Triple Threat Tackling franchising in the sports tournament field.
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Dave King, president and CEO of Fort Collins, Colorado'sTriple Crown Sports Inc., admits his company had selfishbeginnings. From 1982 to 1987, Dave and his wife, Annette, both 42,ran a series of softball tournaments in Colorado. Working full timefor an insurance company at the time, Dave had no long-term visionfor the series.
But in 1987, Dave quit his job in favor of making sports afull-time business. Ten years later, the Kings decided to franchisetheir amateur sports marketing and production business.
Today, Triple Crown Sports has three franchisees, one each inNevada, Utah and Colorado, and 10 company-owned units nationwide.As for filling in the 200 available units across the United States,the company is looking for entrepreneurs who have "been in thecorporate environment, don't mind the chaos of large events andgroups, and have no fear of long hours outdoors," saysDave.
Franchisees produce and manage weekend tournaments, camps andclinics. Most business is conducted via telephone and mail soit's easily run from home.
Franchisees can choose from girls' fast pitch, adult slowpitch, boys' baseball, inline hockey and soccer. The Kings hopeto add basketball, flag football and youth tackle football nextseason.
Snack Stand
Veteran franchisor spices up its menu.
Since first seeking snack stardom in 1976 with its EverythingYogurt concept, Restaurant Systems International Inc. has added abevy of delectable offerings to tempt both hungry customers andambitious franchisees.
Change has been key for the New York City franchise company: In1995, the then-19-year-old Everything Yogurt Inc. altered itsidentity with a new name, a necessity because yogurt was no longer"everything." Greenleaf's Grille and Treat Street,two new prototypes, are umbrella concepts under which thecompany's other brands will fall. Greenleaf's Grille'smenu offers healthy tantalizers like freshly prepared grilledsandwiches, wraps and salads. Treat Street houses Gretel'sPretzels, Bananas and Everything Yogurt Express. Through mid-1999,expect new additions to Treat Street's menu: Muffins, cookies,gourmet coffee and a private-label Treat Street ice cream are inthe works.
April's debut of the company-owned Greenleaf's Grilleand Treat Street in New York City's Staten Island Mall saw a 40percent revenue increase since last year, when Everything Yogurt& Salad Café and Bananas inhabited the space. PresidentTom Romano understands why: "Now you can be as imaginative asyou choose and eat as healthy as you want," he says.
Romano says the success of these prototypes and the strength oftheir menu offerings have unleashed numerous possibilities. Thecompany can now bring Greenleaf's Grille and Treat Street tostrip malls and downtown locations, plus regional malls andairports. In addition to location-specific franchises, the companywill offer franchisees master and multiunit franchise options inaddition to existing single-unit deals.
What's New
- Atlanta-based AFC Enterprises has purchased Paradise Bakery& Café. The acquisition of this Sacramento,California-based Paradise Holdings Inc. subsidiary is AFC'sfourth since May 1997. The agreement includes Paradise Bakery's15 company cafes, 34 franchised units and a commissary storingproprietary items that are shipped to restaurants.
- In a move to increase business, Fort Lauderdale, Florida-basedMiami Subs Corp. and Jacksonville, Florida, quick-service seafoodchain Arthur Treacher's Inc. have agreed to a co-brandingalliance. Don Perlyn, president of Miami Subs, says he hopes theaddition of sandwiches will increase Treacher's lunch sales andthat the addition of seafood to the menu will bring more dinnerguests into Miami Subs.
- Oklahoma City's CD Warehouse Inc. is entering the secondarymarket for compact discs with an agreement to acquire the franchiserights to 134 Disc Go Round stores, which will all eventually bearthe CD Warehouse name. The addition of Disc Go Round, a division ofMinneapolis-based Grow Biz International, will make CD Warehouse300 stores strong, with locations in 40 states and five foreigncountries. For a cool $7 million, the CD buyer, seller and traderwill no doubt benefit from the acquisition of Disc Go Round, whichearned $27 million systemwide last year.
Contact Sources
Miami Subs Corp., (954) 973-0000, fax: (954) 975-3290
Restaurant Systems International Inc., (718) 494-8888,fax: (718) 494-8776
Triple Crown Sports Inc., (970) 223-6644, ext. 124, fax:(970) 223-3636
