In order to admire and acknowledge the contributions of businesswomen, the franchise universe up with the edition – The 10 Most Successful Businesswomen to Watch, 2021

1. www.thefranchiseuniverse.com
From a Small Seaside Shop to a Growing Pizza Franchise
volume 11 i issue 01 I 2021
Drew Kellogg
President & CEO
10
Food
THE
BEST
Franchises
TO OPEN IN 2021 LeAnne Cavallaro
Director of
Operations
Cinnaholic
Food Talks
Make your Fortune
in Food Franchise

3. FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR
Meeting Dessert Cravings of
Everyone by Serving
High-Quality Sweet Treats
16 INTRODUCING:
LeAnne Cavallaro
Director of Operations
Cinnaholic

4. When I relax on my couch, having no plans
or whatsoever, my spontaneous craving
for food makes me reach to my
smartphone and helplessly order food to feed my
hunger. After a long wait, when the food arrives, and
I have the first bite, it feels exhilaratingly satisfying.
However, it took me a while to notice that I was
unintentionally following a pattern, ordering from
various food franchises. It led me to wonder how
food franchises have imprinted their brand in the
consumers' minds, becoming renowned and
beloved in every corner of the world.
Food franchising has been around for decades, and
we are familiar with them at some level. What makes
these franchises unique is that they offer a large
variety of delicious local and international cuisine
from diverse parts of the world, bridging the gap
between nations through food. Apart from
developing innovative dishes, franchising also has a significant business aspect and a strong leadership
behind it. It makes consistent efforts to keep its core values the same across the world, making these
franchises gain recognition around the globe.
The franchising business model allows individuals seeking to follow their entrepreneurial drive a
straightforward method of growth while spreading its wings in newer locations. The franchise work culture
differs from the traditional businesses and provides constant valued training and support to its employees
to maintain its integrity across the board. With strong values rooted in the franchises, the brick-and-mortar
of these franchises keep growing while maintaining a fine line between reasonable costs and labor, making
a profit, and most importantly, touching people's hearts with food.
Explore such diverse food franchises that have spread smiles in people's lives with their cuisine and also
have provided growth opportunities to budding entrepreneurs along the way in The Franchise Universe's
newest edition, "The 10 Best Food Franchises to Open in 2021.”
While immersing through the journeys of these franchises, have a quick rundown through the articles
exploring different aspects of franchising.
Commence on your curiosity and flip over the pages!
Food, Feels, Franchise
FROM THE EDITOR’S DESK
10
Food
THE
BEST
Franchises
TO OPEN IN 2021
Aditya Gaikar

5. Editor-in-Chief
Hitesh Dhamani
Managing Editor
Aditya Gaikar
Art & Design Director
Matt Jenkins
Associate Designer
Kartik B.
Sales Head
Kshitij S
Marketing Manager
Nathan Rust
Technical Head
Aditya K.
Research Analyst
Todd Stewart
SME-SMO Executive
Amol Wadekar
Project Manager
Marry D'Souza
Business Development
Manager
Anup B.
Sales Executive
Sagar D.
Database Management
Stella Andrew
www.facebook.com/TheFranchiseUniverse/ www.linkedin.com/the-franchise-universe/
www.linkedin.com/the-franchise-universe/ www.instagram.com/thefranchiseuniverse/
editor@thefranchiseuniverse.com
November, 2021
Copyright © 2021 The Franchise Universe, All rights reserved. The content and images used in this magazine should not be reproduced or
transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without prior permission from The Franchise
Universe. Reprint rights remain solely with The Franchise Universe.

6. COVER STORY
08
C
O
N
T
E
N
T
S

7. 22
Make your
Fortune
in Food
Franchise
ARTICLE
Blue Coast
Burrito
Peace Love and
Little Donuts
The Spice &
Tea Exchange
24
30 36

9. Brief
Company Name
Marci and Ron Razete
Co-founders
Peace Love and Little
Donuts
peaceloveandlittle
donuts.com
Peace Love and Little Donuts goal is the leader in the "fresh
not frozen" donut market with remarkable donut flavors and
combinations in the quick service restaurant sector.
Robert Speck
President and CEO
Blue Coast Burrito
bluecoastburrito.com
Blue Coast Burrito offers customers delicious BAJA-FRESH
California style food.
Oath Pizza
oathpizza.com
Drew Kellogg
President & CEO
Oath Pizza is a better-for-you craft pizza brand that has
reimagined the pizza experience.
Fazoli's System
Management LLC
fazolis.com
Carl Howard
CEO
Fazoli’s is an elevated Quick Service Restaurant concept in an
enhanced service environment.
Amy Freeman
CEO, CFE
The Spice & Tea Exchange
spiceandtea.com
The Spice & Tea Exchange® was founded in 2008, by a group
of talented individuals with a passion for life and food.
Qdoba Restaurant
Corporation
qdoba.com
Keith Guilbault
CEO
QDOBA is more than just memorable Mexican-inspired food.
Cinnaholic
cinnaholic.biz
LeAnne Cavallaro,
Director of Operations
Cinnaholic is home to the original, gourmet cinnamon roll.
El Pollo Loco
elpolloloco.com
Brian Eldermen
CEO
El Pollo Loco opened is quickly becoming a destination for the
best citrus-marinated, fire-grilled pollo in town.
Tickle My Ribs
tmrbbq.com
Sean Morris
Founder
TickleMyRibs have been committed to the execution of
Handcrafted Food and BBQ.
Gelato & Co
gelatoeco.com
Gelato & Co is a ice cream company based in the Cayman
islanda,USA ,Panama and the Caribbean.
Jim Stanley
CEO
Featured Person

10. Drew Kellogg
President & CEO
Oath Pizza
COVER STORY

11. From a Small Seaside Shop to a Growing Pizza Franchise
A modern, tech-forward
approach. World-class
e ciency. Round-the-clock
support. Oath Pizza is
committed to setting you up
for success.
“
“

12. Have you ever wanted to eat better without
giving up the foods you love? Sacrificing
flavor for high-quality foods happens a lot,
especially when it comes to pizza. Does it feel like
it's either healthier and tasteless or greasy and too
filling? That's where Oath Pizza comes in, with a
menu full of exciting twists on flavors you actually
love. Oath pizzas are crafted on a proprietary crust
that is grilled, seared in avocado oil, and topped
with real, fresh ingredients. The brand is disrupting
the pizza and better-for-you segments with a
product that is perfectly positioned to intersect the
demand for high-quality comfort foods.
What started in a small seaside shop on Nantucket
Island in 2015 has now become a beloved national
brand, known for its signature avocado oil pizza
crust and 100% feel-good pizza experience.
Oath is led by experienced restaurant executives
and former Chipotle operations and marketing
leaders. Drew Kellogg serves as the Chief Execu-
tive Officer, and Stacie Colburn Hayes, the Chief
Marketing Officer. The expertise of Kellogg and
Hayes has helped to get Oath Pizza back to its roots
and prepared the brand for growth. Kellogg joined
Oath Pizza in 2018 and brought his years of leader-
ship experience to the rapidly evolving company.
He now drives the brand's strategic vision with his
purpose-driven and talented team. Together, they
are growing Oath Pizza into a robust national brand
that is working to positively impact the world.
Kellogg saw the potential for the future of Oath
Pizza. He asked his team and connections to help
bring his vision to life using the brand's unique
product and efficient business model.
Hayes also joined Oath Pizza in 2018 and drives the
vision for all marketing, technology, menu
innovation, customer service, and franchise
development. She and her team are responsible for
the brand evolution and cutting-edge digital
infrastructure.
They work alongside the operational teams to
provide unprecedented support to the company-
owned and franchise locations nationwide.
We at The Franchise Universe came across Oath
Pizza in our expedition to find "The 10 Best Food
Franchises to Open in 2021." We got into an
insightful conversation with Drew to know his
experience and methodologies that make Oath

14. COVER STORY

15. Pizza stand out from the rest to become one of the
beloved household food franchises.
The Story Continues
Today, Oath has grown to 29 locations across the
country. For those who are not close to a
restaurant location, their craft pizzas are available
to ship to households and businesses across the
country from Goldbelly®.
Oath's franchise program began in 2018 when it
was selected as the newest franchise by Aramark,
the globally-recognized Fortune 500 food service
leader. Oath was chosen due to its efficient
business model, turn-key operations, and better-
for-you brand appeal to key groups, like Millennials
and Gen Z.
Even without a focus on development at the time,
Oath's non-traditional franchise program continued
to grow. The brand caught the attention of Covelli
Enterprises, the largest Panera franchisee, which
signed on as its second franchisee in 2019.
Oath's franchise opportunity was selling itself to
some of the biggest companies in the industry, so
Kellogg decided to implement a traditional
franchise growth strategy. He shifted resources and
budget to market the opportunity more broadly
and prepared for the resulting rapid franchise
growth.
Now, Oath's goal is to find franchise partners to
open new locations, primarily in affluent suburban
areas, occupied by ingredient-conscious folks who
want a better pizza option. Oath's ideal franchise
partners are wellness-, community-, and people-
focused, with a love of delicious food and an
appreciation for a simple, efficient operation and
business model.
Overcoming Growing Pains
Oath experienced rapid corporate and franchise
expansion with Aramark early on, before the brand
identity, operations, supply chain, and other
components were fully established.
Aramark's openings began just before Kellogg and
Hayes came on board. With the help of their
exceptional and dedicated team, Kellogg optimized
Oath's business model and operations. At the same
Better
Versions of
Flavors You
Love.
“
“

16. time, Hayes reestablished the brand identity and
positioning, elevated the guest experience, and
implemented new, proven marketing strategies.
There was a period of branding and menu changes
after Aramark openings had begun, but the
adjustments were positive for the brand and its
franchise partners and created a solid foundation
for rapid, long-term franchise growth.
A Better Pizza Experience
Oath is pizza reimagined. Each bite is meant to
make every day feel like a summer Friday back on
Nantucket, where their first location opened its
doors.
Oath's signature crust is hand-stretched, grilled,
and seared in avocado oil for a deliciously unique
flavor and texture. Its menu offers signature pizzas
as well as customizable options. Rare to the pizza
industry, each Oath Pizza is made with real, high-
quality ingredients, and topped with house-made
sauces, fresh, hand-cut produce, Applegate®
organic proteins, and flavorful garnishes.
Oath Pizza has also become known for meeting
vegan, gluten-free, and many other dietary needs
with its inclusive menu. Thanks to its new
partnership with Banza® to provide a perfectly
doughy yet crispy chickpea crust, any pizza can be
made gluten-free or vegan. Other options like
vegan cheese and Beyond Meat are favorites
among those looking for plant-based options.
For dessert? A chocolate chunk cookie pizza, where
creamy ricotta meets cookie dough, topped with
chocolate drizzle and powdered sugar. The perfect
end to any meal. Oath also offers a popular kids'
menu, featuring pizzas crafted on a fluffy mini crust
and a nut-free environment for parents seeking a
safer, better option for their children.
A Culture Built on Community
Oath's mission is to inspire happiness in its
communities, and its team members are the most
critical part of that. When Kellogg started, his first
order of business was to meet the restaurant and
field teams and evaluate the strengths and
opportunities of the company culture. He led the
team in collaborating to update the vision, mission,
and values that set the tone for mutual investment
and ownership across the organization.
Today, Kellogg and the team operate on the same
core values they developed when he came on
board-empowerment, hospitality, integrity, passion,
sustainability, and teamwork, which can be felt
throughout the organization.
The Highs and Lows of a Pandemic
The team at Oath worked tirelessly to adapt to the
changing needs of its customers, restaurant teams,
and communities while fulfilling its commitment to
protect and grow its business. While difficult, the
slowed pace and fast decision-making created
space for Oath to optimize its model, set a path
forward, and prepare for fast growth in a post-
pandemic world.
Fortunately, in 2019, Kellogg and Hayes had
prioritized key parts of the business that would
serve as essential during the pandemic. Kellogg
focused on operational efficiencies as well as
franchise program refinement and alignment.
Hayes focused on strengthening cutting-edge

17. ordering and front-of-house technologies and
dining experiences. This included a value-
engineered menu, direct online ordering app, and
website development, as well as an improved
loyalty program, ordering experience, and data-
driven marketing campaigns with impressive ROI.
As a result, Oath Pizza was able to not only survive
but thrive during the pandemic. The brand saw
considerable improvements in operational
efficiencies, increased digital revenue, improved
new customer conversion, and database growth.
These systems and strategies allowed creative
campaigns, national partnerships, and the explora-
tion of new revenue and growth channels. This
included offering nationwide shipping in a matter
of weeks via Shopify, and on Goldbelly® a few
months later.
Community Offerings from Your Pizza Spot
Oath has been an active member and advocate of
all of its communities from the start. Over the past
20 months, Hayes and the team found ways to
support those in need, despite future uncertainties.
When the pandemic arrived in the U.S., the team
transformed its food truck into a contactless
operation overnight. It set out to serve up its feel-
good pizzas to front-line workers, isolated apart-
ment building residents, hotel and retail staff, and
many other community groups. Additionally, with
the launch of its Pizza Party Packs, Oath donated
10% of profits to support organizations such as
Feeding America, Americares, Home for Little
Wanderers, Color of Change, and Coded by Kids.
Oath continues to participate in local government-
funded food programs, donate to shelters,
volunteer, and host fundraisers for non-profit
organizations and schools.
Towards the Quest of Meticulous Expansion
Kellogg knew that he could transform Oath Pizza
into something special and scalable with the help of
Hayes and the Oath team. The brand's unique,
better-for-you product intersects the increasing
consumer demand for real, quality food and
satisfies the void for a better pizza. In addition, with
one of the most efficient and scalable models in the
QSR industry, Oath fulfills the growing demands for
efficient, scalable and easy-to-operate, franchise
concepts.
Now, with confidence in its unique, authentic, and
scalable franchise opportunities, Oath is eager to
grow. It aims to sign on dozens of new franchise
partners by the end of 2022.
Go Ahead, Craft Your Own Story
Kellogg understands how to lead in a competitive
franchise market and his advice to emerging
entrepreneurs is simple, “Stay positive, be grateful,
smile often, and be a curious, humble student along
the way.” He adds, “Aim high and make sure to set
goals that are inspirational, worthy, and make the
world a better place.”

18. 16 | November 2021
Cinnaholic
Meeting Dessert Cravings of Everyone by
Serving High-Quality Sweet Treats
Nothing tastes more sweeter than an
exquisite and delicious dessert. Almost
every human being in the world is fond of
sweet treats. The high-quality bakery products
made by using fresh ingredients are the natural
choice of most food lovers. Many people become
irresistible fans of the food franchise that meets
their dessert cravings. Cinnaholic is one such food
franchise that solves everyone’s dessert cravings.
Cinnaholic is not your typical cinnamon roll dessert
shop. All of its products are fresh-baked and 100%
vegan, dairy & lactose-free, egg-free, and
cholesterol-free.
We at The Franchise Universe caught up with
LeAnne Cavallaro, Director of Operations at
Cinnaholic, to learn more about the company and
its franchising business.
LeAnne states that she wants to deliver new
experiences to customers every time they visit
Cinnaholic. She wants its customers to feel like they
are returning to a comforting harbor at all of its
locations.
Let’s unveil more about the company.
Creating 100% Plant-Based Desserts
Cinnaholic was founded by a husband-and-wife
team that wanted to create decadent desserts that
were 100% plant-based. After appearing on Shark
Tank, they decided to franchise their concept, and
Cinnaholic now has over 60 locations across the US
and Canada. Cinnaholic’s work is a craft of love,
passion, and dedication.
Using Fresh Ingredients for Making Most
Popular Items
The fact that all of Cinnaholic’s bakeries are 100%
plant-based sets it apart from its competition. It
believes in using the highest quality ingredients.
Some of Cinnaholic’s most popular items are the
Cookie Monster Roll made with cream cheese
frosting topped with chocolate chip cookie dough,
chocolate chips, and chocolate sauce; the Caramel
Apple Pie Roll made with caramel frosting topped
with fresh apples, homemade pie crumble, pecans
and caramel sauce; and its custom Cinnacakes that
FRANCHISE OF THE YEAR

19. www.thefranchiseuniverse.com 17
|
LeAnne Cavallaro
Director of Operations
Cinnaholic

20. 18 | November 2021
are made with customer's choice of frosting and
five toppings.
Cinnaholic is proud to serve create-your-own
cinnamon rolls, and other sweet treats like made
from scratch brownies, cookies, and edible cookie
dough.
Ensuring Wow Factor in Products
100% plant-based is always the first priority for
Cinnaholic, but it takes it up a notch by making sure
its products always have that wow factor when it
comes to ingredients and flavor. Customers can
select from over 20 unique frosting flavors and a
variety of fresh and decadent toppings for their
cinnamon roll. They can mix and match flavors to
create a new experience every visit!
Moreover, all of Cinnaholic’s bakeries are set up for
online ordering and third-party delivery, which has
increased the ease of ordering for its customers.
Catering Events of All Types and Any Size
Cinnaholic’s entire menu is completely
customizable to the events of its customers. From
social gatherings and office meetings to weddings
and showers, Cinnaholic caters for events small,
large, and everything in between. With Cinnaholic
Catering, the possibilities are endless. It caters to
any occasion and any size and creates a
memorable and unique dessert experience for
customers.
Symbolizing Experience, Team Value, and Family
The swallow featured in the Cinnaholic logo is
derived from the traditional sailor tattoo. It
symbolizes experience, team value, and family.
Cinnaholic feels the success of its brand is reflected
in the dedication and passion of its franchise
partners, its corporate team, and its employees
whom it considers “family”.

21. www.thefranchiseuniverse.com 19
|
Our franchise partners benefit from a
flexible business model, relatively
low operating costs, and high-
quality, delicious products that
consumers come back for time and
time again.
“
“
The 10 Best Food Franchises to Open in 2021
Making Huge Impact on People with Food
Allergies
Cinnaholic has impacted people with food allergies
tremendously. Since all of its items are 100% dairy,
egg, and lactose-free, it is able to cater to people
with allergies to those items.
Cinnaholic hears from families all the time how
thankful and excited they are because their
child/ren are able to enjoy Cinnaholic’s baked
goods without fear of getting sick.
Let’s hear it from the client.
"We tried a few of your rolls last weekend and they
blew me away! We have a child with a dairy allergy, so
it was so special and meaningful to be able to have a
delicious treat that we felt safe with!" — — Hannah,
Baltimore
“It's amazing to hear these stories and makes me
proud to be a part of this brand,” says LeAnne.

22. Supporting Needs of Franchise Partners
Talking about the impact of the pandemic, LeAnne
says there have been so many effects the pandemic
has brought to the franchise industry, but one
consistent opportunity is hiring. Cinnaholic is
supporting its franchise partners with additional
messaging on social media and its websites, and
continuing to work on creative ways to support
their need for staffing.
LeAnne says, “A positive work culture is a necessity to
hire and retain a great staff, and fortunately for
Cinnaholic, the work is fun, and serving up sweet
treats to our raving fans is always rewarding.”
Being Active in Communities
When it comes to serving communities, all
Cinnaholic locations are individually owned and
operated, and each franchise partner connects with
their community differently. Many locations donate
food to local organizations as needed, and many
work with schools and non-profits for fundraising.
Cinnaholic prides itself on being active in its
communities!
Growing and Expanding into International
Markets
Cinnaholic wants to continue to grow across the
United States and Canada and eventually expand
into more international markets. It is actively
seeking franchise partners in new markets to help
grow its brand.
Being Up for a Challenge
LeAnne advises budding franchise leaders who
aspire to venture into the food and beverages
franchise industry, “This industry is a whirlwind and
every day is different, make sure you're up for the
challenge. Contact references and other franchise
partners inside the brand you're pursuing, visit a
nearby location, and ask all the questions! Be
committed to be present at your business - our most
successful franchise partners are part of the daily
operations!”
20 | November 2021

24. 22 | November 2021
Living up to your passion demands strength,
and strength comes from the zeal to give
your best to bring a change in the world.
Every day, a new concept, trend, and new fields are
created, and the franchise is the result of one such
new concept, where you can own your business
with some capital. And, in the franchise, the food
franchise is the best franchise to own for
entrepreneurs and businesses. Why? Because you
cannot say no to food, can you?
Well, jokes apart, but according to the fact, food
franchise is the best type of franchise to own, as
this niche serves a lot of people with an extensive
customer base worldwide. The food franchise
arena is the best way to make your fortune
because the field holds such a recognized potential.
This concept is interactive, fresh, and full of variety;
you can never worn-out of it. So, what does it take
to make all the things work?
Dream Big
It is the experience of your flavor with the kind of
approach you have towards the customer, and that
is all it takes to make the food franchise successful.
Right when the customer steps into your store, he
should feel invited and make sure your store is no
ordinary place by keeping the best environment.
So, when the customer walks out, he has the best
experience and visits often. The advertising and
marketing do the rest.
Speaking of a food franchise, McDonald’s is the
best example that comes to my mind. With some
39,198 franchises in the world, it has grown
worldwide enormously. This shows the power of
food franchise and the fact that it is still growing.
The right franchise can take you to the top, and a
food franchise is undoubtedly the perfect franchise.
So next time you are in a debate about the best
franchise, you can say it loud about the best
franchise – the food franchise, period.
Well, not taking away from the start-up
entrepreneurs, as they are definitely self-made
persons with their own ideas and innovations. It’s
just that owning the food franchise gives you
additional confidence as the platform is already set
to rock. You don’t have to start anything from
scratch.
Importance of Values
Values, of course, play a big part in its successful
management. The dedication of the team and the
employees is reflected in their work, and with the
right work values, all can grow. You get to enjoy
your work; only then can you be creative in your
work. This is where the company’s role is vital to
make sure to support their employees and
acknowledge their concerns. Upholding such
values, the goal becomes clear, and everyone
believes in achieving that goal of the franchise.
Never Back Down
Now is the best time to be in the franchise industry.
Looking at the future opportunities with new
technology and innovation, the customers and
even the entrepreneurs are excited about what’s
next. We recently saw shutdowns of many
businesses and a high number of losses of human
lives. Staying healthy and eating healthy was the
main lesson we learned from it. We have to
continually improve the standard of our life, and
the quality of food we eat and food franchise is
definitely helping towards it.
The Immortal Words
We still have a long way to go, and the food
franchise looks ready for coming challenges and
opportunities. There is no restriction in this field;
the more you work, the more you grow. A lot of
things are also dependent on trust, as any concept
is only trusted when you follow the culture of
respect. The culture is built by respecting
everyone’s feedback,
concerns and taking action
on it. This shows you are
professional in the business
and show compassion
towards people. Because to
reach the top, putting only
money is not the point, but
the values, culture, and
compassion will take you to
your dream.
Lastly, get up and build your food franchise career
now. There will be challenges, but with experience,
team, and values, you can decipher challenges into
opportunities. Now that finding the right kind of
franchise is no longer a doubt go and make it real.
FOOD TALKS

25. www.thefranchiseuniverse.com 23
|
Make your
F
ORTUNEin
OOD
RANCHISE

26. 24 | November 2021
Blue Coast Burrito

27. www.thefranchiseuniverse.com 25
|

28. 26 | November 2021

29. www.thefranchiseuniverse.com 27
|

32. 30 | November 2021
The Future of
Small
Business in
Every
Community
Marci and Ron Razete, Co-founders, Peace, Love and Little Donuts

33. www.thefranchiseuniverse.com 31
|
mall businesses are known for their special
Splace in every community. They offer value
beyond just material goods. In order to be
successful as a small business owner, one must
maintain an impeccable reputation, treat people
kindly, and remain in touch with everyone in times
of need. These qualities make small businesses
indispensable for the longterm growth of the
community. In return, they offer relatively low risks
and tremendous potential for success for every
owner. Peace, Love, and Little Donuts (PLLD)
holds the promise of such an enriching investment.
A Small Journey
The company started its journey in 2009 when its
founders Marci and Ron Razete bought a used
donut machine from their friend. The spirit of the
small community kicked in when they asked the
director of their local hockey areaa to join the event
as a small vendor. The director responded with a
resounding "yes", and both have never looked back
since. Today, the franchise operates over 35 brick
and mortar locations across America, and offers a
great opportunity to invest in the future of
American small business.
PLLD's motto is simple. Marci says, "Our mission is
to make the grooviest, most far-out, and funkadelic
donuts in the world". Marci also knows how to
serve those donuts and to keep up with the taste
buds of every customer. The main promise of PLLD
to its customers is the freshness of its donuts. Ron
says, "We don't start making donuts until 30 minutes
before we open, and don't stop making donuts until 30
minutes before we close. We rarely disappoint people
by being "out". This mantra is essential for success in
the QSR (Quick Service Restaurant) industry.” PLLD
rarely disappoints its customers, and its growing
fan following among customers is a testimony to its
success. For example, the franchise has an amazing
rating of 4.8 stars on Grubhub, and 4.5 on
Tripadvisor. Some of its local stores have also
scored a perfect 5 on Facebook.
The PLLD franchise is a relatively new business, and
with it comes an endless adventure to be a part of
creating something new for the first time. For
example, when Marci and Ron discovered that their
donuts were well-loved at hockey events, they
found a tiny shop for rent of just 209 sq ft. And that
makes sense considering that Ron put the original
donut machine together without instructions and
couldn't get the results any larger than a "small"
version of a donut. They decided that this "holy
accident" would guide them and to this day,
The 10 Best Food Franchises to Open in 2021

34. 32 | November 2021
remains the cornerstone of PLLD's perfect size.
Expertise in Franchise Operation
In order for small businesses to grow, expertise in
the business is essential. This often proves to be
the chink in the armor for many small businesses.
Opening a small business in their own community
is a dream of many, however, a bitter reality is
many small businesses fail each year. Ron is keenly
aware and to help others be as successful as
possible, he spent years earning a certification as a
Certified Franchise Executive (CFE) to learn all that
We are all about
delicious, fun, and
shareable donut
experiences that'll
satisfy any sweet
tooth.

35. www.thefranchiseuniverse.com 33
|
he could to help others launch their franchise
model in various communities. His big take-a-way
from the classes was to use technology wherever
possible to offer a stable and robust operation.
According to Ron, "we are utilizing every advantage of
new technologies to make training material, customer
service standards and support material available to
our partners".
A Sense of Community
Marci and Ron both practice compassion along with
a strong objective approach to business
fundamentals. They both volunteer in local
communities and regularly donate to charities.
They have created a 501C3 charity named: PLLD
Marriage Support, Inc, in an effort to support
pastors and spouses towards strengthening their
bonds of marriage. They trust that better marriages
will build stronger churches.
During these unusual times, PLLD has tried to draw
even closer to its communities to help their
customers and staff with the challenges that come
along with the pandemic. Ron and Marci plan on
building a disaster vehicle soon to deploy in the
wake of storms and natural disasters, offering a
warm donut and free cup of coffee to those in need
and to first responders.

38. 36 | November 2021
Amy Freeman
Chief Execu ve Officer, CFE
The Spice & Tea Exchange®

39. www.thefranchiseuniverse.com 37
|
The food franchise industry is ever-evolving
and encompasses everything from
restaurants to hot-dog carts, to specialty
beverage stores, and spice shops.
Many franchises often innovate new culinary
offerings by combining two or more distinct flavors
to create a delicious taste that will satisfy one's
soul. The Spice & Tea Exchange is one such
franchise that strives to provide its guests with
quality products and flavorful memories. It offers a
high-quality, diverse assortment of products in a
sensory shopping experience.
At the helm of The Spice & Tea Exchange is it’s
Chief Executive Officer and Co-founder, Amy
Freeman. Amy has curated the franchise into a
closely knit team with a family vibe to deliver a
best-in-class experience.
We at The Franchise Universe came across Amy in
our endeavor to find “The 10 Best Food Franchises
to Open in 2021.” We got into the conversation to
gain insights about her franchise and how she has
intended to create and share the experience of a
more flavorful life through her venture.
Below are the highlights of the interview.
Give us a brief overview/inception of The Spice
& Tea Exchange®, its mission, and the key
aspects of its strong foothold in the Retail
industry.
The Spice & Tea Exchange was founded in 2008
with the vision to create a one-of-a-kind, world-
class sensory experience for our guests. We love
food, simple as that. We were inspired to share that
passion in the retail arena in an original, interactive,
and immersive concept. We started with one store
in St. Augustine, FL, but quickly recognized the
potential of franchising our design.
Our mission of "Creating & sharing the experience
of a more flavorful life" is the backbone of our
approach, to make a truly memorable shopping
experience for our guests. The guest experience is
what sets us apart from your standard grocer and
the ordinary spice or tea shop down the way. Many
of our spice blends and teas are handcrafted right
in our stores, which is an essential part of the
overall sensory adventure our guests take when
they walk in our doors. Guests are encouraged to
"open the jars and smell" while they explore the
aromas throughout our stores, are invited to watch
Spice Masters hand-mix blends, and have the
opportunity to enjoy freshly brewed tea from the
Tea Bar. All of these offerings are shepherded by a
well-trained, knowledgeable staff.
We're currently at 84 franchise locations and
growing! It was a whirlwind in 2020, as every retail
concept had to pivot and adapt— our system
handled it phenomenally. We saw revenue growth
of $1.6M from 2019 to 2020. We signed several
franchise agreements in the height of COVID-19
shutdowns and had our best fourth quarter ever. In
2021, we've welcomed eight franchise locations,
The 10 Best Food Franchises to Open in 2021

40. 38 | November 2021
and we anticipate approaching the 100-store mark
by the end of 2022.
Describe your top-notch offerings, and what
makes your franchise a preferred choice among
your clientele over other competitors.
The right ingredients are what set you apart from
any competitor— and our spices and teas are
Grade-A quality, vetted with discerning palates, and
sourced from countries around the globe. Within
our shops, you'll find over 225 premium spices,
seasonings, herbs, 45+ loose-leaf teas, a variety of
sea and mineral salts, infused sugars, meal kits,
gourmet gifts, kitchen/home accessories, and so
much more. Many of our stores also boast a full-
service tea bar to enjoy hot and iced tea to-go!
As a retail experience, The Spice & Tea Exchange®
seamlessly combines two industries by uniting
spices and teas under a concept that blends quality
and flavor. Our products go through rigorous
sourcing methods with strict quality controls in
place. We are keenly aware of our ingredients,
working to ensure that we're providing conscious
offerings for all culinary styles and a variety of
needs; salt-free, gluten-friendly, wellness, and
more.
Several items in our product catalog are brand
exclusives, which allows our guests to shop with
confidence knowing their selections will be of the
finest quality available and with excitement
knowing their choices are unique and far from run-
of-the-mill. Our proprietary recipes are what keep
our guests coming back time and time again!
Describe in detail the values that drive The
Spice & Tea Exchange® services.
Creating &
sharing the
experience of
a more
flavorful life.
‘‘
‘‘

41. www.thefranchiseuniverse.com 39
|
Our core values reflect the dedication of the
company and our franchise partners to continually
enhance our experience for both ourselves and our
guests. We believe that:
"Passion" is a necessity to believe in and enjoy all
that we do.
"Distinction" amongst ourselves and in the industry
is vital to be unique and creative in all that we do.
"Responsibility" is key to success, accountability,
and ownership in all that we do to support our
teammates, franchise partners, and guests.
As I frequently discuss with my team, "I is We," and
upholding these values ensures trust and a greater
understanding of our purpose as a company.
Would you please shed the knowledge on your
training programs that help you to expand your
franchise?
We are so fortunate to have an incredible team of
Franchise Business Consultants, marketing
specialists, and technology professionals to assist
our stores as they onboard with us.
Upon signing with The Spice & Tea Exchange, our
Franchise Owners complete a full week of Spice
UniversiTea at our facilities in St. Augustine, FL, to
learn the ins and outs of the organization.
We work with them to focus on tools,
methodologies, and technologies that will assist
them through the opening of their store. Following
Spice UniversiTea, franchisees receive two weeks of
on-site education as they prepare to open and
begin to implement customer service and
merchandising techniques into their day-to-day. We
offer virtual education and documented learning
curriculum to our system via online platforms to
continue their education and train onboarding
team members as they grow with us.
What is The Spice & Tea Exchange's future
aspirations? What strategies are you
undertaking to achieve those goals?
We are at a pivotal point in our journey where
we're about to hit the big-100! At this moment, we
are keen to expand but also focused on
infrastructure to bolster our teams and technology
to handle what's to come. We're further developing
our Learning & Development areas to nurture our
system (new and existing). We're growing our
consultant teams to give added support to our field
and investing in new channels (such as wholesale)
to open additional lines of revenue for our owners.
As an established franchise, what would your
advice be to up-and-coming entrepreneurs
aspiring to venture into the franchise industry?
Understand your purpose for doing what you do,
communicate it well, iterate it often, and hire the
right individuals who can breathe it with you.
Culture and purpose will drive you through those
growth stretches and difficult times as you build
from the ground up!