CANTEEN
Canteen franchises authorize operators to distribute food, beverages, and other consumer items through vending services, food services, office coffee services, combined services, and/or secured delivery services, often in automated or unattended market environments. The business primarily serves business and industry, institutional, and recreational locations, with franchisees typically converting existing vending or food service operations into the Canteen system. The model grants protected territories for standard agreements, targeting experienced operators in a competitive food service and vending market.
Disclaimer: This information was extracted using AI from public Franchise Disclosure Documents and should be independently verified. This is not financial or legal advice. Always review official FDD filings before making investment decisions.
Overview
Financial Requirements
Up to 5.25% royalty (3.25% if compliant with standards) + approx. $9.50/user/mo MyCompass website access
Franchise Stats
Financial Performance
Item 19 Financial Performance
Data Based On: Performance of 105 Canteen franchises (out of 112 total) during the Financial Performance Period (September 16, 2023 to September 15, 2024), excluding 1 new franchisee, 4 franchisees that left the system, and 2 franchisees with mixed revenue/rebate information.
* The document provides data on 'rebate returns' as a percentage of 'net revenues' for franchised units, not overall gross revenue, net income, or EBITDA. The document explicitly states that these representations 'do not reflect all revenues franchisee will receive'. The average rebate return is approximately 8.5% of net revenues and the median rebate return is 8.3% of net revenues. Segmented data for rebate returns is provided: 51% (52 franchisees) recognized less than 8.3% (25% equal to or less than 7%) and 49% (53 franchisees) recognized equal to or greater than 8.3% (26% equal to or greater than 9.5%). However, these percentages are for rebate returns, not for the overall financial performance metrics (gross revenue, net profit, EBITDA, etc.) requested by the prompt. Therefore, financial metrics such as average gross revenue, net income, net profit, EBITDA, and EBITDA margin are set to null as they are not directly provided or derivable from the rebate return percentages.
Extracted Item 19 Section
How CANTEEN Compares to Other Specialty Food Franchises
Key Insights
- One of the lowest investment costs in Specialty Food (ranked #2 of 13)
- #3 largest franchise system in Specialty Food
- Lower than average SBA loan default rate in Specialty Food
| Franchise | Investment Range | Franchise Fee | Royalty | Locations |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CANTEEN Current | $8K - $41K | $3K | 5.3% | 108 |
| EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS | $214K - $587K | $30K | 5.0% | 680 |
| HONEYBAKED HAM AND THE HONEYBAKED HAM AND CAFE CO. | $581K - $877K | $15K | 6.0% | 208 |
| The Spice & Tea Exchange | $299K - $532K | $39K | 7.0% | 93 |
| GRAZE CRAZE | $167K - $326K | $50K | 6.0% | 89 |
| DOC POPCORN | $175K - $414K | $15K | 6.0% | 79 |
Specialty Food Average 13 franchises | $277K - $556K | $33K | 5.8% | - |
* Comparison based on latest FDD filings. Investment ranges from Item 7, fees from Item 5. Showing top 5 of 13 Specialty Food franchises by location count.
Locations & Growth
Outlet Growth Over Time
Total outlets at end of each year
Geographic Distribution (2024)
Outlets by state across the United States
+35 more states
SBA Loan History
Historical SBA 7(a) loan data for CANTEEN franchisees (2011 - 2020)
Loans by Year
* Data sourced from SBA 7(a) FOIA loan records. Default rate calculated from charged-off loans.
Franchisee Contacts
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Due Diligence
Litigation (Item 3)
No litigation involving franchisees reported in the FDD.
Bankruptcy (Item 4)
No bankruptcy history reported in the FDD.
System Health (Item 20)
Franchise system changes reported in the most recent fiscal year
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to open a CANTEEN franchise?
The total initial investment to open a CANTEEN franchise ranges from $8,350 to $41,000. This includes a franchise fee of $3,250. Ongoing royalty fees are 5.3% of gross sales.
How many CANTEEN franchise locations are there?
As of the 2024 FDD, CANTEEN has 108 franchise locations. The company has been franchising since 1996.
Can you get an SBA loan for a CANTEEN franchise?
Yes, SBA loans are available for CANTEEN franchises. Historical data shows 13 SBA 7(a) loans have been approved for CANTEEN franchisees, with an average loan amount of $941,508. The historical default rate is 7.7%.
Is CANTEEN a good franchise to buy?
CANTEEN shows several positive indicators: established brand with 108+ locations, transparent financial performance data (Item 19), low SBA loan default rate. However, franchise success depends on many factors including location, local market conditions, and owner involvement. We recommend speaking with existing franchisees and consulting with a franchise attorney before making a decision.
Interested in CANTEEN?
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