant. In some aspects that assumption is correct, and no one will argue they fall into the Food & Beverage industry. However, they really constitute a category or at least a sub-category all on their own.
Let’s review step by step why they are different, evaluate the positives and negatives of those differences, look at what that really means for those considering doing franchise business with a Café or Bakery franchise, and finally look at a combo Bakery Café franchise that is looking to expand within Asia.
What is different in a café or bakery compared to a normal restaurant?
There are many basic differences:
As we see from the above list, there are a fair number of significant differences. Both have rewards and challenges, and there are many successful restaurant, café, and bakery franchise brands across all countries in our region. Being aware of the difference and how that affects the strategic planning is what is important.
There is one more point I would like to mention about Bakeries specifically. There is a limited number of brands focused on Bakery. While I can likely think of 100+ restaurants off the top of my head, the number of chain bakeries doesn’t hit 10. Many people have to get from the local supermarket which is never quite the same and has no opportunity to dine in. This leaves quite great potential franchise opportunities in many countries around Asia for a great bakery concept like Delifrance to be launched with success.
Delifrance is one such bakery café concept that I have had the pleasure to work with over the past several years and it provides a good case study for this article. Interestingly enough they break the traditional mold of being either a restaurant or a café, as they do have a Delifrance Bakery Bistro version which moves quite far into the restaurant category with a wide menu of hot food, sandwiches, soups, breakfast, salads, and more.
With more than 100 years in the bakery business, and 36 years as a franchise, Delifrance is a mature brand with the experience to support their franchisees well. Their Ecole de Boulangerie et de patisserie de Paris (A school for bakers and patissiers) was opened back and 1935 and still remains today as the world’s premier training grounds for French Bakers. This prestigious history doesn’t mean they don’t innovate however. A few years ago they completely redid their store design to the amazing current bold Parisian-style that tells their brand story, showcases their bakery products, and provides efficient customer service. This was done after significant analysis and wasn’t just a simple makeover, but part of an in-depth strategy that allows for a truly versatile concept.
Already successful in hundreds of stores in a dozen countries, including Indonesia, Malaysia, and Japan in our region they continue to seek out multi-unit operators in remaining countries across Asia. I had a chance to ask Delifrance’s Director of Franchising, Ms. Jacynthe Omglin, what they looked for in their franchisees and she says “Since we are seeking partners to operate a multi-unit network, it is highly important to us to work with experienced people who have an existing corporate structure so they can manage a successful expansion”. A proven track record in the F&B industry, a strong knowledge of the local market, experience in franchising, and being well capitalized rounded out her preferences for new franchisee partners.
I also asked what advantages Delifrance has over a traditional restaurant or café as there are many of both in almost every market in our region. She answers “Our group is owned by a cooperative of farmers, which means we can trace the origin of our products right from the farm to the customers table. Our menu is dynamic and vibrant to match the latest trends, and has the ability for local customization to match customer taste preferences. Our formats are versatile and can be adapted to any location right from a small kiosk to a full bistro restaurant. Lastly, we appeal to a wide audience from Gen X, through Millennials, and right up to the Boomers”.
If you are looking for a new franchise brand to add to your company profile, looking to convert a local café chain to an international franchise brand, or an investor seeking a franchise opportunity with a fast ROI, please check out more details about Delifrance: CLICK HERE and contact us at info@wordpress-1301377-4733018.cloudwaysapps.com
You can also watch some interesting videos about Delifrance here: VIDEO 1 , VIDEO 2 . Find out more on VF Franchise Consulting youtube channel
About the author
Robert has over 30 years of F&B and Franchise experience and has lived in ASEAN for more than 13 years. He is currently the Director of Franchise Development & Operations at VF Franchise Consulting, based in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam.