GOSHEN, Ind.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Ben’s Soft Pretzels® has formed a new Advisory Board, leveraging the knowledge and experience of Winmark Franchise Partners and Faegre Baker Daniels law firm. The Advisory Board is tasked with assisting the Goshen, Indiana-based soft pretzel franchise with guiding overall strategy and direction, enhancing brand marketing and maximizing system performance.
The engagement involves Winmark Franchise Partners participating as a member on the Ben’s Soft Pretzels Advisory Board. Winmark Franchise Partners is a division of Winmark Corporation, a multi-brand franchisor based in Minneapolis, MN. Also joining the board is Brian Schnell, partner at Faegre Baker Daniels law firm, who will be bringing with him more than 30 years of franchise experience.
“All great leaders have mentors and advisors, and we are blessed to have access and leadership direction from the executive team at Winmark Franchise Partners and Faegre Baker Daniels,” said Brian Krider, co-founder of Ben’s Soft Pretzels. “This will allow Ben’s to continue our tremendous growth while making sure our system is functioning at its peak.”
Co-founder Scott Jones added, “Winmark operates a number of outstanding brands, and their expertise combined with the Faegre Baker Daniels franchise team will be able to enhance and refine Ben’s Soft Pretzels business model and overall system performance, allowing us to stay on track with our goal of World Pretzel Domination.”
The Advisory Board is charged with working with Jones, Krider and the rest of the Ben’s Soft Pretzels team to enhance system performance, refine brand marketing and strengthen the franchise operation overall. Long-term goals for Ben’s Soft Pretzels include opening 20-25 new stores in 2018 and 2019, opening 30-40 new stores in 2020 and opening 50 or more new stores annually from 2021 and beyond.
“At Winmark Franchise Partners, we strive to work with outstanding brands that meet our highly selective criteria,” said Steve Murphy, president of franchising at Winmark Corporation and Winmark Franchise Partners. “Ben’s Soft Pretzels is led by a dedicated management team that is smart in its approach to franchising and how to grow the brand and their system the right way. We are honored and privileged to be working with Scott and Brian and their group of fantastic franchisees.”
In addition to unit growth, Ben’s Soft Pretzels will be looking toward Winmark Franchise Partners and Faegre Baker Daniels to harness the potential of their Master Lease agreements with Walmart® and Meijer®, move into non-traditional real estate including airports and travel stations, and to continue their already impressive stadium growth. The pretzel makers currently have 64 locations in malls and Walmart and Meijer stores, and a thriving stadium presence at the University of Notre Dame, the University of Michigan, Auburn University, University of Wisconsin and other collegiate and professional sports arenas.
“Working in franchising as long as I have, you understand the importance of collaborative leadership and recognize when leaders understand the importance of unit level economics, delivery on the brand promise and empowering franchisees. The team at Ben’s Soft Pretzels exemplifies that type of collaborative leadership and the brand has exceptional products. Pair that with the expertise Winmark Franchise Partners brings; I am excited about the opportunity to make a meaningful difference to Scott and Brian and the rest of the Ben’s Soft Pretzels team,” said Schnell.
About Ben’s Soft Pretzels
Ben’s Soft Pretzels is the
nation’s fastest growing soft pretzel franchise with 86 locations in
eight states offering Amish-inspired pretzels baked on-site daily.
Founded in 2008 by local business man Brian Krider, pretzel fanatic
Scott Jones and Amish baker Ben Miller, Ben’s Soft Pretzels is a
quick-serve franchise opportunity that offers a simple business model
with prime real estate locations and a cost-effective distribution
system. For more information about the franchise opportunity, please
visit www.benspretzelsfranchising.com.
About Winmark Franchise Partners:
Winmark Franchise Partners
works with emerging franchisors and entrepreneurs who can benefit from
Winmark’s experience in establishing, growing and managing successful
businesses. Winmark Franchise Partners was founded in 2017 and is
operated by Winmark Corporation, which franchises Plato’s Closet®, Once
Upon A Child®, Play It Again Sports®, Style Encore®, and Music Go
Round®. For more information visit www.winmarkfranchisepartners.com.
About Faegre Baker Daniels
Faegre Baker Daniels offers a
full complement of legal services to clients ranging from emerging
enterprises to multinational companies. Its franchise practice is
considered a global leader, with many of its franchisor clients viewed
as leaders in franchising. The firm's 750-plus legal and consulting
professionals handle the most complex transactional, regulatory and
litigation matters throughout the United States, Europe and Asia. With
U.S. offices in California, Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Minnesota
and Washington, D.C. and international offices in London, Beijing and
Shanghai, Faegre Baker Daniels is one of the 75 largest law firms in the
United States. Faegre Baker Daniels Consulting, the firm’s advisory and
advocacy division based in Washington, D.C., provides public policy,
regulatory and technical services to key sectors of the economy. For
more information, visit www.FaegreBD.com.