Zoup! Cooks Up Soup Into A Meal…and A Dynamic Business Concept

FERNDALE, MI (Saturday, January 01, 2005) - While Zoup! Fresh Soup Company started with a single store and a basic plan for creating the best-tasting, handcrafted soups ever made, its creators always planned to expand their quick-casual concept. Now, six years later, the country’s leading gourmet soup restaurant and carry-out – with its six company-owned stores and six franchises awarded – has the infrastructure, systems and experience necessary to launch a full-scale franchise program.

According to Eric Ersher, Managing Partner of Zoup! Fresh Soup Company, LLC, “We started the business with an ‘everything matters’ philosophy that was our way to ensure quality, satisfaction and convenience for our customers. Then, we extended this philosophy to the development of systems and support programs that we could use to give franchisees what they need to build their own successful businesses.”

Franchisees Benefit from a Proven Concept and Strong Operational Support

Zoup!’s program offers franchisees:

The right concept at the right time. Zoup! is a direct response to growing customer demand for fresh and healthy meals served in a casual, comfortable setting.
A concept that is still new in nearly all markets, but that is proven to stand the test of time.
A unique product category that provides access to real estate that might otherwise be unavailable – because of existing restaurants. (For example, if a franchisee decides to open a sub shop, he or she might have difficulty finding a good, high-traffic location that doesn’t already have one.)
Access to an effective and marketable brand identity.
The opportunity to offer a complete menu, including proprietary, high-quality soups, salads, sandwiches, desserts and beverages.
A turn-key format this is easily replicated and supported by a strong operational foundation.
Zoup!’s commitment to franchisees’ success, and the tangible, top-quality tools and support they need to open, operate and grow their business.
Through the Z!Track pre-opening program; computer-based instruction; and hands-on, intensive training courses, franchisees also receive the support needed for a smooth store opening. Z!Track covers site selection; lease negotiation; store design and construction; staff hiring and training; products and recipes; and marketing and promotion. Once open, Zoup!’s state-of-the art, online management program – Z!Net – provides the powerful accounting, management and operating resources franchisees need to run a successful business.

Franchisee Agreements Are Built on a Variety of Business Models

Zoup! works with qualified franchisees to create an arrangement that works for everyone involved. Here are a few examples of the types of business models the company offers:

Single-Unit Franchise Agreement in which a franchisee purchases the right to develop one store in a limited, exclusive area, without any obligation to develop additional units.
Multi-Unit Franchise Agreement, which is also known as an Area Development Agreement (ADA), a Three-Pack, and a Five-Pack. With this arrangement, a franchisor agrees to “develop a market” and receives the right to develop multiple units in a specified, exclusive area within a specified timeframe.
Master Developer Agreement, in which a franchisee is assigned the right to be the “sub-franchisor” for a specified market. With this arrangement, the Master Developer opens and operates one or more units and further develops the market by sub-franchising to and supporting other franchisees.
Zoup! Fresh Soup Company, LLC was started in 1998 by soup-loving business partners, Eric Ersher and David Elias. The company currently has six company-owned stores and it has awarded six franchises. Corporate offices are located at 23231 Woodward Ave., Ferndale, MI 48220, phone (248) 434-4123. More company and franchise information; a complete list of store locations; and contact information is available at zoup.com.

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