Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Table of Contents
W H AT IS A T H A Ï E X P RESS FRANCHISE? . . . . . . . . . . 3
T H E T H A Ï E X P R E S S STORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
W H Y IS T H A Ï F OOD S O POPULAR?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
W H AT A R E OU R F R A NCHISE M ODELS?. . . . . . . . . . . . 8
H OW D O WE H E LP F R ANCHISEES GROW ? . . . . . . . . . 11
H OW D O Y OU G E N E R ATE REVENUE?. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
M EE T OU R F R A N C H ISE OW NERS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
N EX T S T E P S. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
That’s not the case with a Thaï Express franchise. Our Thaï food restaurant combines the best of
Customers watch as a skilled cook selects fresh several worlds — a fast food QSR restaurant, fresh-
ingredients from a cold table and then cooks their dish cooked authentic dishes, and a pent-up demand for
while they wait, delivering to them a beautiful, flavorful Thaï cuisine. All the while, you benefit from being
and authentic Thaï dish in as little as a minute and the first-to-market with a brand that has explosive
a half. Food theatre meets fast food, and customers potential in a high-demand market segment while
know they’re getting a quality meal, healthy food, and also enjoying the tried-and-tested concepts, dishes
fresh ingredients. and branding that are usually reserved for legacy
QSR brands.
Asian foods account for more than $150 billion in sales
around the world each year. The Washington Post
points out that most of that — more than 90% in fact
— come from mom-and-pop restaurants. In the U.S.,
though, roughly half of all Asian food sales come from
“You don’t have to be a chef,” Sami says. “They “We work with the franchisees to make sure they
teach you how to make every dish, how to prep your understand the ins and outs of their business before
kitchen, and how to work the business systems. If they open,” says Tim Le, development director for
you follow the systems, you will grow.” MTY Group in Canada. Tim oversees the training
program for each new Thaï Express franchisee, and
Each franchisee receives advanced training in her enthusiasm for our brand and the people who
food preparation and customer service. Then, after make it successful is infectious. “With our training
completing the training, our expert support staff test and support, anyone can own and operate a thriving
them on their knowledge and skill. Before you leave Thaï Express.”
our training kitchen, you’ll know how to make each
and every dish on our menu, how to plate it in an
appealing fashion and how to describe those dishes
to the customer.
A Brand That Honors Its Roots While Ten Thaï Express locations are already under
Innovating Into The Future development, from Minnesota to Arizona, and our
first location will open in the Mall of America in early
The design of each Thaï Express restaurant franchise 2017. Multi-unit franchise owner Eddy Hassan is
location is a labor of devotion to Thaï culture and excited about the prospect of being the first-to-market
Asian history. Though each location is unique, with in the U.S.
individualized elements to fit the style of the restaurant
and the aesthetic of the community in which it’s “I’m actually opening my own Thaï Express in the
situated, our restaurants are instantly recognizable as U.S. because this is a system that works perfectly,”
authentic, inviting, and uniquely Thaï Express. This he says. “It was tried and tested, and it’s something
brand identity is the result of two guiding principles: be that excelled in the field. It has no real competition,
unique and be faithful to Thaïland’s roots. and it’s something that people love. That drives
revenues year after year.”
“We didn’t want to do a typical Asian theme where you
see bamboos and chopsticks,” says Loune Tonvang, Backed by two of the biggest names in international
director of design and development for Thaï Express franchising — Kahala Brands and MTY Group, Thaï
Canada. “We really wanted to build an identity that Express is coming to America. Now is a great time
shows what Thaï is all about.” to join what will soon be one of the most popular
destinations in Asian QSR franchising.
Applying time-tested principles of Feng Shui, where
traditional elements and aesthetics are aligned
according to ancient practices, the design team
creates a Thaï Express layout and design that is at
Thaï Food Ranks High On The Healthy American QSR market driven by the expertise that
comes with navigating diverse brands ranging from
Scale Cold Stone Creamery to Blimpie. “Kahala brands
are synonymous with quality, customer service and
A recent CNN report notes that Thaï cuisine ranks in popularity,” says Sr. Vice President of Development
the top 10 of healthy diets. Americans are consistently John Wuycheck. “We have a diverse family of both
seeking healthy alternatives for dining on-the-go, new and legacy brands, and we’re excited to bring
which makes a Thaï Express franchise an attractive Thaï Express to American diners. I believe Thaï
option for QSR investors seeking new growth Express is going to quickly become a leader in the
opportunities. Asian QSR segment, and we’re already on track for
an explosive growth of the brand.”
One key area of interest for savvy investors is Thaï
food popularity among millennials — one of the fastest
growing segments of the restaurant market. According The Thaï Express franchise debuts in the U.S. in
to Edelman Digital, some 23% of millennials say they 2017 with the first location in the Mall of America in
eat Thaï food regularly. Minneapolis, Minnesota, and more stores are already
set to open across the country. We have 10 stores in
Combining a healthy food with a growth market in high development, and numerous other franchise owners
demand among a core demographic, Thaï Express is a are exploring bringing Thaï Express to their markets.
franchise QSR built for the now and ready to scale for
the future. A proven QSR with the backing of Kahala’s more
than 3,000 stores, massive revenues, buying
power, and star brands, Thaï Express is an exciting
opportunity with a powerful potential to take on the
U.S. QSR space.
In virtually any food court, Thaï Express stands out as a far cry from your run-of-the-mill cafeteria counter with a
steam table. We maximize the customer’s experience with food theatre, preparing the dishes on the line while
customers wait and watch, a stark comparison to the mystery-meat-and-sauce Chinese joints that abound.
Many of our in-line locations boast a drive-thru, a popular addition that boosts business and increases repeat
customer visits. Meanwhile, some of our most popular locations exist along busy pedestrian routes, in the middle
of shopping, commerce and tourism. And Thaï Express has a proven track record in locations in shopping
centers, on mall endcaps and outparcels, and in free-standing neighborhood eateries, making Thaï Express
perfect for essentially any location.
How Do We Help
Franchisees Grow?
Training And Support, Freshly Made Dishes And
High-Quality, Visible Marketing And Branding
Make A Winning System
We spent more than 12 years perfecting the Thaï Express
franchise model in Canada. All that work shows in our
comprehensive training programs, simplified business
operations systems, and high-visibility marketing and
branding.
Here are just a few of the many ways we help franchisees get
prepared for their Thaï Express careers.
With high-design brand identity, a modern, hip feel, “There’s no way anyone can say it’s not good,”
and a devotion to providing excellent customer service, Dennis says. “The quality is there, the service is
we’re a proven concept that offers you a first-to-market there, and the pricing is there.”
opportunity to join a multi-billion dollar segment of the
QSR industry. Customers respond, too. Just look at Canada, where
Thaï Express grew from 5 locations in 2004 to more
Food Cost Controls Drive Margins than 285 stores today. Visit any major city in Canada,
and you’ll see Thaï Express everywhere.
At its heart, Thaï food is simple enough — a protein
coupled with either a rice or noodle, spices and herbs,
and sometimes a sauce, served in a single dish.
Where Are Available
Because our systems streamline labor — a typical
Thaï Express freestanding store requires no more
Growth Markets?
than 5 or 6 employees at any given time — ingredients
themselves become an important component of cost Anywhere you see a Chinese place
control. or sushi bar, there’s a spot for a Thaï
Dennis Ng is the Vice President of Thaï Express
Express Franchise
Canada for MTY Group, the parent company of Kahala
Brands. Dennis notes the care and consideration that A Thaï Express franchise is a versatile business
go into each dish and each ingredient, beginning with opportunity that works anywhere. We offer models
the food costs. for shopping mall food courts, in-line strip centers,
and freestanding restaurants, with each location
“Food costs are important,” Dennis says. Whether it’s customized to incorporate the ancient traditions of
deciding to purchase pre-sliced chicken and beef or Feng Shui design. This means each location is at
having the meats sliced in the store, or seeking out a once unique to that spot and instantly recognizable
source for quality peanuts, MTY Group examines each as a Thaï Express.
ingredient down to the penny. Dennis points out, too,
that a chief concern for each ingredient is that quality Many Thaï Express franchise owners find a blend
is maintained. And on this, Thaï Express is successful. of location styles works well, and Thaï Express is a
great opportunity for an individual seeking to scale
a business while growing a brand. The ideal market
for a Thaï Express are areas with blended dining
experiences, where owners can open freestanding
restaurants, shopping center endcap stores and mall
food court locations.
4.) Quality
Franchise Owners Come From All Walks, Cultures And Age Groups
You don’t have to have experience cooking or preparing Asian food to run a successful Thaï Express franchise.
In fact, our owners come from all segments of the restaurant industry, from QSR super-chains to mom-and-pop
Greek restaurants. They know the value of the Thaï Express brand, embrace our core mission, and embody our
four core values — customer experience, mutual respect, the Thaï heart, and quality. Here’s what they have to
say about why they love owning a Thaï Express franchise.
Startup costs range from $370,900 to $832,700, depending on the model you choose. Since 2004, we saturated
the Canadian market with a business model built for entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing an
authentic and affordable Thaï food experience to their communities. The franchise fee for your first Thaï Express
franchise is $30,000, and the franchise fee for multiple units can be discounted if certain conditions and criteria
are met.