by Marisa Cioffi | Sep 3, 2018 | fast casual restaurant franchise, Greek Food, Healthy Franchise
With countless decisions to be made, running a small business is a challenging endeavor for any entrepreneur. There are many factors to consider when taking the dive into small business ownership: location, business model, suppliers, product quality, employees and more. But first, you must decide how you would like to start your business — build out independently or invest in a franchise.
Thrive on Freedom
Many entrepreneurs elect to run their own business because they crave freedom. They want to take control of their career, break away from corporate America and strike out on their own. Unfortunately, small business ownership comes with a world of responsibilities. It can be a lot for one person to take on!
Through franchising, you can enjoy the independence of small business ownership with the added support of a corporate office. Franchisors are looking to set up franchisees for success. There are processes set in place to make the transition easier, without deterring from the franchisee’s independence.
Know Your Business
Regardless of what industry interests you most, it’s important to consider every aspect of your potential business. Beyond industry knowledge, an independent, small business owner must be well-versed in all things relating to his or her company — accounting, bookkeeping, finding suppliers, point of sale systems, insurance, permits, licensing, marketing, advertising, brand management and much more. It takes a tremendous amount of coordination and hard work to manage a business. It is not an endeavor to be taken lightly.
With franchise investment, much of that new-business stress is alleviated. Well-run franchises, such as The Great Greek, have protocols in place to help smooth the transition to business ownership. Franchisors are able to aid in everything from securing permits to sourcing reputable suppliers to providing employee training programs.
Building a Brand
Developing a company from the ground up is no easy feat and one that often ends badly. According to Forbes, eight out of ten businesses will fail within 18 months of opening. There is a myriad of reasons why a business may fail, but frequently a major factor is the lack of brand awareness.
With franchising, brand awareness is inherently a part of the investment. You aren’t just buying a single location, you are investing in the brand itself. Thus, careful franchise selection is warranted. Customers will often have preconceived notions of what to expect before even setting foot on your property. That can be a powerful tool when utilized correctly!
The Great Greek has an incredible reputation for top-quality customer service, mouth-watering food and a family-friendly atmosphere. To get started on your franchising journey with The Great Greek, click here.
by Marisa Cioffi | Aug 27, 2018 | fast casual restaurant franchise, Greek Food, Healthy Franchise
Food is a universal language — it brings people together in more ways than one. Some of the fondest memories in life are made when gathered around the table enjoying delicious food. A way to bring your love for food, and everything that it stands for, to another level is to open a franchise of The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. Maybe you love to cook, or you have an entrepreneurial spirit and the restaurant industry seems like a good place to invest. Although this is an exciting adventure for you to embark on in your professional life, opening up a restaurant takes a lot of hard work and dedication. This is true for even the most experienced restaurant owners. According to The Great Greek co-owner Nick Anthony Della Penna, “Making it out of the gate with a new restaurant is extremely difficult. That’s the benefit of franchising. You have the recipes, the pricing, the menu, you have all that stuff done for you.”
Regardless of your restaurant’s model — fast-food, fast-casual, or full-service — the first year getting started is always tough! But, with some simple tips and guidance on how to get your restaurant off the ground, you can quickly find success in your first year.
Marketing is a powerful tool, and it doesn’t have to be so complex. Simple marketing strategies have a big impact on the first year of success for any business. For restaurants, drawing in customers is essential to be profitable, especially in the first year. According to NextRestaurants.com, email marketing is a quick and easy way to get the word out on your new restaurant; and return on investment (ROI) is $40 for every $1 spent. Irresistible, mobile-friendly and interactive emails are sure to draw customers into your restaurant. Social media is another useful marketing tool for your restaurant; because you can easily engage with your customers and promote your restaurant with a specific brand image in mind.
When you open up your restaurant, make sure you have a reliable staff and network in place before you open your doors. Unenthused, unmotivated employees make for unenthused, non-returning customers. The Great Greek offers sufficient support to help train new owners and workers and get the right staff in place. Yes, the food does most of the talking, but providing good customer service is just as important as providing delicious, unique food.
The support doesn’t stop with training. When franchisees join The Great Greek family, they’re joining an operational process with ongoing support beyond their grand opening. After you open the doors of your new store, they’re there to answer questions and offer valuable insight to keep you on track or ahead of your goals. With a nose for business and the aroma of great food, you don’t have to picture a successful restaurant; The Great Greek will give you the keys to your fast-casual dining masterpiece.
Whatever your restaurant endeavors may hold, keep these tips in mind when heading into your startup year. This will ensure you’re creating a successful, efficient, and one-of-a-kind dining experience that allows customers to create many more memories gathered around the table.
To download a The Great Greek franchise brochure and to get started on your path to becoming a franchise owner, click here.
by Marisa Cioffi | Jul 13, 2018 | fast casual restaurant franchise, Greek Food, Healthy Franchise, Uncategorized
Another day at your corporate job means another day sitting at the same desk for eight hours doing the same things over and over again. For some, this is fine! Familiarity and consistency are what drives them in their professional lives. But for others, this is a drag. Luckily for these people, the restaurant business exists. A fast-paced environment with many different tasks to take on, and the opportunity to have a life outside of a nine-to-five office job? Count me in!
A franchise owner with The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill will experience the flexibility of business ownership, but there needs to be passion and commitment to make the venture succeed. Like any other professional endeavor, owning a restaurant can be grueling work and involve considerable financial risk. Looking past this though, it can be a profoundly satisfying and exciting way to make a living. Everybody eats, and food is a universal language. By owning a Great Greek restaurant, you get the opportunity to connect with your community and bring people together through your food.
A restaurant is a gathering place, and as an owner of The Great Greek, you are tasked with creating a place where people want to meet and create memories. Many successful restaurant owners owe their success to being able to connect with customers on a personal basis and establishing long-lasting relationships with them. Making these connections and making people feel welcome gives owners the emotional satisfaction of creating a nurturing community.
Values play a huge role in owning your own restaurant. When you’re the boss, you can decide what your restaurant will value and represent. Providing healthy, local, or organic foods can be a very personal and unique way to display your values through your restaurant and show your customers that what you’re advocating for is important! Owning your own restaurant is an opportunity to encourage people to eat in ways that are consistent with your values, broadening their horizons while warming your heart.
Another great aspect of owning a restaurant is being your own boss and having a flexible schedule. Operating a Great Greek restaurant is no different. When you first get started, you give your restaurant as many hours as you can to make sure it’s running the way you want it. Being the owner, you feel responsible for the performance of your restaurant — as you should be! Owning a restaurant comes with a different level of accountability and responsibility than just working in the restaurant business. When your restaurant is thriving, so are you and you feel a great sense of accomplishment. After establishing your restaurant and getting it up and running, you can step away and take a vacation. You shouldn’t feel like you have to be there every day. Hire the right people to be responsible while you’re gone to ensure success with or without your presence.
The Great Greek co-owner Nick Anthony Della Penna made a vow to his wife to not let his restaurant business impact his family. He stresses the importance of working hard for his wife and two daughters, and he takes time off to be with them when he can. He says, “They’re the whole reason I do this. If it was just for me, I’d be happy being back at the corporate job having a 401k and having a decent salary. Having two children makes it different. It’s about being able to provide for them and make their lives better.”
The Great Greek is a place for families, and opportunity. If you’re ready to provide your family with a promising future, click here.
by Marisa Cioffi | Jul 6, 2018 | fast casual restaurant franchise, Greek Food, Healthy Franchise
American foodies have an insatiable appetite for eating out — that’s good news for the economy and innovative restaurant franchisors with a unique concept. The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is the ideal foodservice investment, helping franchisees to cash in on one of the fastest growing industries worldwide. The Great Greek has attracted enthusiastic store owners eager to build an impressive portfolio, with the help of a smart business model and a proven operational system backed by great tasting food made with the freshest ingredients.
Fast Facts
- In 2017, restaurant industry sales totaled nearly $800 billion compared to $42 billion in 1970.
- There are 14.7 million restaurant workers in the U.S. By 2026, experts estimate 16 million Americans will be working in the restaurant industry.
- According to the National Restaurant Association, restaurants are a boost to the local economy. Every dollar a customer spends at a restaurant generates two additional dollars in sales for other industries and local sales tax revenues.
Consumer Demand for Convenience
There are more than 647,000 restaurants in the U.S., that’s a clear sign there’s a consumer demand for alternatives to grocery shopping and preparing meals in the home. A recent consumer survey conducted by the National Center for Health Statistics shows Americans are choosing to eat out for the convenience rather than to save money. While growth in grocery stores and restaurants has remained steady in past years, The Great Greek sees its restaurant franchise as a niche venture with a reliable return on investment in the current economy. The economic outlook for restaurants is promising. The industry contributes four percent to the U.S. Gross Domestic Product (GDP), a significant indicator of the overall health of the U.S. economy. The Great Greek is proud to support entrepreneurs, food service workers, and the economy.
Scalable Growth
As the economy grows, the restaurant franchise industry responds. Whether a robust or lean economic climate, Nick Anthony Della Penna and Trent Jones, The Great Greek’s co-founders, recognized their success was scalable and deserved to be shared in the U.S. and beyond. Della Penna says customers visiting their Nevada-based restaurant would often ask if there were other locations. That got the ball rolling on franchising and a partnership with the United Franchise Group.
“It felt like a shame to limit The Great Greek to a single location,” explained Della Penna. “The idea of growing the brand and making a deeper contribution to the national and local economy appealed to us; it just seemed like the right thing to do.”
Looking to open the next Great Greek location? Contact our Franchise Development team to start exploring your franchising future.
by Marisa Cioffi | Jun 29, 2018 | fast casual restaurant franchise, Greek Food, Healthy Franchise
Start with a wonderful concept. Then, you’re going to stir in the freshest ingredients, fold in quality service and sprinkle in 30 years of experience in the hospitality industry. What do you have? The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill! You’ve been to several restaurants, but we’re sure you have never experienced anything like what The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill can offer.
As you conduct your extensive research into investment possibilities, you’re learning about the many variances and nuances within the restaurant industry. You’re aware of the quick-service service models, the restaurants that crank out product in a factory-like atmosphere, devoid of any character. You have your full-service restaurants, with unnecessary overhead. Fast casual offers the convenience of fast food with some of the perks that come with full-service. And then there’s The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill. We’re somewhere nestled between fast casual and something you would find at a beloved family member’s house.
It’s not a myth: The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is better than your neighborhood restaurant! We were established in 2011, using authentic third-generation Greek family recipes. We offer a family-friendly atmosphere and serve dishes with bold flavors and healthy options.
Nick Anthony Della Penna and Trent Jones, the Great Greek Mediterranean Grill’s co-founders, strategically developed a concept that brings the best of the values you’ll find in your very own kitchen and delivers them to a loyal and growing customer base. How does the Great Greek know it is better than your neighborhood restaurant? The proof can be found in the just-prepared meal that is now arousing your senses.
“People are looking for quality in the products,” explained Della Penna. “We pride ourselves on freshness and quality. A lot of people make those claims, but what we consider fresh is literally lettuce that’s chopped right before it hits your plate. ‘Fresh’ is when you put it on the grill and then take it off and put it on your plate… that’s fresh. The ‘make it in front of you’ thing is a convenience thing, not a fresh thing. We make it to order. That’s what makes us a little different.”
In order to stand out in a crowded market, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill understands the importance of delivering an appetizing meal, consistently. The National Restaurant Association’s 2018 “What’s Hot” for food and concept trends in 2018 included:
- Authentic ethnic cuisine
- House-made condiments
- Simplicity/back to basics
- Natural ingredients/clean menus
With a menu sure to please the proudest carnivores and vegetarians alike, The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill offers a unique experience designed to cater to all demographics. Simply. Delicious. Greek. That’s why The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill is better than your neighborhood restaurant.
Looking to open the next Great Greek location? Contact our Franchise Development team to get started exploring your franchising future.
by Marisa Cioffi | Jun 22, 2018 | fast casual restaurant franchise
All waistlines are welcome at The Great Greek Mediterranean Grill.
Low carbs, lean proteins—no problem. The Great Greek understands the health-conscious customer who counts calories and watches what they eat. A recent U.S. News & World Report survey ranks Mediterranean cuisine among the top healthiest diet trends for its plant-based foods and delicious olive oil. When it comes to a fast-casual franchise that promotes healthy eating habits, The Great Greek is the ideal chain restaurant.
Co-founders Nick Anthony Della Penna and Trent Jones know good food. Combined, they have more than 30 years of restaurant experience. They know the importance of catering to consumers who follow the hottest diet trends.
“There are some fads in the food industry, but Greek food isn’t a fad — it’s a lifestyle,” says Della Penna. “People are recognizing it as a healthy alternative. Our made-to-order dishes are built on traditional ingredients and centuries-old family recipes handed down from generation to generation.”
With more than hummus and a side of tabouli, Della Penna says The Great Greek prides itself on bringing a variety of global flavors to local food lovers seeking authentic ethnic cuisine. Known for its low-fat poultry, fish and heart-healthy vegetables, Mediterranean dishes can deliver a satisfying food experience minus the guilt.
“It’s an amazing concept, and we produce an amazing product,” adds Della Penna. “We’re confident it will quickly become the worldwide leader in fast-casual Greek food.”
The Great Greek has a competitive edge over quick-service restaurants because it offers a healthy balance. From stuffed grape leaves filled with rice and fresh herbs to the classic Greek salad, diners won’t be disappointed with a menu chock-full of vegetables, lean meats, and Greek yogurt sauce. Additionally, the franchise caters to the entire family with affordable Family Meal Deals. A National Restaurant Association survey identified healthy, ethnic-inspired food for kids as one of the hottest trends in 2018.
Area developers should consider franchising with The Great Greek if they want to establish a healthy, family-friendly restaurant experience in their prospective community. Franchisees can appeal to selective dieters through two revenue streams: in-store purchases and catering. With a proven Mediterranean menu, a well-trained team of employees, and a concept that never goes out of style, The Great Greek is poised to dominate fast-casual dining today and beyond.
