Friendly's Restaurants vs Au Vieux Duluth Express Franchise Comparison

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

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
Au Vieux Duluth Express Franchise
Investment $498,500 - $1,950,000$175,000 - $500,000
Franchise Fee $30,000 - $35,000$30,000 - $40,000
Royalty Fee 4%-
Advertising Fee 3.5%-
Year Founded 19351979
Year Franchised 19962002
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Term Of Agreement 20 years-
Renewal Fee $5K-


Business Experience Requirements

 
Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
Au Vieux Duluth Express Franchise
Experience
  • Industry experience
  • -

    Financing Options

     
    Friendly's Restaurants Franchise
    Au Vieux Duluth Express 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
    Au Vieux Duluth Express 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
    Au Vieux Duluth Express Franchise
    US Expansion YesYes
    Canada Expansion No-
    International Expansion NoYes

    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 Au Vieux Duluth Express

    At Au Vieux Duluth Express you will discover one of a kind dishes, liberal bits and fantastic quality nourishments. Rich in Greek convention cooking is conveyed to you quick, crisp and warmly. Remarkable in flavor, our flame broiled huge, succulent, marinated bits of meat, chicken, pork, fish and claim to fame brochettes, all charbroiled to flawlessness, are certain to fulfill your craving. We likewise offer a decision of delightful side things making an elegantly important plate. Your prosperity is our goal. Our dedicated and enthusiastic group is focused on creating and proposing programs that will give you a chance to take advantage of your organization. That commitment gives our framework its extraordinary reputation for proficiency and productivity. When you join the MTY group, you take advantage of a wellspring of expert support, skill and know-how that has guaranteed the accomplishment of several establishments throughout the years. We offer persistent support and expert direction all through the establishment procedure, from the improvement of your eatery through to opening day and past. Au Vieux Duluth Express - A scrumptious culinary affair!