French-founded and French-owned la Madeleine is expanding franchise opportunities throughout the U.S. as the brand carries on the tradition of serving approachable, French-cuisine fast casual dining across North America. The brand is specifically seeking growth with qualified franchise candidates in 10 states: Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Kansas, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Utah and Virginia.
“We are excited to introduce our high-quality and unique French fare into new cities across the country by extending our franchise opportunities,” says la Madeleine Chief Operating Officer Christine Johnson. “For over 40 years, la Madeleine has been a beloved franchise concept. We eagerly look forward to welcoming new partners who will open cafes and introduce new guests to cherished brand classics like Croque Monsieur, Quiche Florentine and, of course, our famous Tomato Basil Soup.”
To join the growing concept, potential franchise candidates must have $500,000 to $1.5 million in liquid assets, depending on the market selected, to develop and fulfill the following characteristics:
Passion for la Madeleine menu items and French cuisine
Desire to open and operate cafes
Multi-unit restaurant industry experience
Real estate knowledge within your market
Solid culture fit with a strong focus on guest relations and operations
“Expanding into these states allows la Madeleine to ignite a new passion in entrepreneurs seeking growth opportunities with a progressive and relevant brand,” says la Madeleine Senior Director of Franchise Development Mark Ramage. “As we continue to modernize our franchise concept for the next generation and new guests to come, our goal is to attract multi-unit franchisees with restaurant experience who will embrace our culture and strive to deliver an exceptional dining experience.”
La Madeleine offers a range of prototypes to accommodate different trade areas. Options include Traditional, Petite, Self-Contained Kiosk or Inline formats that provide flexible opportunities, including designs ideal for nontraditional venues. Each Traditional cafe is around 3,500 to 4,500 square feet and employs 25-30 part-time and full-time employees. Additionally, smaller build-outs with half the size and staffing requirements are available, based on the selected real estate area. Each la Madeleine franchisee will receive full-on support from the headquarters team for real estate, construction, marketing, operations, purchasing and technology.
The French cafe was founded in Dallas in 1983 and has since grown to over 90 locations across the United States and internationally, each with its own unique charm. Each cafe serves approachable French cuisine made with simple, fresh ingredients and time-honored recipes.
