PR Workzone » franchise opportunity

East meets west to make best…Resort Maps Franchise joins forces with Discovery Map International to form the world’s largest illustrated map publisher

admin — Wed, 19 Oct 2011 20:16:40 +0000

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT AND LA CONNER, WASHINGTON…

Waitsfield, Vermont-based Resort Maps®, creator of more than 100 hand-drawn travel maps across the United States, Canada, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently announced its acquisition of Discovery Map International of La Conner, Washington. The acquisition unites two of the leading publishers of illustrated maps in the United States. Both companies have published colorful hand-drawn free visitor maps of popular destinations for more than 25 years.

“We are thrilled to be coming together with Discovery Map® for a number of reasons,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps Franchise, Inc. “Beyond being able to work with an innovator like Victoria Starr, her talented staff and map owners, it gives our company a coast-to-coast presence and opens the door to a number of expansion possibilities. We focus on the user experience; so having our maps available across the country will give travelers a consistent resource to find great places to eat, shop, stay and play.”

Combined, the new company will boast 90 independent owners in 150 markets, in 33 states and four countries. Annual circulation will top 25 million maps in the new entity’s first year of operation.

“Resort Maps is a top-flight company that shares our commitment to producing first-class, user-friendly maps,” said Victoria Starr, owner of Discovery Map International. “This unification is going to produce some unbelievable maps, both in print and online, and soon lead to Discovery Maps being available via handheld devices.”

In addition to printed maps, Resort Maps® has developed a mobile application for iPhone and iPad. The app is available for free at the App Store.

In terms of day-to-day operations, the new company will maintain offices on both coasts, with headquarters in Waitsfield, Vermont and Discovery’s current office in La Conner, Washington. The company will also maintain websites at discoverymap.com and resortmaps.com.

For more information on any of the 100+ Resort Maps destinations or if you interested in potentially owning a Resort Maps franchise, please visit www.resortmaps.com. Alternatively, you can call 802-496-6277.

About Resort Maps®

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps® has been creating and publishing visitor maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps® expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. With its recent acquisition of Discovery Map International, Resort Maps’ network has grown to 150 markets in 33 states and four countries (US, UK, Canada, and Costa Rica). More than 25 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2012.

For more information on Resort Maps and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

Resort Maps franchises serve cities and towns in California (Carmel, Monterey, San Diego), Colorado (Boulder, Breckenridge, Cherry Creek, Colorado Springs, Denver, Vail & Beaver Creek, Estes Park, Fort Collins, Glendale, Summit County), Delaware ( Rehoboth Beach), Florida (Boca Raton, Clearwater Beach and Gulf Beaches, Cocoa Beach, Daytona Beach, Delray Beach, Key West, Melbourne, New Smyrna Beach, St. Augustine), Georgia (Savannah/Tybee Island), Kentucky (Lexington) Maine (Bar Harbor/Acadia, Boothbay region, Camden-Rockland, Kennebunkport, Kittery, Mt. Desert Island, Portland, Wells, York-Ogunquit), Maryland (Annapolis, Eastern Shore, Ocean City, Solomons Island, St. Mary’s County), Massachusetts (Berkshires, Brewster/Harwich/Dennis, Chatham-Orleans, Eastham-Wellfleet, Falmouth, Hyannis-Yarmouth, Martha’s Vineyard, Newburyport, Plymouth, Sturbridge, Worcester), Michigan (Northern Michigan/Petoskey/Harbor Springs; Traverse City), New Hampshire (Franconia/Notch Region, Hampton Beach, Hanover/Lebanon , Keene, Lakes Region, Mount Washington Valley, Portsmouth), New Jersey (Barnegat Bay, Cape May, Hoboken/Jersey City, Hunterdon, Lambertville , Long Beach Island, New Brunswick, Ocean Grove, Point Pleasant, Princeton, Sandy Hook), New York (The North Fork, Lake George , Lake Placid, Saratoga Springs, East Hampton), North Carolina (Asheville, Brunswick County, Chrystal Coast, Hendersonville, Outer Banks, Sandhills, Wilmington), Pennsylvania (Bucks County, Chestnut Hill, Delaware River Valley, Gettysburg, Lehigh Valley, The Main Line, Lancaster County), Rhode Island (Newport, Providence), South Carolina (Charleston, Hilton Head,), Tennessee (Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge), Vermont (Addison County/Brandon, Barre/Montpelier, Burlington, Killington/Rutland, Mad River Valley, Manchester, Mount Snow, Okemo, Smugglers’ Notch, Stowe, Waterbury/Richmond, Woodstock/Quechee) and Virginia (Alexandria, Northern Neck & Middle Peninsula) —as well as towns and cities in Canada (Charlotte Coastal Region), England (Chicester, Lewes), Puerto Rico (San Juan, Vieques, Culebra) and Costa Rica (Escazu-Santa Ana).

New maps coming soon in North Lake Tahoe, CA; South Hampton, NY; Charlotte Harbor/Venice/Gulf Islands, FL; Orlando, FL; Tucson, AZ; South County and Block Island, RI and Georgetown, DC.

Discovery Map®:

Arizona (Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Sedona), California (Carlsbad, Los Gatos, Saratoga), Colorado (Durango, Steamboat Springs), Florida (Amelia Island, Destin), Georgia (St. Mary’s), Idaho (Coeur d’Alene, McCall, Sandpoint, Sun Valley), Montana (Bozeman & Big Sky, Butte, Kalispell, Missoula, West Yellowstone, Whitefish), New Mexico (Santa Fe, Taos), North Carolina (Charlotte), Oregon (Bend), Virginia (Charlottesville, Lynchburg, Norfolk, Richmond, Virginia Beach), Washington (Anacortes, Bellingham, La Conner) Wisconsin (Door County).

Franchise Growth Group retains Integrity Square LLC to seek acquisitions of franchise organizations

admin — Wed, 12 Oct 2011 19:19:15 +0000

Evan Hackel

WOBURN, MA AND NEW YORK, NY…

Franchise Growth Group (“FGG”), a leading provider of consulting services and capital to the franchise industry, recently announced today it has retained Integrity Square LLC (“Integrity Square”) to conduct a search for franchise organizations in need of operational, management or financial improvements. The search will focus on growing franchise companies that have at least 50 franchises but are unable to realize their full potential due to management issues, franchisee relationship problems or lack of capital.

“We are excited to tap into Integrity Square’s network and build new relationships in the franchise space,” said FGG President Evan Hackel. “Integrity Square’s ability to raise capital and experience working with franchise operators will enable FGG to provide a full range of solutions for franchise operators looking to turnaround their businesses.”

FGG looks to acquire or invest in turnaround franchise opportunities that can benefit from its management talent and capital, turning them into highly successful organizations poised for significant growth with positive cash flow and earnings. Franchise Growth Group considers acquisitions that require full ownership or allow it to become a major investor.

Hackel is a proven business entrepreneur and has run numerous businesses in the franchise area. He is well known for his ability to engage the hearts and minds of key employees and business partners, turn around ailing companies, and create new, successful startup ventures. Hackel has extensive knowledge in the franchising arena, having worked with CCA Global Partners, a management company for 15 affiliated co-operatives, franchises and licensed businesses in the flooring, lighting, bicycle retailing, and mortgage lending industries.

“At Integrity Square, we have a deep investment banking background in the franchise segment and an extensive network of entrepreneurs, family-owned businesses, seasoned executives and private equity clients from which to search for candidates for FGG,” commented Pete Moore, managing partner of Integrity Square. “We believe that FGG fills an important need in the franchise marketplace and struggling franchise firms would greatly benefit from Evan and his team’s expertise.”

For more information on Franchise Growth Group, please visit www.franchisegrowthgroup.com

About Integrity Square, LLC:

Integrity Square LLC is a result-driven financial and strategic advisory boutique that has expertise in providing capital raising and sell-side advisory services to companies operating in the consumer products, franchising, action/impact sports, digital media and software, direct selling/MLM, natural foods, vitamins and beverages, and health, and fitness and wellness industries. Integrity Square’s mission is to partner with passionate entrepreneurs and great companies, act as a trusted advisor and assist clients in finding the right sources of capital. For more information on Integrity Square, please visit www.integritysq.com.

Resort Maps gives tourists and locals a hand. New iPhone/iPad app delivers easy access to info on local attractions and venues.

admin — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 21:30:53 +0000

WAITSFIELD, VERMONT…

Usually, if you’re terribly familiar with a location, it’s said “you know it like the back of your hand”. Resort Maps, creator of more than 100 customized travel maps across the United States, England, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, recently launched an application for the other side of your hand (for iPhones and iPads) that will help residents and tourists discover and get to local attractions just as efficiently.

Resort Maps made its name with colorful, hand-drawn maps of towns and cities, featuring its advertisers–restaurants, accommodations, retail shops, real estate and other services. Those same hard copy maps are also available online. The new application enables users to download each Resort Map to a handheld device and then navigate to highlighted locations where they can get a brief description of a given business and have the option of going to that business’s website or calling for more information.

“The beauty of the app is that you’re only accessing the map from our server once. After you download it, you can surf from location to location very quickly. That can save a lot of time if you are looking for a place to eat or place to stay and have several options,” said Peter Hans, president of Resort Maps. “The app also utilizes the phone’s GPS qualities so you can easily see how to get from where you are to whatever destination you select.”

The application can be downloaded for free at the Apple store or itunes.com. A search for “Resort Maps Franchise” is the fastest way to access the application.

Besides the convenience, the Resort Maps also makes it easy to update on Facebook where you end up for dinner, for the afternoon, for the evening.

“We’ve really just scratched the surface with this application. Down the road, users can expect to not only post on Facebook, but also on other outlets. Perhaps even leaving a review of the particular advertiser on our site, similar to a Yelp or other review sites,” said Hans.

For more information on any of the 100+ Resort Maps destinations, please visit www.resortmaps.com. If you interested in potentially owning a Resort Maps franchise, please call 802-496-6277.

About Resort Maps

Headquartered in the Green Mountains of Vermont, Resort Maps has been creating and publishing visitor maps in the northeastern U.S. since 1986. In 1993, Resort Maps expanded its reach by creating a franchise model for distribution of its colorful, hand-drawn maps of resort towns and cities. Today, that network of franchises has grown to more than 100 Resort Maps in publication in the US, Canada the UK, Costa Rica and Puerto Rico, with several more in the process of being published. More than 20 million Resort Maps will be printed and distributed in 2011.

For more information on Resort Maps and/or the franchise opportunity, visit www.resortmaps.com or call 802-496-6277.

See our new maps coming soon in North Lake Tahoe, CA; South Hampton, NY; and Charlotte Harbor/Venice/Gulf Islands, FL.

Why reinvent the wheel? Opportunity seekers looking to franchise opportunities instead of start-ups.

admin — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:29:39 +0000

HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

With the uncertainty of the economy and the lack of job stability in Corporate America, many workers are strongly considering starting their own business. That’s hardly breaking news. Entrepreneur-minded workers forever have dreamed of running their own business instead of being slave to the daily grind. What’s become more than a trend however are entrepreneurs turning toward owning a franchise versus a starting their own business.

“Many people starting their own business need that business to replace an income from their previous job and also take care of the cost of running business. That’s a tall order for a startup,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president of Natural Fruit Corporation. “A franchise with a quality product and existing operating and training manuals, as well as a marketing plan and an established brand provide a much safer and faster road to that objective in most cases.”

As the makers of 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars, Natural Fruit Corporation recently revised its franchise opportunity through its sister company Natural Franchise Group to be even more attractive to opportunity seekers. Franchisees purchase a territory to sell Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars wholesale to high traffic locations like local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, and family style restaurants, and swim clubs. The opportunity also enables franchisees to also sell the enormously popular full line of Mars ice cream products—like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars—on a wholesale basis to those same retail locations as a Mars distributor.

Each franchisee territory has a capacity for 1,000 freezers. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants to place a Chunks O Fruti® freezer at the location, stocking those locations and acquiring new locations. While the opportunity does require an initial investment for the freezers and product, storage space for product and the refrigerated truck for delivery can be leased. The typical Fruti franchisee can start their business for around $100,000 and run the business entirely from a home office.

“There is some training involved and you do need the truck and storage space to run your business,” said Morris. “But we help our franchisees with that process and provide training and materials to get them running. That usually takes about a week or so, depending on the person.”

The full Chunks O’ Fruti® franchisee package includes:

Franchise Fee $25,000
Minimum of 72 freezers
Truck with freezer body Leased space in freezer warehouse
Computer hardware and software
Initial Fruti® and Mars products inventory
Initial training and freezer placement for the first 72.
Sales and marketing materials
Mobile route management equipment and software

Jamie Linn recently purchased a Chunks O’ Fruti franchise in Albuquerque, New Mexico. An IT consultant to the legal industry and a member of a stage hands union in Las Vegas, she chose a franchise as a way to set her own schedule so she and her husband could settle on their ranch in New Mexico and eventually start a family.

“The Fruti franchise opportunity was appealing on so many levels, the first and foremost being it’s a great product that’s good for you and one we believe in,” said Linn. “The other appealing thing was being able to set my own hours. I’ve run my own IT consulting business and even though it was my own business, I was always at the mercy of my clients. With the materials and systems we’re given as Fruti franchise owners, we really do have the power to set our own schedule and also be successful.”

Chunks O’Fruti® frozen fruit bars are 100% natural and contain real fruit with no artificial coloring or flavoring–the fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process. It’s also low calorie and there are more than 20 natural flavors to choose from.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti ‘s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.com or contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

About Natural Fruit Corporation
Brothers Simon and Jorge Bravo Sr. founded Natural Fruit Corporation in 1985. Equipped with their vast backgrounds in food processing and production, the brothers set out to produce the highest quality, 100 percent natural, frozen fruit bars. Nearly three decades later, the company is still going strong, manufacturing more than 20 flavors of the Chunks O’ Fruti brand products—100 percent natural with no added colors or flavoring. All flavors and color come directly from the fruit! Chunks O’ Fruti brand products are Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

In 2009, Natural Fruit Corporation entered into an agreement for its distributors to offer the full line of Mars Ice Cream products, including Twix, Snickers, Dove bars and M&M brands. Natural Fruit Corporation began offering a revised franchise opportunity in 2010.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S… For complete information on Fruti’s franchise offering, please contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com or visit www.frutifranchise.com.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

Love the commute! Why home-based businesses are the hottest trend—and fastest moving opportunities– in franchising.

admin — Thu, 21 Jul 2011 14:52:53 +0000

HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

The appeal of working from home isn’t difficult to see. Great commute. Setting your own hours and adjusting those hours to your lifestyle. Lower overhead costs and, in many cases, no need to purchase or lease space. Yet the trend towards more franchisors offering home-based franchises and more opportunity seekers opting for a franchise rather than simply starting their own home-based business is less about dollars up front and more about long-term success.

According to HomeBasedBusinessDevelopmentCenter.com, statistics show that 95 percent of home-based franchises succeed. By the same token, 97 percent of home-based, small businesses fail.

Hunter Stokes, President of Franchise Solutions, a seasoned franchise marketing company noted, “Especially in the last decade, there has been a real trend among franchisors to offer home-based businesses as a growing number of prospective franchisees look to career pursuits that keep them close to home. If the American Dream can be sought from a home office, why stand behind a counter or commute to an office?”

Natural Fruit Corporation Senior Vice President Susan Morris adds, “The home-based franchise doesn’t have the huge start-up costs associated with franchises that require a physical location, plus you get the benefits of working from a home office. At the same time, you’re not completely on your own like many independent small business owners are. Being a franchise owner should mean that you have a proven, marketable product or service to sell and support from your franchisor in running and marketing your business.”

Natural Fruit Corporation makes Chunks O’ Fruti® 100% natural frozen fruit bars. The company recently repackaged its franchise opportunity—including a distributorship to sell Mars ice cream products as well—to be even more attractive to people seeking a home-based franchise opportunity.

Each franchisee purchases an exclusive territory with a capacity for 1,000 freezers. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants at high-traffic retail locations (e.g. convenience stores, health clubs, independent supermarkets) to place a Chunks O Fruti® freezer at the location, stocking those locations and acquiring new locations.

While the opportunity does require an initial investment for the freezers and product, storage space for product and the refrigerated truck for delivery can be leased. The typical Fruti franchisee can start their business for around $100,000 and run the business entirely from a home office.

“We’ve been researching franchise opportunities for a few years now with the goal of living on our ranch outside of Albuquerque in Tijeras and starting a family. The Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise provides an opportunity we can run out of our home,” said Jamie Linn, who along with her husband Roger, runs a Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise in New Mexico. “Probably more importantly, it involves selling an all natural, healthy product that’s good for you and that we believe in.”

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

A 100% natural choice for a business advisor. National Fruit Corporation retains Acadia Business Advisors to sell Chunks O’ Fruti® franchises.

admin — Tue, 19 Jul 2011 14:47:30 +0000

HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

When Natural Fruit Corporation (NFC), makers of Chunks O’ Fruti® 100% natural frozen fruit bars, revamped its franchise opportunity, it had one goal in mind: find franchise owners who had the desire and talent to be successful. NFC passed on high-priced consultants and business brokers content to simply to move units and collecting franchise fees. Instead, NFC chose Acadia Business Advisors, LLC, a firm known for its ability to understand a business first and then tailor the franchise offering to attract desirable candidates.

“There’s nothing like Chunks O’ Fruit® frozen fruit bars. They are 100% natural, fruit is always the first ingredient, there is no artificial coloring or flavoring, and the fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process. It’s also low calorie and there are more than 20 natural flavors to choose from.,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation. “We wanted to work with an advisor who approaches our business with the attitude of a partner committed to our long-term success, before and after the franchise fee has been collected. Bruce Wildes and the team at Acadia understood the uniqueness of this product, how our franchisees had to not only have the capital but the drive to be successful.”

The franchise opportunity calls for owners to sell 100% natural Chunks O’Fruti® frozen fruit bar products wholesale to retail outlets like their local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and many other high-traffic locations. Through a special partnership arranged by Natural Fruit Corporation, franchise owners can also sell the enormously popular Mars ice cream products—like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars—on a wholesale basis to those same retail locations as a Mars distributor.

Each franchisee is given an exclusive territory within a two-hour driving radius. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants to place a Chunks O Fruti® freezer at the location, keeping those locations stocked and acquiring new locations. Each territory has the capacity for 1,000 freezers.

Start up costs, including the franchise fee, can range from $75,000 to $101,000 depending on how they choose to finance the business.

“The Fruti franchise opportunity is extremely attractive for a number of reasons. It doesn’t require a huge capital investment up front. You can run the business out of your home and tailor it to your lifestyle. Those attractive qualities also make it a challenge to find potential buyers who have the right tools and capital to succeed at the business,” said Wildes, the owner of Acadia Business Advisors, LLC. “Because we have experience in representing both franchisors and franchise candidates, we have a pretty good idea in what’s necessary from both a financial standpoint and personality standpoint to be a successful Fruti franchise owner.”

Adds Morris, “Bruce Wildes and the Acadia team have helped us to fine tune our offering, our approach to our offering and our execution of successful Discovery Days. The day-to-day dealings are professional, effective and stream lined. Their use of automation as well as technology provides us with an avenue to deal with a high volume of franchisees economically in time and effort.”

With headquarters in Maine and offices across the United States, Acadia Business Advisors is a full-service franchise consultant and business advisory firm, serving clients throughout North America and international markets. Yet almost in spite of its broad reach, Acadia maintains a low profile and a reputation for honest answers and deliverable results.

Fruti franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti’s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.com or contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

About Acadia Business Advisors, LLC

Acadia Business Advisors, a full service franchise consultant and business advisory firm with headquarters in Maine and offices across the United States, serves clients throughout North America and international markets. Acadia specializes in the franchise industry and also works with related non-franchise companies for similar issues. For more information, please visit www.acadiabiz.com or call toll-free 877-456-4197.

A 100% natural choice for a franchise opportunity. Roger and Jamie Linn purchase Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise for Albuquerque, New Mexico.

admin — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 12:13:45 +0000

Chunks O' Fruti's Roger and Jamie Linn

ALBUQUERQUE and TIJERAS, NEW MEXICO AND HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

As longtime members of the Stage Hands Union in Las Vegas, Roger and Jamie Linn know it’s the headlining act that draws the crowd. That’s’ why in selecting and ultimately purchasing a franchise, the couple made sure it had a star product to sell–Chunks O’ Fruti® 100% natural frozen fruit bars—in a place where they want to be: Albuquerque, New Mexico.

“We’ve been researching franchise opportunities for a few years now with the goal of living on our ranch outside of Albuquerque in Tijeras and starting a family. The Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise provides an opportunity we can run out of our home,” said Linn. “Probably more importantly, it involves selling an all natural, healthy product that’s good for you and that we believe in.”

Created by the Natural Fruit Corporation (NFC), Chunks O’Fruti® is 100% natural and uses real fruit with no artificial coloring or flavoring–the fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process. It’s also low calorie and there are more than 20 natural flavors to choose from. The franchise opportunity, administered by NFC’s sister company, Natural Fruit Franchise Group (NFFG), involves franchise owners selling Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars wholesale to retail outlets like local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and other high-traffic locations.

In addition to Chunks O’ Fruti® 100% natural frozen fruit bars, the Fruti franchise opportunity enables franchisees to also sell the enormously popular Mars ice cream products—like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars—on a wholesale basis to those same retail locations as a Mars distributor.

Each franchisee is given an exclusive territory with a capacity for 1,000 freezers. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants to place a Chunks O Fruti® freezer at the location, keeping those locations stocked and acquiring new locations.

“Beyond great products, this franchise offering gives the right person a growth opportunity they can tailor towards their lifestyle. You’re not tied down to a physical, brick-and-mortar location or a 24/7/365 schedule,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation. “We’re extremely excited to have Roger and Jamie Linn in the Chunks O’ Fruti® family and looking forward to big things from them in the Albuquerque area.”

The Linns have been married since 2002. Prior to working as a projectionist in the Stage Hands Union, Roger Linn was a quarter back for several Arena League football teams. Since 1998, Jamie, a Las Vegas native, has worked as an IT consultant in the legal industry as well as a graphics programmer for the Stage Hands Union.

“Working for a Stage Hands Union, you worked when other people said it was time to work. With the Fruti opportunity, we have some control of our own destiny,” said Jamie Linn. “On top of all the great reasons to buy into this particular franchise opportunity, perhaps the most compelling one was the people. The people have been NFFG have been absolutely wonderful and made us even more ready to begin this new chapter of our lives.”

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

Chunks O’ Fruti® introduce “Escape” from summer heat with Strawberry Colada 100% natural frozen fruit bar.

admin — Thu, 19 May 2011 21:07:09 +0000

: Chunks O’ Fruti’s Strawberry Colada

HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

In the late 1970s, Rupert Holmes came out with a chart-topping hit called Escape (The Pina Colada Song) with a very catchy chorus asking “do you like pina coladas?”. With its tasty new Strawberry Colada 100% natural frozen fruit bar, Chunks O’ Fruti® is hoping it has just as big of a hit during the summer of 2011 and beyond.

The Chunks O’ Fruti® Strawberry Colada eatures all natural ingredients—including chunks of real strawberries—and no artificial coloring. The fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process so real fruit is in almost every bite. The Strawberry Colada is also low in calories, has no salt or cholesterol, is gluten-free and kosher-certified.

“There really is nothing like our Strawberry Colada bar out on the market today with two very distinct flavors as part of one bar,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation, the makers of Chunks O’ Fruti frozen fruit bars. “When you throw in that it’s 100% natural, parents actually have a cool summer snack for their children—and themselves for that matter—that’s actually good for you.”

The suggested retail price for Chunks O’ Fruti® Strawberry is $1.29. All 20 flavors of Chunks O’ Fruti® 100% natural frozen fruit bars are sold at retail outlets across the US via a network of independent distributors and franchisees. Chunks O’ Fruti®’s other flavors include such mouth-watering favorites as Strawberry, Strawberry Cream, Coconut, Pineapple, Mango, Caribbean Mix, Chocolate Dipped Strawberry and more.

“Chunks O’ Fruti® truly are a snack you won’t feel guilty eating,” said Morris. “With our new Strawberry Colada flavor, you might even want to change the words to that song and start singing, ‘Yes, I like Strawberry Colada!’”

Just recently, Natural Fruit Corporation revised its franchise opportunity to sell Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars via its sister company Natural Fruit Franchise Group (NFFG). In addition to selling Chunks O’ Fruti®, the offering includes a special arrangement with Mars to sell its ice cream products–like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars–wholesale to retail outlets like their local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and many other high-traffic locations.

Fruti® franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti®’s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.com or contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

For information on Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

About Natural Fruit Corporation

Brothers Simon and Jorge Bravo Sr. founded Natural Fruit Corporation in 1985. Equipped with their vast backgrounds in food processing and production, the brothers set out to produce the highest quality, 100 percent natural, frozen fruit bars. Nearly three decades later, the company is still going strong, manufacturing more than 20 flavors of the Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products—100 percent natural with no added colors or flavoring. All flavors and color come directly from the fruit! Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products are Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

The sweet (and healthy) taste of success…Natural Fruit Franchise Group’s Business Builder Program makes selling 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars an even sweeter deal for hardworking franchisees.

admin — Tue, 03 May 2011 19:31:06 +0000

HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

When Natural Fruit Franchise Group (NFFG) launched its franchise offering, it had all the necessary ingredients for success. A relatively low franchise fee. No royalty fees. And two great lines of products—NFFG’s 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars and Mars ice cream products—to capitalize on the trend towards “better for you” foods and America’s love of ice cream and desserts. The real sweetener to the deal is NFFG’s Business Builder program, which reinvests a percentage of product sales towards the purchase of additional freezers for successful franchise owners.

“We’re looking to support the growth of our franchisees. For us it’s all about the sale of our products,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation (NFC). “The best way to do that is to attract franchise owners who have the initial investment and, just as importantly, the drive to get out there and place freezers that move our products.”

The Business Builder Program enables new franchise owners to lease the initial 78 freezers, truck and storage space to get their business off the ground. As the franchise owner places those freezers in retail outlets like their local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and other high-traffic locations, NFC and Mars will reinvest part of the product sales towards freezer purchases after the initial 78 freezers have been placed.

“In effect, we’re giving our franchise owners the opportunity to purchase freezers after the initial 78 have been placed, funded by the sales from those freezers. It does not cost the franchisee any additional capital; Natural Fruit and Mars also significantly invest in those freezers,” said Morris.

NFFG offers placement assistance and marketing support to help franchise owners identify retail outlets for their freezers as part of its franchise offering. It also provides assistance with leasing storage space for the initial inventory of Mars ice cream products, which include perennial favorites like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars, and Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars.

Chunks O’Fruti® frozen fruit bars are 100% natural, with no added color or flavors; all the flavor and color come directly from the fruits. The fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process so real fruit is in almost every bite. Low in calories and actually good for you, Chunks O’ Fruti® offers 20 mouthwatering flavors to choose from including: strawberry, pineapple, lime, strawberry colada and coconutto name a few.

“With people paying closer attention to eating better, particularly parents being more mindful of the foods their children eat, the upside to the Chunks O’ Fruti® franchise opportunity is substantial,” said Morris. “Couple that with the fact that 90 percent of US households consume ice cream and frozen desserts and that sales for the packaged snacks industry are projected to rise from $68 billion in 2008 to $82 billion by 2013 and you have a home-based franchise opportunity where the right franchisee can enjoy success for a long time to come.”

The initial investment, including financing, can range from $75,000 to $101,000 depending on whether you lease or purchase trucks and storage space. The initial offering includes:

Franchise Fee $25,000
Minimum of 75 freezers (lease option: 3 years @ $24.54/mo. $1 buyout)
Truck with freezer body (lease option)
Leased space in freezer warehouse
Computer hardware and software
Initial Fruti® and Mars products inventory
Initial training and freezer placement service
Sales and marketing materials
Mobile route management equipment and software

About Natural Fruit Corporation

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.

A sweet (and healthy) franchise opportunity…Natural Fruit Corporation, makers of 100% natural Chunks O’ Fruti® frozen fruit bars, offers royalty-free franchise opportunity

admin — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 11:24:12 +0000

HIALEAH, FLORIDA…

Americans have a sweet tooth. We also know we should be eating better. Parents, in particular, want to give their children (and themselves for that matter) healthier options, especially for snacks and desserts. With its revised franchise offering, the Natural Fruit Corporation is giving go-getters the opportunity to capitalize on this growing trend by selling its 100% natural Chunks O’Fruti® frozen fruit bar products wholesale to retail outlets like their local convenience stores, hospital cafeterias, schools, independent grocery stores, deli’s, family style restaurants, swim clubs and many other high-traffic locations.

Sweetening the pot figuratively and literally for this franchise opportunity is a special partnership Natural Fruit Corporation entered into with Mars, the candy and ice cream product juggernaut. So, in addition to appealing to the “better for you” market with Chunk O’ Fruti® products, franchisees can also sell the enormously popular Mars ice cream products—like Twix, Snickers, M&Ms and Dove bars—on a wholesale basis to those same retail locations as a Mars distributor.

“There is nothing like Chunks O’Fruti® on the market today. It’s 100% natural, fruit is always the first ingredient, there is no artificial coloring or flavoring, and the fruit is spread evenly throughout each bar by a proprietary manufacturing process. It’s also low calorie and there are more than 20 natural flavors to choose from. It is precisely what health conscious consumers want for their children and themselves,” said Susan Morris, senior vice president for Natural Fruit Corporation. “Add to that a name brand like Mars and their incredible ice cream products for the folks who can’t quite kick their sweet tooth and you’ve got a can’t miss offering that’s going to appeal to practically every consumer.”

Morris adds, “Beyond great products, this franchise offering gives the right person a growth opportunity they can tailor towards their lifestyle. You’re not tied down to a physical, brick-and-mortar location or a 24/7/365 schedule. If you want to run your business Monday through Friday, 9-to-5, you can do that. You can be hands on and deliver product and freezers yourself or hire a staff and delegate. It’s really up to you.”

Start up costs, including the franchise fee, can range from $75,000 to $101,000 depending on whether you lease or purchase trucks and storage space. The initial offering includes:

• Franchise Fee $25,000

• Minimum of 75 freezers (lease option: 3 years @ $24.54/mo. $1 buyout)

• Truck with freezer body (lease option)

• Leased space in freezer warehouse

• Computer hardware and software

• Initial Fruti® and Mars products inventory

• Initial training and freezer placement service

• Sales and marketing materials

• Mobile route management equipment and software

Each franchisee is given an exclusive territory within a two-hour driving radius. Franchisees are then responsible for negotiating with merchants to place a Chunks O’ Fruti® freezer at the location, keeping those locations stocked and acquiring new locations. Each territory has the capacity for 1,000 freezers.

“Plain and simple, we want our franchisees to succeed. That’s why we don’t burden them with the additional expense of royalty fees and provide assistance in buying or leasing storage space and transportation and how to market their business,” said Morris. “We also offer an incentive program that rewards franchisees who place 75 freezers with a substantially discounted rate on the next 125 freezers.”

Fruti® franchises are available across the U.S. For complete information on Fruti®’s franchise offering, please visit www.frutifranchise.comor contact Bruce Wildes, Acadia Business Advisors, LLC at 207 370 8210 or info@acadiabiz.com.

About Natural Fruit Corporation

Brothers Simon and Jorge Bravo Sr. founded Natural Fruit Corporation in 1985. Equipped with their vast backgrounds in food processing and production, the brothers set out to produce the highest quality, 100 percent natural, frozen fruit bars. Nearly three decades later, the company is still going strong, manufacturing more than 20 flavors of the Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products—100 percent natural with no artificial colors or flavoring. Chunks O’ Fruti® brand products are Kosher-certified and gluten-free.

In 2009, Natural Fruit Corporation entered into an agreement for its distributors to offer Mars Ice Cream products, including Twix, Snickers, Dove bars and other Mars ice cream favorites. Natural Fruit Corporation began offering a revised franchise opportunity in 2010.

For information on Fruti products, please visit www.nfc-fruti.com.