February’s Pie of the Month
Grand Traverse Pie Company was founded in 1996 by Mike and Denise Busley in Traverse City, Michigan. The original business is still operated by Mike and Denise. It strives to set the example and serve as the model from which all other Pie Shops evolve. The shop has been featured both regionally and nationally as a premier destination for great pies. National media coverage includes Business Week, US News andWorld Report, Men’s Journal, Travel Holiday, Home and Garden Television, The Food Network, etc. Currently there are there 17 Pie Shops.
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The business has evolved from it’s early days of serving just fruit pies to its current Bakery Café model serving in addition to fruit pies: cream, key lime and lemon meringue pies; chicken, prime rib and fiesta pot pies; six different quiches, a lunch menu of gourmet made to order hot and cold sandwiches, salads and soups. Our gourmet baked goods include: muffins, dessert bars, brownies, cookies, cinnamon rolls, etc. Beverage include gourmet coffees, espresso and soft drinks.
We are a Bakery Café centered on our pies. Other Bakery Café’s center around bread, baked goods and coffee. This market sector is the fastest growing sector of the food service category. It has grown by over 44% since 1999. A wide variety of fresh made products combined with comfortable seating environments define a Bakery Café. Our unique orientation around pie allows us to set ourselves apart from the others. We uphold the utmost quality standards, and have evolved our offerings to items that complement or derive directly from our pie components (i.e. the crust in pot pies and quiches). We sell fruit, cream, pot pies and quiches in individual or large sizes; in ready-to-eat or heat-and-serve forms. We service all day parts, breakfast sandwiches, quiches and baked goods for breakfast, over 30 items on the lunch menu, and whole pies to go, quiches and pot pies as grab and go items for dinner.
Our vision is to be the premier bakery café establishment focusing always on making the finest pies commercially available.
Michael Busley has served as Grand Traverse Pie Company’s President since May 2004. He holds an engineering degree from Michigan State University. He founded the original Grand Traverse Pie Company in 1996 in downtown Traverse City after a 16 year career as business manager in the aerospace industry. He has served on the Downtown Traverse City Association Board of Directors. Mike brings a strong business experience and bakery café operations experience to the organization.
Timothy Rice has served as Grand Traverse Pie Company Vice President since May 2004. Tim brings over 20 years of food service management to Grand Traverse Pie Company Franchising, including 15 years as deli, bakery, food service, and security director for a multi-unit regional grocery chain. Tim has been involved with the Grand Traverse Pie Company since 1998 as one of the first wholesale customers. He also has three years experience in food distribution as Sales Manager for Michigan for a regional food distributor. In this capacity he has played a vital role in developing the products and sources for all current locations. Tim has a wealth of experience in multiple unit management, with valuable knowledge and skills in both retail and wholesale operations. In 2001 Tim spent several months working with consultants implementing industry best practices in a 10 unit grocery store chain.
Successful franchisees are motivated, energetic individuals who demonstrate a passion for our pies and our pie shops. Food and retail experience is strongly stressed, however, is not required if you have other business or management skills that are applicable. Single Unit franchisees must have a minimum of $500,000 in liquid capital and a net worth of $1,000,000.
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Operating one of our pie shops is a very dynamic experience. We manage the production and sales of many products over 3 day parts (morning, lunch, dinner). Maintaining product quality levels, customer service standards, and appropriate employee and vendor relations will require nothing less than a full-time commitment. The most successful shops will be those operated by dedicated owners who basically live the business. You will be given the tools and support necessary to help manage and operate your business.
Single unit franchises are available for qualified franchise candidates. For franchisees with multi-unit food service experience, multi-unit territories are available. Future expansion to multiple units is available for single unit franchisees in good standing. The franchise model currently being implemented is a 3500 to 4800 square foot location in strip centers in prime pedestrian or vehicle corridors of urban and rural centers. Each shop is a full service production and upscale retail/dining facility. We have standard build out plans, equipment and furniture specs that we will provide.
The franchise fee is $25,000.00 paid in two installments. The initial $5,000 reservation fee holds a territory for 14 days, while our prospective franchisee completes two compatibility profiles. Upon successful completion of the profiles and upon a consensus agreement among Grand Traverse Pie Company executive staff, the candidate will be awarded a franchise. At that time, the franchisee will sign a franchise agreement and pay the remaining $20,000 of the franchise fee. The franchise agreement terms are for ten years, renewable for an additional ten years. The renewal fee is 10% of the current franchise fee.
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The total investment requirement to open a Grand Traverse Pie Company varies depending upon the size and characteristics of each location. The investment may range from $550,000 to $700,000. These values are based on historic data and include franchise fee, leasehold improvements, equipment, furniture, fixtures, signage, insurance, initial marketing funds, and initial inventory. Due to ever changing conditions, local construction procedures and regulations, there can be no guarantee that costs will not exceed these amounts.
GTP Franchising, LLC does not provide any financing, however, we have relationships with several lending institutions that we can recommend.
Royalties are five percent (5%) of gross sales, excluding sales tax. There is an ad fee of 1% gross sales.
Training and support begins with a comprehensive training period in a corporate store. During initial training you will become familiar with the history of Grand Traverse Pie Company, our vision, philosophy, and concept positioning. You will become thoroughly immersed in our operations manual, which details standard operating procedures for all facets of operating and managing a Grand Traverse Pie Company. As a Grand Traverse Pie Company franchisee, you will also receive management training which includes training on our POS system, inventory management, labor controls, food cost analysis, and much more. You will be trained in a real world—hands on environment.
When your opening week arrives, our experienced training staff will come to your location to assist you through your initial opening period. Our Franchise Business Consultants will continue to review P&L statements, operations and marketing. Our consultants will provide analysis, constructive correction, and will assist you in your efforts to achieve ever greater levels of success.
Income level is dependent on several factors unique to each location: sales volume, cost of investment, how well you manage your Pie Shop operation, and how well you control your costs. Because of these variables, there is a range in the amount of profit you might expect. Each community provides a unique situation, which makes it extremely difficult to project income levels. While we cannot guarantee your earnings, we believe that the success of your Pie Shop will depend greatly upon how you monitor and control expenses (food cost, labor, etc.) and how well you control the quality of products and customer service in your shop on a day by day basis. We will provide the tools for the day by day operational analysis, we will be available to provide ongoing support and to answer questions and address situations that you will inevitably have as you become more and more familiar with our concepts.
Shop locations are mainly focused on upscale traditional retail centers in attractive pedestrian and/or vehicular corridors. Being located in “Gourmet Sectors” or around complimentary food businesses with adequate parking is preferable. Lease rates will vary depending on economic conditions, competition, space and the size of your target market. Upon signing a franchise agreement, we will provide you with site selection criteria. It is generally accepted industry practice for you to provide us with a list of sites that meet our criteria. Once we have that information, our operations department will analyze and visit those locations to determine the possibility of approval. We will assist you in researching and selecting your location and will provide input as you negotiate your lease.
It is often difficult to dictate the exact size of the space since inline center construction varies greatly. GTP Franchising, LLC maintains control over site plans and shop layout. This is done to maintain quality, consistent design and also helps maintain operation efficiencies. Once you have been awarded a franchise, GTP Franchising will supply you with one set of plans that generally relates to the type of unit that you will be opening. These are not your final blueprints, rather, they serve as a guide to the general type of construction and style requirements for a Grand Traverse Pie Company location. It is important that we maintain this look in any given space. You may choose to use our approved architectural firm, which may enable you to realize savings on the costs associated with a new architect’s learning curve. Our operations department will work with you every step of the way to ensure a smooth construction and pre-opening phase.
