Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge vs La Madeleine Franchise Comparison

Below is an in-depth analysis and side-by-side comparison of Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge vs La Madeleine including start-up costs and fees, business experience requirements, training & support and financing options.

Start-Up Costs and Fees

 
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
La Madeleine Franchise
Investment $1,332,100 - $1,958,333$1,249,362 - $3,088,747
Franchise Fee $50,000$40,000
Royalty Fee 5%5%
Advertising Fee 5%2.5%
Year Founded 19961983
Year Franchised 20092011
Term Of Agreement 10 yearsTerm of agreement not renewable
Term Of Agreement 10 yearsTerm of agreement not renewable
Renewal Fee --


Business Experience Requirements

 
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
La Madeleine Franchise
Experience * Industry experience * (or must have partner with industry experience.)• Passionate about the la Madeleine brand and our food • $5 million net worth; liquid assets of $2.5 million • Dedicated to developing multiple restaurants in a given market • Excellent knowledge of the local retail real estate market • Resources to develop and operate at least three (3) bakery cafés in a given territory • Strong track record as a multi-unit restaurant operator • Cultural fit

Financing Options

 
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
La Madeleine Franchise
  In-House/3rd PartyIn-House/3rd Party
Franchise Fees -/-No/No
Start-up Costs -/-No/Yes
Equipment -/-No/Yes
Inventory -/-No/Yes
Receivables -/-No/Yes
Payroll -/-No/Yes

Training & Support

 
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
La Madeleine Franchise
Training -• Ongoing field support • Store opening assistance • Continuous training • Extensive six-week training program for Operations Directors, General Managers, and Managers • Ongoing culinary development On-The-Job Training: 416 hours Classroom Training: 64 hours
Support Field operations/evaluationsReal Estate • Market evaluation and planning • Site selection assistance • LOI and contract negotiation assistance • In-house real estate resources • Identifying and securing local representation Newsletter Meetings/Conventions Toll-Free Line Grand Opening Online Support Security/Safety Procedures Field Operations Site Selection Proprietary Software Franchisee Intranet Platform
Marketing Co-op advertising, Regional advertising • Grand opening assistance • Store opening and PR resources • Local marketing support • Creative support for national promotional events Co-op Advertising Ad Templates National Media Regional Advertising Social media SEO Email marketing Loyalty program/app
Operations Number of employees needed to run franchised unit: 75-

Expansion Plans

 
Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge Franchise
La Madeleine Franchise
US Expansion YesYes
Canada Expansion --
International Expansion -Yes

Company Overviews

About Uccello's Ristorante, Pizzeria & Sports Lounge

Faro opened his first pizza shop in 1978. From this time to 1987, Faro opened seven more pizza shops in the area. In 1990, Faro sold the franchise with the idea that he and his family would be moving back and living in Sicily from now on. As it happens many times, circumstances changed and the family moved back to Grand Rapids.

Faro was, once again, in the restaurant business when he opened Uccello’s Ristorante Pizzeria & Sports Lounge on East Beltline in 1996. Uccello's Ristorante has officially opened up 6 locations in the last 23 years, the most recent being Downtown Grand Rapids across from Rosa Parks Circle. 

Faro didn't want to stop there. In 2016, Uccello's Hospitality Group expanded when opening their first fast-casual concept, Herb & Fire Pizzeria, in Grandville. Since then, UHG has opened a second location by Celebration! Cinema North on East Beltline.  


​Uccello’s Hospitality Group has grown into 8 successful locations, inspired by Faro’s personal philosophy: "Always strive to give your guest more than they would normally expect. Provide people the opportunity to enjoy great food and the hospitality to match. You must always strive to be better in everything, and never compromise on top quality in any area”.

About La Madeleine

La Madeleine's serves handcrafted, crave-worthy country French-inspired dishes makes them a favorite with critics and guests alike. Their casual French home atmosphere and versatile menu makes them the perfect place for any meal or a special afternoon treat. La Madeleine guests are greeted with a friendly "bonjour" and an inviting ambiance where they can relax while enjoying time with friends and family. With a menu that satisfies cravings morning, noon, and night, it's no wonder guests keep coming back. For experienced restaurateurs, la Madeleine presents an exciting, financially sound opportunity to share in a unique concept with great potential. At la Madeleine we pride ourselves on our handcrafted food and ambiance we share with our guests. But behind the scenes we work even harder to provide support to our franchisees to help them grow both their business and the la Madeleine brand. We understand investing in the la Madeleine name and menu is just part of the equation for you. World-class operations and efficiencies are equally important and la Madeleine has those. Our commitment to you as a franchisee is to constantly work to find better, more efficient and more profitable ways to help you operate your la Madeleine franchise.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a la Madeleine franchise is as follows:
  • Traditional Café: $1,249,362 to $3,088,747 (excluding real estate and landlord allowances). This includes $43,630 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates.
  • Petite Café: $1,426,200 to $1,747,400. $390,983 to $1,718,012 (excluding real estate and landlord allowances). This includes between $20,000 and $43,630 that must be paid to the franchisor or their affiliates.
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