Jeff’s Bagel Run Bets On Scratch-Made

With more than 40 shops open, 150-plus in development and a leadership team experienced in national franchising, the Orlando-born brand is building a different kind of breakfast business.

In 2019, Jeff Perera lost his job and became a stay-at-home dad. The nearest bagel worth eating was a 45-minute drive away, so he started making his own.

When the family freezer filled up, he gave the extras to neighbors and soon, he was selling bagels on Facebook and delivering them door-to-door. That weekly ritual eventually became the name Jeff's Bagel Run.

Seven years later, the company has grown from a neighborhood favorite into an emerging national franchise, with more than 40 locations across 10 states and over 150 additional shops in development.

The growth has been hard to ignore. Jeff's Bagel Run ranked No. 94 on the 2026 Inc. 5000 list of America's fastest-growing private companies and second in the food and beverage category.

Scaling a Scratch Made Product

But the more interesting story may be how the company is scaling a product that conventional restaurant wisdom suggests shouldn't be easy to scale.

A Hard Product, Made Repeatable

At Jeff's Bagel Run, every bagel is made from scratch, kettle-boiled and baked throughout the day. There are no frozen bagels, centralized production facilities or shortcuts.

It's the kind of labor-intensive approach that many growing chains move away from. Jeff's Bagel Run has instead built its franchise model around preserving it.

"We never wanted to sacrifice what makes our bagels special just to grow faster," said co-founder Jeff Perera. "The challenge was figuring out how to build the systems, training and technology that would allow us to deliver that same experience in every shop."

That investment includes Au-Dough-Mation, the company's proprietary technology platform that helps operators forecast demand, manage production and reduce waste.

The goal is straightforward: make a traditionally complex product repeatable, even for franchisees without baking experience.

Operating Model and Growth

An Operating Model That Gets Attention

While the product draws customers, the operating model may be what attracts franchisees.

Jeff's Bagel Run shops typically operate from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., with a single-shift structure that eliminates dinner service, late-night staffing and the complexity of managing multiple shifts.

The menu is similarly focused: 15 daily bagel varieties, house-made cream cheese spreads and a growing beverage business featuring coffee from Otus Coffee, which the company acquired in 2024.

The concept has also demonstrated strong sales momentum, reporting 26 percent same-store sales growth in 2025.

For multi-unit operators evaluating their next investment, the combination of a differentiated product, focused hours and technology-driven operations offers an alternative to more labor-intensive restaurant formats.

Built by People Who Have Scaled Before

Leadership and Expansion

The leadership behind Jeff's Bagel Run brings experience that extends well beyond bagels.

President Justin Wetherill and executive Todd Evans previously helped build uBreakiFix, the technology repair franchise that grew into a national brand before its acquisition.

That experience is shaping how Jeff's Bagel Run approaches expansion, with infrastructure designed to support franchisees through site selection, training, operations, marketing and technology.

"Experienced franchise operators aren't just buying a great product. They're buying the systems and support behind it," said Wetherill. "We've focused on building that infrastructure early so our franchise partners can concentrate on running great shops and building their businesses."

The strategy is attracting multi-unit developers. Recent agreements include 10 locations in Pennsylvania, seven in Utah and three in the Myrtle Beach market, adding to a growing pipeline across the country.

The Next Chapter

With more than 150 locations in development and growing interest from multi-unit operators, Jeff's Bagel Run is positioning itself for its next phase of national expansion.

The opportunity is rooted in a simple idea: take one of America's most familiar breakfast staples, make it better, and build the systems to bring it to communities across the country.

For prospective franchisees, the appeal is a differentiated product, a streamlined operating model, experienced leadership and a brand that's still in the early stages of its national growth story.

And with significant opportunities remaining in markets across the country, Jeff's Bagel Run is looking for franchise partners who want to be part of what comes next.

The bagels may be made the old-fashioned way, but the business behind them is built for what's next.