Friendly's Restaurants vs The Pantry Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Friendly's Restaurants vs The Pantry including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
The Pantry Franchise
Investment $498,500 - $1,950,000$450,000 - $600,000
Franchise Fee $30,000 - $35,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 4%-
Advertising Fee 3.5%-
Year Founded 19351975
Year Franchised 19961977
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
The Pantry Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    The Pantry Franchise
      In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
    Franchise Fees No/No-/-
    Start-up Costs No/No-/-
    Equipment No/No-/-
    Inventory No/No-/-
    Receivables No/No-/-
    Payroll No/No-/-

    Training & Support

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    The Pantry Franchise
    Training --
    Support Newsletter, Meetings, Toll-free phone line, Grand opening, Internet, Security/safety procedures, Field operations/evaluations-
    Marketing Ad slicks, National media-
    Operations Franchisees required to buy multiple units/master licenses; 62% of all franchisees own more than one unit

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

    -

    Expansion Plans

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    The Pantry Franchise
    US Expansion Yes-
    Canada Expansion NoNo
    International Expansion NoNo

    Company Overviews

    About Friendly's Restaurants

    In Springfield, Massachusetts at the height of the Great Depression in 1935, 20 year-old Prestley Blake and his 18 year-old brother Curtis opened an ice cream shop called 'Friendly' that served double-dip cones for 5 cents. The brothers opened a second shop five years later in West Springfield, Massachusetts and added food to the menu. Within a decade, locations opened throughout western Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1988 Donald N. Smith, the company's current CEO, purchased the company and a year later added an 's' to the name, making it 'Friendly's.'

    In May 2000, Friendly's introduced a new food and dessert menu featuring colossal burgers, sandwich wraps, splits, sundaes and Cyclones. Friendly's produces 10 million snack cups and 230,000 gallons of fudge every year. In addition to its restaurants and cafes, Friendly's manufactures a complete line of frozen desserts.

    About The Pantry

    For over 30 years the Pantry Restaurants have been a leader in the family casual restaurant segment. We expanded into the Alberta market, and are actively pursuing Area Developments. Our success has come from specializing in quality foods in 3 successful day-part programs. Our dynamic team provides Franchisees with site selection, construction, pre & post opening training, marketing expertiese, including ongoing support.