Multi-Unit Franchisees Launch Healthy Eating Franchise CHOP5 for Entrepreneurs Looking to Scale

The healthy eating segment is only going to continue to grow, and you need to have a team behind you that has the experience to make the right decisions and move quickly. We’re nimble and new, but we’ve also taken the time to grow the right way. CHOP5 is a brand built by franchisees for franchisees. That's what we’ve been our entire lives. It's our DNA. We are not just another corporation.

We were created by several passionate and successful business owners who collectively operate more than 400 restaurants across the country, including Jersey Mike's, Papa John's, Qdoba and more. Our co-founders include:

• Brian Mills, a franchise industry veteran with decades of restaurant experience, serving as the Owner/President of SD Custom Pizza in San Diego and Vice President/Operating Partner of multiple franchises, including 100 Papa John’s Pizza units in California, Colorado and Minnesota.

• Allen Hertzman, a restaurant industry veteran who has managed Johncol, Inc., having owned and operated over 40 Papa John's in California and Ohio along with Rally's and Long John's Silvers franchises since 1991.

• Wade Oney served as VP of Operations at Domino’s Pizza while the brand experienced record growth in the 1980s. In 1994 he was named Chief Operating Officer for Papa John’s Pizza where he and his team launched the company to a $1 billion national brand. He is currently the franchise owner of 51 Papa John’s across central and south Florida. He is also the owner/operator of 7 Qdoba Mexican Eats franchise locations.

• Philip Horn, president of several franchise ownership groups who has managed multiple Papa John's and Jersey Mike's franchises across several states since 1991.

• Donald Bauer, vice-president of LaHoBa, LLC and RoHoHo, Inc., and the manager of numerous Papa John's franchises since 1995.

• Patrick Gaunce, the president of MRG, Inc. and SPG, Inc., franchise groups that have overseen multiple Papa John's franchises since 1989.

My father was an entrepreneur, and I saw the successes and failures, good times and bad times. But he had the drive to own his own business. As a young boy, I always figured I'd do something on my own. I remember driving by McDonald's as a little kid in Cub Scouts, and seeing 'billions sold.’ That made me excited about franchising. I eventually joined Domino’s and was part of that brand’s initial growth on the West Coast in San Diego. Seeing that system run changed my perspective. I saw franchising as safer than what my dad was doing.

Our philosophy in building this company revolves around the perspective of what franchisees want and need. Having reached a certain level of success, our passion now lies in leveraging our expertise to create a platform that empowers our franchisees. Prospective franchisees often approach us, and I emphasize the importance of scaling and thinking big. It's not about buying a job; it's about building a legacy. We're dedicated to constructing a business that not only succeeds but also significantly enhances the wealth projections for the families of our franchisees.

In the last 10 years, there's been a significant shift towards healthier eating, with the popularity of plant-based meats, vegan choices, superfoods and gluten-free alternatives all signaling a move to more health-conscious diets. This trend is gaining momentum — with 60% of consumers acknowledging that the pandemic has heightened their awareness of health maintenance through healthy living. A survey conducted in 2022 revealed that approximately 70% of participants are aiming to improve their overall health, placing healthy eating at the forefront of their priorities.

Furthermore, as the world recovers from the pandemic, salad spots are reclaiming their status as a favored, daily lunch destination for the bustling office crowd.

The direction of food trends is unmistakable. While classics like pizza and burgers are here to stay, there's a significant move towards healthier eating. People are seeking healthier options without compromising on taste. CHOP5 was inspired by the realization that while anyone can mix ingredients in a bowl, the expertise of a chef elevates a simple salad to something extraordinary. That is why we teamed up with a renowned chef to help create our menu.

Unlike competitors, we prepare salads in full view of the guest, ensuring freshness and quality with house-made recipes and dressings. We emphasize not only healthy options but also flavorful and satisfying meals that appeal to a broader audience. But it’s not just about our food — it’s about our experience. We know from many years of experience that great guest service is going to bring guests back. It helps to elevate our value. That is our secret sauce.

Similarly, we know that community involvement has also been an essential piece of building the CHOP5 brand. Our Full Bellies campaign, for example, aims to end hunger in communities by allowing franchise owners to support local teams, organizations and charities by donating fresh produce to food pantries for every dish sold.

It’s part of our mission to provide a supportive community that welcomes new business owners, nurtures them on their journey through business growth and provides the resources and information they need to build a successful franchise operation. Partnering with our ownership group offers an unmatched opportunity to learn from seasoned business people, including from our own failures, which is as vital as our successes. We aim to support our franchisees in their growth, which is a departure from the norm of leaving franchisees to grow the business independently.

For an initial investment of $356,700 to $873,700, we offer franchisees a rare opportunity: join an emerging brand at the ground floor, while still enjoying all the benefits of an established and expert leadership team that has been in the industry for decades. As a franchisee, getting in early on a franchise like CHOP5 is an advantage, allowing for a broader vision and prime territory. As franchises become popular, availability diminishes, leaving prospects with less desirable options.

CHOP5 offers a burgeoning market in healthier fast-casual dining, which we believe will only continue to grow.