Thai Express Franchise
Thai Express franchises have been a success in Canada. Its expansion to the U.S. market gives potential franchise owners the opportunity to get in early.
$150,000
$30,000
6
2015
Scottsdale,AZ
Eric Lefebvre
About Thai Express
Thai Express is relatively new in the U.S. market and has done very well in Canada. These restaurants are often found in mall food courts or serving as endcap or in-line models, some with drive-through lanes. In addition, some Thai Express locations are licensed to operate in nontraditional venues such as corporate office towers, hospitals and highway rest stops.
Thai Express markets is modern and hip, providing healthy, fresh alternatives to traditional fast food. From a selection of basic, simple dishes, customers can end up with more than 300 meal combinations. Popular dishes include general Thai, fried rice, cashew stir-fry, pad see ew, drunken noodles and orange chicken. The food is rapidly cooked in front of customers while they wait, and Thai Express markets itself more as a quick service restaurant (QSR) rather than as fast food.
Franchise Unit Trends
6
-
-
* in 2024
Franchise Fees
$30,000
6.0%
Gross Sales
3.0%
Gross Sales
Why Choose Thai Express?
There is huge demand in the U.S. market for quick-service healthy food and for Asian food. Combine both Asian and healthy, and you get Thai Express. Since it is fairly new to the U.S. market, franchise owners have the chance to establish geographical dominance and to make their mark. The chain’s history in Canada has also given its parent companies the opportunity to establish effective, efficient processes to help franchisees become as successful as possible.
Another benefit to opening a Thai Express franchise is that you can choose what type of location you want. For example, if you want to keep your startup costs as low as possible, you could aim for a mall food court model versus a freestanding restaurant.
Thai Express stands out in a fast food/quick service market that may otherwise seem crowded. It makes the cuisine more accessible to everyday consumers and to demographics such as Millennials. Thai Express serves authentic Thai cooked in front of customers while they wait, and the process can take a mere three minutes. Its advantages are clear and easy to market.
Starting Costs & Investment Requirements
$337,900 - $753,700
$400,000
$150,000
Training & Support
Comprehensive training includes five days of in-class instruction and 11 days of in-store training.
History
Thai Express got rolling in Canada in 2004 as part of MTY Group, a well-known company in the franchising world. The restaurants have since taken off, with more than 285 currently in Canada. In 2016, WTY merged with Kahala Franchising, an Arizona company, and the move paved the way even more for Thai Express to penetrate the U.S. market. The first U.S. restaurant opened in 2017 in the Mall of America food court in Bloomington, Minnesota. The second restaurant opened in Decatur, Georgia, in March 2018. Several more locations have opened since then across the United States.
Ideal Candidate
The ideal candidate to open a Thai Express franchise would be financially stable and have a passion for healthy quick-serve food and Thai food. Thai Express operates by four core principles: customer experience, mutual respect, Thai heart - or integrity, and quality.
Restaurant and Food Franchises
Franchises up to $500,000
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