Totally Nuts, the snack-based quick-serve concept founded in 1992, plans to add 10–20 franchise units in the next 12 months. The chain has seven locations open, including two permanent locations in Rio Tinto Stadium, home of the Real Salt Lake soccer team, and the remaining five units traveling to various festivals and fairs throughout Utah, Colorado, California, Idaho, and Wyoming.
Totally Nuts cofounders Yvette and Matt Barker say more consumers and franchisees are expressing interest in the concept known for serving up an assortment of roasted, cinnamon-glazed nuts, including almonds, pecans, and cashews. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, the percentage of Americans who snack at least three times a day has nearly tripled over the last several decades, from 20 percent in the 1990s to 56 percent in 2010 (the latest data available). The number was just 10 percent in the late 1970s.
“Americans love to snack. We do it at the ballpark, at our desks at work, in front of the TV, and even in our car. There’s hardly a time during the day when we aren’t putting food in our faces,” says Yvette Barker. “The retail nuts industry presents great opportunity and, as a result, we’re setting pace as the dominant brand in the Western United States and very soon nationally.”
Under the name Barker’s Olde Fashioned Almonds, Matt and Yvette started roasting Cinnamon Glazed Almonds in 1990 and began selling their product at various festivals and fairs. Over the years, their customers would tell how much they enjoyed the product and wished more variety would be offered. Matt and Yvette started experimenting and came up with several flavors and varieties. They changed the name to Totally Nuts in 1992 and launched their franchise opportunity in May 2014.
“We wanted to create a business model that allowed us the financial success we had always experienced, but with much more time to spend with family, on vacation and enjoying life,” Matt says. “Now, we’re offering others the same opportunity with our new, exciting and fun franchise opportunity.”
Today, Totally Nuts offers a franchise fee of $37,500, and the total investment to own and operate one Totally Nuts franchise is approximately $73,000, which includes a $35,000 equipment package. The franchise fee for three units is $49,000 and $69,000 for five units.
Franchisees can typically have their units up and running within two weeks, and have the flexibility to pick and choose which events and shows they want to attend, as well as their hours.
