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FRANCHISE OPPORTUNITIES

Stratford Catering is now acception applications for the State of Illinois including the Greater Chicagoland Area. Be the first on your block to pick out a PRIME LOCATION.

Are you unsure as to what you want to open? A restaurant, a fast food operation? All you know is that "you have to do something with food".

 Stratford Catering has spent years perfecting the correct Advertising, Promotions, Newsletters and Marketing Foundation. WE are constantly updating and reviewing each and every procedure.

Stratford Catering will Train you in every aspect of our operation. Support will never be far behind.

It's exciting, Scarey actually because of the great opportunity being afforded here. Ask yourselves these questions if your in some sort of food business:

1. Are you tired of a basic franchise menu that does not allow for expansion?
2. How many ways can you sell the same pizza?
3. Tired of working 7 days a week open to close?
4. Looking for a challenge AND opportunity for a nice lifestyle?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, it's time to look at Stratford Catering

Sportys Catering has grown leaps and bounds since its inception. Having once been Sporty's Red Hots, then Sporty's Eatery, then eatery and catering and now Sporty's Catering, the next generation will be known as Stratford Catering.........why the change?

• A need is fulfilled but, we did not realize years ago how big this need was until we jumped in with both feet. We learned, we challenged, we understood...........we've asked the questions and answered them.

So your looking to franchise ? A pizza operation, a sandwich shop, a wrap shop, a bagel shop, make your own dinner shop, a coffee shop,a ice cream shop all shops with one basic product to sell, a specific time, lunch or dinner or early morning even late at night........

• Stratford Catering fills many needs, breakfast, lunch, dinners, picnics, weddings, showers, graduations, office meetings, church events, cub scouts, boy scouts, and yes even last minute funerals and so much more.
• Referrals are 90% of our business...........quality, competitive pricing.......

 Why franchise our Catering Operation?  Are you looking to franchise an operation but are leary about commiting your hard earned dollars?

• Stratford Catering is a 24/7 operation......that may scare some but not all, no we are not sitting at our desk at 3 am in the morning. As a matter of fact, we are usually home at night by 5:30 or 6pm. But, those companies with 3 shifts, may need food at 1 am along with a lunch and dinner....all in the package....
• Rewarding, to say the least. Going from a fast food operation, not knowing how many people will walk thru the doors that day to one of organized events, preprepared, delivered, set up.........
• Dealing in volumne rather than the one's and two's, deal in the hundreds and yes the 10's also.

Please enquire at stratfordcatering@comcast.net or sportyscatering@aol.com/ for a FREE BROCHURE and Confidential Candidate Evaluation.

Sportys has decided for franchising purposes to modify its name. Sometime in 2008, the current Sportys will be have its new name.

Ponder over these facts for a moment,

Aside from all the legal jargon of a franchisor / franchisee relationship, consider for a moment exactly what each franchise is and isn't. Before you decide, imagine these points.......

• Many years ago, Ray Kroc, the founder of McDonalds used the term "KISS" keep it simple stupid.... I mean, what could be harder than selling fries, burgers and shakes? Look at the complexity of a McDonalds operation today. But I'm not talking about a building, a multi operation drive thru which costs millions. Were talking catering, and the simplicity and complexity of it.
• While running our restaurant operation we were always asked if we do catering. Sure, sell 6' subs, 2 lbs of Italian Beef.....but can you deliver that, can you give us additional choices?
• Imagine building a Subway or Quiznos or Jimmy Johns or pick one in your mind......imagine the costs for menu boards, upscale washrooms, even front counters, these costs run in the thousands.............
• Going from a restaurant to building out a catering operation saved us thousands of dollars while our Sales skyrocketed to well over our restaurant gross sales.
• Location, Location, Location.. true if you need the businessman/women in for lunch, not necessarily true in Stratford Catering case. A easy to get to location is still required for the many pick ups that will come But for the most part we will be delivering the catering to someones location. So imagine not having to pay for those "mall" rates.
• Now imagine how on a daily basis these operations "guess" at how many people are going to walk in the door that day. Prepare food, waiting for you to come in the door.
• At Stratford Catering you know the orders and what food / prep time is required because the order 90% of the time has been ordered in advance. Why 90%, because we do get the last minute orders that as we open the fridge and peek in we can accomodate those orders.
• Now lets build Stratford Catering operation... simple front counter to meet and greet, an office area to take orders, bathrooms for the employees. A "kitchen" built to create that catering order. Simple yet elegant.
• Lets discuss the fact if you can build the unit and have someone else run the location for you. Our first inclination is to say no. It takes more than 1 manager to run this operation and it will build over a short period of time. This is not the "may we take your pizza order" over the phone but a one on one discussion with a client about their event from doing a corporate breakfast to a picnic when its only going to be 40 degrees out to properly placing orders for the upcoming events. We like to call it "like riding a lazy Susan".
• Hours, Yep, 7 days a week, usually home by 5:00 pm, start at 9:00 am. But wait, how about that delivery for 100 for a continental breakfast in the next town at 6:30 am? Or the HorsD'oeurve party the same day at 8:30 pm. Exhilerating, rewarding. While the other franchises are waiting for the phone to ring to sell a pizza, or the subs shops are starving for the "dinner" business you've done several times their daily sales. Not all of this is guaranteed, proper management and desire are a pre requisite to this job. How about a picnic grill out for the third shift at 1:00am.
• In our interviews we'll discourage you, tell you of the long hours, the hardships, effectively to see if you have what it takes. They say 9 out of 10 new enterprises will fail in the first year. We never contemplated failure as an excuse. Do you have what it takes? Simple as that.....
• With that said..... Fact... I'd start one of these operations any day then opening another restaurant. I've had many people tell me they wish my "hot dog stand" was still open. I say no way.
• Imagine this as a fact, Consider all your "fixed" costs for a location. Imagine you have a pizza parlor next door who pays those same costs. Now factor in that your catering location may do several times their gross sales. (legality has determine that we cannot say how many times gross) Imagine those fixed cost percentages as a part of the whole scheme.
• Many franchisees have to own 3-5 locations to have a profit. Imagine the possibility of doing that at 1 location. (based on a franchisors ability to run and operate a catering business, nothing is guaranteed).
• Training..... most franchisors train for 1 week, then a week in the store.......Stratford Catering will be an intensive 3 week program including ordering, advertising, creating dishes,making homemade salads, taking orders, organization....creativity. Rewarding to say the least!
• Advertising......  And as we expand, the advertising will sell the catering itself. All to often we have to turn down clients who have been refered because of distance. Effective advertising will lead to the answer "just call Stratford Catering". A recent story to that point, rather than looking for a mover in the Yellow Pages to move furniture, I rememembered the rather new franchise movers Two Men and a Truck. Call them, great job. Easy as that.

What makes our catering different?

• Our catering goes that extra mile to service the customer. We deliver & set up the equipment at home or at the office, providing warming equipment and upscale service equipment. That little extra goes a long way with the customer. Phone eticate goes a long way in developing a repour with a customer that will be asking for you by name each time.
• The individual mom and pop operation that provide catering go only so far, does only so much. We go that extra mile. Many franchisees are limited as to the scope of their business. We will be continually changing and adapting to the consumers needs and wants.
• And Sportys Famous Chicken .........really, check it out, this is what started the catering out and sells by the hundreds of orders!

Work with companies such as:

• Kraft
• Ingram Micro
• USPO
• UPS
• Fed X
• Sony
• Nabisco
• Steiner Electric
• Household Finance
• Lease Plan
• Insight
• Pella Windows
• Home Depot
• Invensys
• and many, many more
• Look in your own community....churches, homes, schools, sporting events...imagine.......I like to say "everyone needs to eat right?"

What is the investment to own a our catering company and do I qualify?

The investment will range from $279,000 to $400,000+. A minimum net worth of $300,000, with at least $75,000 in liquid capital. Can it be done for less, YES is the answer, the investment range is based on buying everything, Vans, Equipment etc. Long term leases can and will lower the initial investment.

Do we offer financing to Franchisees?

No, however we can suggest sources of financing available to you and will suggest to you in finding the best option.

What experience do I need?

A food background is not a requirement but helpful.We will train you in our system.We are looking for hard working people who have entrepreneurial desire and a business background.

Do I need to operate my own unit?

Preferably yes, as this is a hands on operation from taking orders on the phone to creating the quotes for the corporate customer. Preparing and delivering the food. Creating invoices that may be "billed" for a corporate account. Additional management is required to help ensure that the operation is  smooth flowing .

What type of assistance do I receive when I purchase a Stratford catering operation?

a) Extensive on site training at our company store in Bloomingdale, Illinois. Minimum of 21 days training for you and up to 1 additional persons. (additional person may be added)

b) Commercial real estate counseling regarding site selection, design guidlines, drawings, lease negotiation and build out direction.

c) Equipment package will be provided.

d) Centralized food & Paper purchasing through approved vendors.

• Lower food and paper costs then dealing on an individual basis.

e) Human resource guidance for job descriptions, job interviewing.

f) Sales tracking, marketing lists, control all the financial aspects of the business.

g) Advertising, the long and short of it.................

What is the average size of a Stratford Catering franchise?

2000 square feet to 3200+ square feet. Location, size of territory will determine size.

What kind of training does the catering offer?

Several phases of training over several weeks will include customer service / order taking, product ordering, food preparation and organization. Proper delivery and set up routines. Fiscal management of sales and government tax preparations. Additional in franchisees own store training and organization.

How do I apply for a  franchise?

As of October 1, 2007 Stratford Catering has prepared all the manuals, training, legal affairs that have to go with creating a franchise. We will  begin selling several of the newly renamed catering operations in late 2007 . Interested parties may    e mail at www.stratfordcatering@comcast.net or www.sportyscatering@aol.com

Rewarding................to say the least.................