Franchise Deep Dive: Twisted Kitchen Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data

REPORTED COST TO GET IN: $341,000 to $632,200

Twisted Kitchen is a fast-casual restaurant franchise specializing in pasta, noodles, wraps and salads. The brand competes in the increasingly popular “build-your-own” segment, offering customers a unique dining experience where they can watch their food being freshly prepared and put a novel “twist” on their usual dining favorites.

Founded in 2009 in Marietta, Georgia, Twisted Kitchen quickly rose to fame, drawing a significant crowd from Kennesaw State University students and nearby residents. In 2014, siblings Shane and Trent Cawthon recognized the growing appeal of Twisted Kitchen in Marietta. They decided to make a passive investment, much like their previous involvement with ventures such as Rocky Ridge Vans and Trucks and A.L.C. Manufacturing, Inc.

Franchise history

By 2015, a second Twisted Kitchen branch welcomed diners in Midtown Atlanta, followed by a third in late 2021.

Unanticipated challenges soon put the Cawthons at a crossroads. With the departure of the initial owners, they were confronted with a dilemma: either close the establishment and face a total loss of their investment or take a leap of faith to expand it. Used to embracing challenges head-on, they opted for expansion. However, the Cawthon siblings, devoid of any prior experience in the restaurant industry, realized they needed assistance to rejuvenate the Twisted Kitchen identity. That's when they turned to the experts at Goliath Consulting Group.

Goliath Consulting Group boasts a reputation as a seasoned consulting firm, assisting standalone eateries, dining groups, and chains in scaling their operations, ensuring they have the upper hand in a competitive industry.

Presently, Twisted Kitchen boasts three flagship outlets in Atlanta, Smyrna and Marietta. The brand has come to be recognized as a distinctive and delightful fast-casual dining option, offering a refreshing twist to conventional meal choices.

Expansion plans

As they set their sights on the future, the Twisted Kitchen squad is zeroing in on Georgia, the Carolinas and the broader Southeast U.S. to remain rooted near their Atlanta origins. The ambition is to engage with 30 potential partners, seal three agreements and inaugurate two new locations by 2024's close.

Breaking away from conventional freezer-based models, Twisted Kitchen emphasizes fresh, wholesome meal choices. Diners can pick a pasta, wrap or salad and craft their meal using an array of fresh ingredients, ranging from various meats and cheeses to an assortment of veggies and sauces. For instance, protein choices span from grilled chicken to gulf shrimp and meatballs, pasta varieties include colorful rotini and rice noodles, and sauce options extend from classic marinara to the exotic flavors of oriental sesame and mandarin orange ginger.

One distinctive trait of Twisted Kitchen is its optimized operational model. This system allows the establishment to run seamlessly with a small team of only two to four employees. This efficient staffing approach ensures that labor expenses remain manageable, even during high-traffic periods.

Business model

Twisted Kitchen is also well-suited for nontraditional franchise locations, including campuses and airports, thanks to its adaptable site criteria and streamlined business model.

Though the brand maintains a simplistic operational approach, there's no skimping on the caliber of what's on the plate. Twisted Kitchen remains attuned to evolving customer tastes, showcasing a menu that embraces plant-based, gluten-free and vegetarian selections among others.

The total investment necessary to begin operation of a Twisted Kitchen franchise is $341,000 to $632,200. This includes $35,000 that must be paid to the franchisor or affiliate. The total investment necessary to begin operation under a three- to five-unit Multi-Unit Development Agreement (including the first unit) is $377,000 to $695,000. This includes $70,000 to $105,000 that must be paid to the franchisor. You must develop at least three Twisted Kitchen units under the Multi-Unit Development Agreement.

The franchise fee is $35,000.

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