Keeping up with the latest food fads is not easy. One minute everyone’s snapping pictures of cronuts, then it’s supersized jacket potatoes or crunchy tacos. For entrepreneurs trying to build a successful food business it can be hard to know what cuisine to offer to tap into trends and local appetites. This is why partnering with a food franchise can be the answer.

 

Food franchises have a dedicated team of researchers that explore the latest trends, research consumer tastes and develop brands and menus that will have the orders flooding in. This approach has allowed franchise owners to focus on creating the food, growing their customer base and, in many cases, expanding and opening new stores.

 

Research and Development

Launching a new cuisine to a market can be risky. It’s hard to know what dishes will take off and what different demographics want. Just because it’s tasty doesn’t mean the menu will be popular in the areas you want it to, which is why big businesses spend so much on research and development. Research allows you to map out demand, competition and suitability in any given area, making it easier to know what food types will succeed in which location. But this level of investment isn’t realistic for most entrepreneurs looking to launch a new business.

 

Partnering with a food franchise takes away this cost and allows you to reap the benefits of their investment in research and development. A good franchise partner will develop brands based on careful market research and then work with you to establish what cuisine is likely to do well in your location. Starting out armed with projections, tried and tested menus and market research gives you a head start against any other local competition and will help you to set realistic expectations.

 

Virtually trend-proof

Opting for one franchise model can still leave you victim to trends. If you open a pizza restaurant and everyone wants falafel, you could still find you don’t have the orders you need to keep your business afloat, this is where virtual brands come in. Some forward-thinking food franchises are developing multiple brands that can be offered alongside an existing food business or as a stand alone business, and are only available on the food delivery apps. Being able to offer multiple menus from one location gives your business diversity and means customers can order from you more frequently - ordering from a greek brand one day and a wings brand another. More business for you, more choices for the consumer - and crucially, you won’t suffer if one of the cuisines goes out of vogue.

 

Branded for success

What’s more, food franchises often come with strong branding and marketing strategies that are regularly updated to align with the latest consumer interests. From social media campaigns to seasonal specials, franchise brands know how to create buzz and capitalise on emerging trends, keeping their businesses relevant and attractive to customers.

 

Supplier Networks and Cost Efficiency

Staying ahead of food trends isn’t just about knowing what’s popular, it’s also about having the right suppliers and ingredients at competitive prices. Franchise networks benefit from bulk purchasing power, ensuring that franchisees get the best quality ingredients without the high costs independent businesses might face when trying to source trendy, in-demand items.

 

Operational Support and Training

Trends can change quickly, and so good food franchises will provide ongoing training and operational support to help franchisees adapt. Whether it’s integrating a new menu, training up staff or ironing out operational kinks, a good franchise business offers you support and partnership at every stage.

 

Community and Customer Loyalty

Being part of a popular franchise brand often comes with built-in customer loyalty, making it easier to attract repeat customers even as trends shift, leaving you to focus on delivering high quality food and running your business.

 

Dish’d, is a pioneer in virtual food franchising, and is about to launch its 50th franchise store. With four established food brands including Eugreeka!, Leb+Nom, Wingology and Bao+Buns and new concepts and cuisines launching regularly, you can leverage their wildly popular brands and be confident that each menu item has been lovingly developed and market tested by their expert team of development chefs. Their model is so successful, franchisees are doubling their weekly takings and regularly making between £8,000 and £20,000 additional sales per week.

 

So instead of trying to navigate the next tiktok food fad, consider partnering with experts and watch the orders roll in. Leaving you to focus on the food… and what to do with £20,000 extra a week to spend!