Canadians have a healthy appetite for franchising.
In fact, there are more than 78,000 franchises representing 1,200 brands operating from coast to coast, according to the Canadian Franchising Association.
And while most concepts for successful chains are hatched by Americans, there's a distinctly Canadian flavour being injected into the industry these days by homegrown entrepreneurs.
And their winning formulae are attracting investors and customers around the world.
That's why you'll soon be able to buy an Ottawa family's BeaverTails – a doughnut made in the shape of the Canadian icon's wide tail – as far away as Saudi Arabia.
Another venture's specialty pitas, born in Kingston, are now available across the U.S. as well as overseas. Add in, of course, Canada's franchise stars such as Tim Hortons ... Shoppers Drug Mart ...
BeaverTails may be the sweetest franchising success story of them all.
The sweet, hot treat was introduced in 1978 by the Hooker family in a small cooking hut on the frozen Rideau Canal – the waterway that serves as Ottawa's outdoor skating rink in winter. It's made with whole-wheat pastry and natural ingredients, and hand-stretched to resemble a real beaver's tail.
Served hot with a variety of sweet toppings, it was an instant success and visitors to the capital would ask where they could find BeaverTails for sale when they returned home.
But Pino Di Ioia, chief executive of BeaverTails, said it was more than the great taste that has made his company successful. The biggest advantage, he said, has been the uniqueness of the product, a key ingredient in any franchise's success.
"We have a Canadiana image that bodes well for international appeal. (Our doughnut) is fun, delicious and indulgent, the type of thing you look forward to enjoying on your day off. This resonates with people all over the world," he said.
BeaverTails just signed a deal to expand into Saudi Arabia and future expansions will continue to focus on leisure and tourist locations, Di Ioia said.
The Pita Pit is an even bigger franchising success saga.
Inspired by an appreciation for healthy cuisine and a desire to infuse it into a fresh new bread on the Canadian scene, Nelson Lang and partner John Sotiriadis founded The Pita Pit and opened their first location in Kingston in 1995.
Theirs was one quick-stop meal that nutritionists weren't warning diners to avoid. The word quickly spread.
The partners' appetite for expansion developed naturally; family and friends saw how popular their business was becoming and soon wanted to open their own locations. The rest, as they say, is history.
The initial Pita Pit franchise rolled out just over 75,000 pitas in the first year. By last year, that number had mushroomed to over 20 million at its worldwide franchises.
The Pita Pit is now part of a chain of more than 300 restaurants and between two and four stores open every month somewhere in the world. Opening the doors of a new Pita Pit franchise can cost investors from $165,000 to $245,000.
"Food is food, but the people are the ingredients that make the business successful," said Lang, now president and chief operating officer of Pita Pit U.S.A.
Pita Pit management now holds a "Discovery Day" in which potential investors get hands-on experience of the types of things they can expect to encounter if they open a franchise.
Lang said the event is a great opportunity for Pita Pit's corporate staff to interact with interested parties and identify the best franchise candidates. It's also a good way for people to find out if they are cut out for the restaurant business.
If you're craving the excitement of becoming part of a franchise, research is an integral part of making the right choice that will work for you, said Lorraine McLachlan, president of the Canadian Franchise Association.
"Franchising is not a guaranteed income but it is a guaranteed opportunity," said McLachlan.
She recommends that one of the first critical steps is to determine if franchising is right for you, by assessing your own personality traits and what you enjoy.
"Start to identify what type of business you are interested in and do your research in a thorough manner. Due diligence is important; you are going into a long-term business relationship and have to treat it that way," she said.
Potential franchise owners can whet their appetites at trade shows in which exhibitors present a variety of investment opportunities. Among them is the Franchise Show, put on by the Canadian Franchise Association. It will make a Toronto stop Oct. 25-26 at the Congress Centre on Dixon Rd.
