French Pastry Franchise Has Opened 7 Units in 2024… with More Coming
Americans have a hearty appetite for the delectable treats at Le Macaron French Pastries®. By opening seven new units this year, the 15-year-old brand has demonstrated strong, steady growth. Le Macaron’s expansion reflects a broader industry trend: Specialty bakeries are riding a hot streak, according to Credence Research,with the global market at more than $22.5 billion in 2022 and climbing to $30.8 billion by 2030 – a compound annual growth rate of 4%.
The seven newest Le Macaron French Pastries franchises are located in Columbus, Ohio; Murfreesboro, Tenn.; Long Beach and Sacramento, Calif.; Tarpon Springs, Fla.; Omaha, Neb; and Rehoboth Beach, Del. That brings Le Macaron to a total of 63 locations operating nationwide, with 12 additional storesunder construction. The brand recently announcedathree-unit deal for two co-owners in Portland, Ore.
Inspiration for the Le Macaron French Pastries Franchise
Founders Rosalie Guillem and her daughter Audrey Saba began Le Macaron after wanting to start a business that would end their ocean-wide separation, bringing Saba and her family from France to the United States. “We brainstormed about businesses to start that would qualify Audrey to receive an E-2 visa to move to America,” Guillem says.
After much discussion and winnowing of ideas, they settled on a French patisserie that cast the meringue-based sandwich cookies in a starring role. “We ultimately decided that delicious macarons were the way to go,” she added. “We opened our flagship café in Sarasota in 2009.”
Market Strengths of Le Macaron
Customers flock to the family-owned Le Macaronfranchise for thepremium, authentic, preservative-free French baked goods; prompt, attentive service; and exceptional customer experiences. The specialty cafés, of course, serve various flavors – many in vivid colors – of the namesake hard-shell, chewy-center cookies along with other French pastries such as eclairs and Napoleons, cakes, French gelatos, decadent gourmet chocolates and other candies, and artisanal European-style coffees.
“We stand out as an upscale yet affordable destination. Each store has charming décor and beautiful food displays,” Guillem says. “American consumers are looking for enjoyable experiences that go beyond product offerings. Le Macaron gives them that.”
Why Franchisees Like the Brand
Le Macaron began franchising in 2012, and a prime attraction for entrepreneurs is that every macaron is baked at the franchise’s confectionary, which minimizes staffing (only two to four employees are needed) and food preparation hassles. There’s zero on-site baking, which means that franchisees do not have to purchase expensive kitchen equipment. Franchisees may invest in a compact café requiring only 800 to 1,000 square feet, a mobile or permanent kiosk, or the brand’s food truck model.
Franchisees praise the business model for being easy to follow and scalable. The franchisor’s staff offers assistance with site selection and lease negotiation. No restaurant industry experience is necessary because of the extensive training and constantly available support from the corporate office in Sarasota. In fact, franchisees featured in videos on the brand’s franchising website come from career backgrounds such as the automotive industry, education and health care.
Franchisees receive training for two people that includes three days spent in Orlando, with four days of additional optional training there. Those sessions deliver in-depth instructionabout store setup, inventory management and product ordering, each product, the point-of-sale payment system, operations and customer service, quality control, human resources (employee training and hiring), marketing, accounting, payroll and reporting. In addition, personnel from the corporate office stay on-site to provide support for at least one day before each unit is scheduled to open.
Le Macaron Franchise Costs and Franchisee Qualifications
Franchisees should have a passion for the pastries as well as for customer service. They may opt to be owner-operators or invest as semi-absentee or passive owners, keeping their day jobs and hiring a manager to run the store. The Le Macaron French Pastries franchise offers three key revenue streams: sales of products consumed in cafés, take-away orders, the brand’s signature pink-and-white gift boxes, and catering.
Le Macaron has a low start-up cost relative to many restaurant brands. Franchisees are required to have a minimum liquidity of $100,000, a minimum net worth of $350,000 and a high credit score. The total investment ranges from about $92,000 to $454,000, including the franchise fee. Those numbers vary based on the locations of the franchises and whether the franchisee invests in the café, kiosk or food truck model.
The initial franchise fee is $45,000 for a single unit or $99,000 for a three-pack. U.S. military veterans are eligible to receive a 20% discount off their franchise fees.
Expanding the Brand
Le Macaron French Pastries franchise leadership looks forward to further expansion around the country. More than three dozen states currently have territories available.
Greg Guillem, Vice President of Operations and Rosalie’s son, says, “The Le Macaron French Pastries franchise is focused on scaling at the right time and in the right way while generating excitement and demand for authentic French pastries.”
For more information about ownership opportunities with the Le Macaron French Pastries franchise, visithttps://franchiselemacaron.com/and for details on their locations and products please visit,www.lemacaron-us.com.
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