Corner Bakery Cafe Credits Catering Services As Key Component For Strong Franchise Model

Neighborhood Cafe's Best-in-Class Catering Platform is a Key Point of Differentiation, Contributing to the Brand's Record Franchise Growth

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Corner Bakery Cafe

Sep 03, 2014, 05:30 ET

DALLAS, Sept. 03, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- According to Advertising Age, fast casual restaurant chains are leading growth in the catering category, with almost a third of consumers now catering through these restaurants. Corner Bakery Cafe, a fast casual restaurant concept known for its craveable, ingredient-inspired menu and neighborhood cafe atmosphere, continues to outpace competitors with its unsurpassed catering services. Corner Bakery Cafe's prompt catering delivery, personalized service, product quality and presentation have propelled the brand atop the list of the fastest growing franchises.

"We offer a Best-in-Class catering experience for our customers. Whether it's a last minute meeting for five or 10 or a party for 50 or more, our catering services are customized and tailored to meet the needs of our customers. Catering is not just what we do, it's who we are," says Paul Hicks, Vice President of Training and Operations Services at Corner Bakery Cafe. "When customers come to us to cater their event, they value our ability to complete last minute orders placed online or via phone, appreciate our personalized menu offerings, and receive on-site setup and meticulous attention to detail. These factors have contributed to significant catering sales growth over the past few years in our company-owned and franchised locations."

Recent research from Technomic reveals that restaurants are now generating four times more catering revenue than retailers. Fast casual restaurants are poised to outperform all other retail catering resources with projected growth of 12 percent. Each of Corner Bakery Cafe's more than 165 company-owned and franchised locations feature a team of dedicated catering professionals, as well as a robust and diverse catering menu featuring made-to-order food for every occasion including breakfast scramblers, signature sandwiches, hand-tossed salads, pastas and freshly baked sweets. Corner Bakery Cafe's franchise partners utilize catering as a way to introduce the brand to customers in new markets. Company-wide, the brand boasts more than 300 customized and branded catering vans on the road, which serve as delivery vehicles and moving billboards in each local market.

"Our catering service is one of the reasons prospective franchisees are attracted to our franchise business model, often citing our robust catering sales as a differentiator to other fast casual brands in the industry. Prospective franchise partners see our catering trucks on the road, distinctive product offering and streamlined online ordering system and want to be a part of what we are doing," explains Gregg Koffler, Vice President of Franchise Sales for Corner Bakery Cafe. "Innovation has always been a key to our success. Whether that's through our catering services, marketing or technology upgrades, we have a history of making the right moves at the right time in anticipation of consumers' ever evolving needs and desires."

For more information on available Corner Bakery Cafe, including available franchise territories, visit www.CornerBakeryCafe.com/Franchise-Information.

About Corner Bakery Cafe
Corner Bakery Cafe is a fast-casual restaurant serving breakfast, lunch and dinner to guests in 17 states and Washington, D.C. Established in 1991, Corner Bakery Cafe restaurants are owned and operated by CBC Restaurant Corp. with more than 165 company-owned and franchised locations around the country. Founded on a philosophy of creating a place for people to relax and gather with family and friends, Corner Bakery Cafe offers a casual atmosphere featuring innovative, seasonal menu options ranging from hot breakfasts and signature panini to handcrafted salads, sandwiches and mouthwatering sweets. Offering dine-in, to-go and catering service for any occasion, Corner Bakery Cafe delivers a premier bakery cafe experience in the heart of neighborhoods everywhere. Corner Bakery Cafe was acquired in 2011 by Roark Capital Group, an Atlanta-based private equity firm that specializes in business and consumer service companies with attractive growth prospects and revenues ranging from $20 million to $1.0 billion. More information on Corner Bakery Cafe franchise opportunities is available at CornerBakeryCafe.com/Franchise-Information. Become a fan of Corner Bakery Cafe on Facebook and on Twitter.

SOURCE Corner Bakery Cafe