After 11 years in enterprise, Washington D.C.-based TaKorean, a quick informal model serving Korean flavors with a Latin-American twist based as a meals truck in 2010, is providing franchise alternatives throughout the U.S.
TaKorean Founder Mike Lenard is able to develop the idea. Photograph offered.
Washington D.C.-based TaKorean, a quick informal model serving Korean flavors with a Latin-American twist based as a meals truck in 2010, is providing franchise alternatives throughout the U.S.
“I began bidding on this meals truck, not considering I’d win it,” Founder Mike Lenard stated in an organization press launch. “I had this factor behind my head like, ‘Oh, perhaps I am going to do a meals truck or one thing,’ and I keep in mind sitting there, and impulsively I had gained it. I did loads of analysis on what I assumed was missing within the DC and East Coast meals scenes. In LA, they have been doing Korean tacos, and I assumed that was actually fascinating, so I began researching and recipe testing.”
Lenard’s inspiration for TaKorean was an LA-based meals truck known as Kogi BBQ, opened by Chef Roy Choi within the mid-2000s. TaKorean takes this conventional road meals inspiration and lightens it up, making a form of on a regular basis mannequin that is mild and clear, in response to Lenard.
“The entire TaKorean’s menu objects are made out of high-quality, contemporary elements,” he stated. “That is what actually units us aside. It is not straightforward to seek out colourful, contemporary and healthful eating choices that also really feel thrilling and daring like TaKorean does.
Time to develop
After 11 years of operations at two DC areas, the TaKorean thinks now’s the time to franchise.
“There’s not very similar to us,” Lenard informed FastCasual. “There have been some Korean bowl ideas that additionally serve tacos, however they fall somewhat flat. You realize, should you’re purchasing for a franchise within the house, whether or not it is a greater model or a smaller model, clearly there’s loads of variations, however the truth of the matter is, is that should you’re in search of a ‘construct your personal bowl’ or fusion idea, that is the perfect. With TaKorean, you are entering into a spot the place you have bought good individuals, and we strive as laborious as we are able to to deal with this as greater than only a enterprise.”
Lenard stated he and his group have spent the final 10 years perfecting operations and are invested in seeing the chain develop.
“We have now actually simplified operations and may slot in smaller retail areas,” he stated. “There’s little or no specialised coaching and tools required, which not solely retains coaching and staffing prices decrease, but it surely makes retail choice and buildout simpler.”
That streamlined mannequin would not sacrifice something when it comes to taste or high quality, nonetheless.
“TaKorean has a confirmed monitor document of working at a extremely favorable meals price and labor price margin, the barrier to entry is comparatively low for a restaurant idea and it is very easy to keep up and develop,” he stated.
Prices to open a location, for instance, vary from from $186,500 to $757,500, together with a $30,000 franchise payment and a 4% royalty payment.
“We positively need somebody who’s a meals and folks particular person,” Lenard stated. “Restaurant expertise is beneficial, but it surely’s not completely obligatory. They should have some form of service expertise to grasp what it is like. It must be a non-issue to work on their ft and serve individuals. There is a persona kind that we would like. For those who’ve by no means stood and confronted a buyer, whether or not it is at a shoe retailer, a automobile wash, or no matter, that is one thing that is actually necessary.
“It is a query of whether or not they actually get it, like individuals and really feel a way of success in caring for individuals. There are issues which can be good to have and issues which can be must-haves. It is good to have somebody with a management mindset, however that is teachable. It is all about — essential is ‘coachable.'”
The chain’s precedence markets are Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey and North Carolina, however all states can be found.
“In a world of eating places like CAVA, Sweetgreen and Chipotle, many diners are in search of different distinctive and scrumptious flavors within the ‘construct your personal’ mannequin, and TaKorean fills this void with colourful, nourishing, made-fresh choices,” Lenard stated. TaKorean is among the few fusion ideas that really tastes good and is constant, and it is one of many few choices that’s Korean-esque with out being 100% Korean, and it hits actually laborious when it comes to meals preferences.”
Though increasing the idea is the final word purpose, Lenard won’t rush the method. As an alternative, he’ll develop his firm shops slowly whereas rising the infrastructure and can tackle franchises on a gradual tempo.
“One factor you have realized about us is that operations are crucial to us,” he stated. “If we may promote 100 franchises tomorrow, we would not wish to do this as a result of, for us, we wish to award them, we wish to open them, and we wish to set them up for fulfillment.
“The fact is that 100 that do horribly isn’t price as a lot as 5 or 10 that may turn out to be an unbelievable basis for an even bigger enterprise.”
