Jeff Fenster did not got down to construct a restaurant franchise. In 2016, he had simply offered a enterprise and was in search of his subsequent transfer. A self-described “high-strung” entrepreneur, Fenster started tinkering with acai bowls in his house kitchen after experiencing the fruit in Hawaii. What began as a private wellness experiment became one thing larger, and he started getting ready acai bowls for his pals throughout soccer Sundays.
“Once I was in a position to get them away from the normal soccer meals, and so they began asking for bowls, I noticed this was not only for health-conscious people,” Fenster says.
Then, throughout a go to to a closing smoothie store in California, Fenster had an concept: What if he took over the area and launched his personal meals idea? 4 days later, he signed the lease — with no title, menu or restaurant expertise.
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The beginning of Everbowl — and WeBuild
The primary Everbowl location opened in October 2016 with the purpose of constructing consuming healthfully inexpensive, better-tasting and extra filling. “Which meant I needed to make large parts, determine the best way to convey the associated fee down, make it style good and construct numerous them,” Fenster says.
However he shortly realized that constructing eating places is dear. That first location value greater than $300,000 to open. “That did not make sense to me,” Fenster says. “I am not constructing a rocket ship.” Somewhat than settle for the excessive value of entry, Fenster did what few founders would dare: He launched his personal building firm. WeBuildEverbowl’s in-house building agency, was designed to unravel a easy downside — controlling buildout prices.
Fenster introduced on the contractor who helped with the unique retailer to run the corporate. Collectively, they recognized methods to chop prices utilizing off-site fabrication, streamlined supplies and environment friendly processes. Inside a yr, Fenster slashed buildout prices by greater than half. “By the top of 2018, we had been all the way down to $150,000,” he says. “Ultimately, we bought underneath $100,000 per location.”
This method allowed Fenster to open 28 corporate-owned shops by early 2020, all with out taking up debt. He additionally launched his personal provide chain operation, importing proprietary acai strains instantly from Brazil to offer Everbowl a novel style that customers cannot get anyplace else. “It is like french fries — they’re all potatoes, however they style totally different,” he says. “Now, nobody can say that they use the identical acai I exploit.”
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Franchising for everybody
When the Covid-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, Fenster needed to lay off greater than 500 staff in in the future. However inside 48 hours, he and a small group invented “Later Bowls,” a direct-to-consumer supply service providing frozen acai bowls from shuttered Everbowl kitchens. That surprising pivot led to a fair larger alternative.
“We bought over 400 franchise inquiries,” Fenster says. “That was the second I noticed what Everbowl may very well be.”
Fenster was initially skeptical of franchising — he thought it was just for the rich and was costly and dangerous. “I did not need winners and losers on my group,” he says. Fenster in the end embraced it, however his mannequin was totally different; he needed franchising to be out there to everybody.
“We do not care about web value. We care about drive, tradition match and work ethic,” Fenster says. “If you happen to’re all-in, we’ll determine the best way to get you a retailer.”
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Jeff Fenster and Drew Brees
Picture Credit score: Everbowl
Enter Drew Brees
A type of passionate believers was future NFL Corridor-of-Famer Drew Brees. Fenster and Brees had practically gone into one other enterprise collectively in 2018 however reconnected in 2020 throughout Covid, when Brees started sending Fenster images of his children consuming “Later Bowls” at house.
“All of the shops had been shut down, and we had been like, Okay, what the heck will we do now?” Brees tells Entrepreneur. “We lived off acai bowls for breakfast for months in my home as a result of my children simply could not get sufficient. It turned a cool household bonding factor.”
In the present day, Everbowl is ranked #450 on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500, and Brees is the model’s largest franchisee, with 160 areas in varied levels of growth throughout 13 states. He is an investor and model ambassador who lives the approach to life Everbowl promotes.
“I am concerned in a strategic capability with every of the manufacturers that I put money into,” Brees says. “I sit on the board as one of many lead buyers, and I am at all times eager about how we construct the group and the way we construct the model.”
Different notable companions embrace NBA star Jayson Tatum, UFC champion Kamaru Usman, and buyers like Gary Vaynerchuk and Tim Grover. However Fenster insists it is not about chasing movie star — it is about authenticity.
“I do not ask anybody to put up about us,” Fenster says. “In the event that they love the model, they speak about it. If they do not, they should not.”
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A ‘better-for-you’ restaurant
With over 100 areas open and greater than 350 in growth, Fenster is now eyeing worldwide enlargement. He is additionally engaged on making franchising much more accessible, with a long-term purpose of providing zero cash down for certified operators. “I need to discover the very best folks — not simply the richest folks — and assist them construct their future,” he says.
And though Everbowl began with bowls of frozen fruit, Fenster sees the mission as a lot broader.
“We’re not a well being meals restaurant,” he says. “We’re a better-for-you restaurant. If I can get somebody to go from zero servings of fruit to at least one as we speak, that is a win. Let’s meet folks the place they’re and assist them get simply 1% higher every single day.”
Jeff Fenster did not got down to construct a restaurant franchise. In 2016, he had simply offered a enterprise and was in search of his subsequent transfer. A self-described “high-strung” entrepreneur, Fenster started tinkering with acai bowls in his house kitchen after experiencing the fruit in Hawaii. What began as a private wellness experiment became one thing larger, and he started getting ready acai bowls for his pals throughout soccer Sundays.
“Once I was in a position to get them away from the normal soccer meals, and so they began asking for bowls, I noticed this was not only for health-conscious people,” Fenster says.
Then, throughout a go to to a closing smoothie store in California, Fenster had an concept: What if he took over the area and launched his personal meals idea? 4 days later, he signed the lease — with no title, menu or restaurant expertise.
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