Baguette Express sells master franchise for 50 London outlets

17 November 2009 by
Baguette Express sells master franchise for 50 London outlets

Baguette Express, the Scottish-owned sandwich chain, expects to open around 50 new stores in and around London over the next three to four years after signing a "master franchise" deal with one of its franchisees.

Robin and Billy Stenhouse, who founded the chain in 1999, have sold the Greater London Master Franchise to Amjid Bashir, who runs a Baguette Express outlet in Glasgow, for a "six-figure sum".

Bashir said there was a "recession-proof element" to Baguette Express's operation, pointing to its "substantial growth" over the past year, while other franchised operators such as O'Brien's and Coffee Republic have struggled. He revealed that his aim was to open 50-plus shops in London over the next three to four years.

"I believe that this is the minimum we can achieve; the rate of new openings depends, however, on the numbers of prospective franchisees who come along and decide to get their own operations up and running," Bashir said.

The first two franchises covered by the deal are due to open shortly: one in Camden High Street and the other in Harlow, Essex.

Robin Stenhouse, joint-founder, described the deal as a "major step forward" for the Haddington-based firm.

"Our outlets provide career opportunities for people across a number of disciplines, from management to catering and logistics, and they also tap into the entrepreneurial spirit by giving people the chance to run their own businesses," he said.

Subway plans to open 600 new UK stores by 2011 >>
Sandwich bar chain O'Briens places UK arm into administration >>
How to buy a franchise >>

A Minute on the Clock: Fiacra Nagle, chief executive of O'Briens Sandwich Bars >>

By Daniel Thomas

E-mail your comments to Caterer News here.

If you have something to say on this story or anything else join the debate at Table Talk - Caterer's new networking forum. Go to www.caterersearch.com/tabletalk

Caterersearch.com jobs
Looking for a new job? Find your next job here with Caterersearch.com jobs

Blogs on Caterersearch.com](http://www.caterersearch.com/blogs) Catch up with more news and gossip on all Caterer's blogs
[Newsletters For the latest hospitality news, sign up for our e-mail newsletters.
The Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email

Start the working day with The Caterer’s free breakfast briefing email

Sign Up and manage your preferences below

Check mark icon
Thank you

You have successfully signed up for the Caterer Breakfast Briefing Email and will hear from us soon!

Jacobs Media is honoured to be the recipient of the 2020 Queen's Award for Enterprise.

The highest official awards for UK businesses since being established by royal warrant in 1965. Read more.

close

Ad Blocker detected

We have noticed you are using an adblocker and – although we support freedom of choice – we would like to ask you to enable ads on our site. They are an important revenue source which supports free access of our website's content, especially during the COVID-19 crisis.

trade tracker pixel tracking