Gourmet Cup vs Van Houtte Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Gourmet Cup vs Van Houtte including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Gourmet Cup Franchise
Van Houtte Franchise
Investment $120,000 - $200,000$250,000 - $300,000
Franchise Fee $25,000$27,500
Royalty Fee 8%5%
Advertising Fee --
Year Founded 19851919
Year Franchised 19861983
Term Of Agreement 5 years10 years
Term Of Agreement 5 years10 years
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Gourmet Cup Franchise
Van Houtte Franchise
Experience --

Financing Options

 
Gourmet Cup Franchise
Van Houtte Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees No/NoNo/No
Start-up Costs No/NoNo/No
Equipment No/NoNo/No
Inventory No/NoNo/No
Receivables No/NoNo/No
Payroll No/NoNo/No

Training & Support

 
Gourmet Cup Franchise
Van Houtte Franchise
Training --
Support Newsletter, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperativesMeetings, Grand opening, Field operations/evaluations, Purchasing cooperatives
Marketing Co-op advertising, Ad slicks, National mediaCo-op advertising, Regional advertising
Operations 2% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Absentee ownership of franchise is allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)

5% of all franchisees own more than one unit

Absentee ownership of franchise is NOT allowed. (100% of current franchisees are owner/operators)


Expansion Plans

 
Gourmet Cup Franchise
Van Houtte Franchise
US Expansion --
Canada Expansion NoNo
International Expansion YesYes

Company Overviews

About Gourmet Cup

Gourmet Cup Beverage Station is the latest retail coffee concept from Shefield Group. The Gourmet Cup Beverage Station environment provides fun, energetic friendly service in a classic coffee shop setting. Consumers can select from the following:

unique coffees with many flavours on offer;
other beverages like caramel lattes, hot chocolate, cappuccino and espresso;
nutritious snacks and fresh-baked treats.

Gourmet Cup Beverage Station locations are designed to offer both an initial WOW factor as well as a place for consumers to relax. With its unique character, ambiance and wide selection of beverages, Gourmet Cup Beverage Station locations are absolutely unique.





About Van Houtte

Albert-Louis Van Houtte, a French immigrant, set up his first grocery store in Montreal in 1919. Van Houtte stocked the store with specialty products from Europe, including coffee. Each day he would roast small batches of coffee in the back of his shop, and soon Van Houtte had built up a reputation in Montreal for selling quality coffee. In the more than 80 years since its founder began roasting European coffees, A.L. Van Houtte Cafe-Bistro has grown beyond Montreal and has expanded its menu. Today, each cafe-bistro serves a variety of coffee and espresso drinks, as well as teas, soups and sandwiches.