Top 5 Dessert Franchises

Originally posted on 01/02/2018. Updated on 22/03/2019.

Gone are the days when restaurants and pubs dominate the high street. There’s a new type of business in town and entrepreneurs are taking advantage of the growing dessert franchise industry. The market has stemmed from our increasingly sweet-toothed population and the entry of larger US confectionary companies that have played a huge part in raising consumer awareness.

Demand for Desserts in the UK

Customers are expecting more from their desserts and are no longer willing to accept a ‘soggy bottom'. More and more people are turning to bakeries, patisseries and coffee shops for quality sweet treats, rather than settling for mass-produced supermarket versions. As the UK's taste buds are becoming more refined, the popularity of specialist dessert shops is increasing. In fact, the UK baked goods sector is now worth £3.6 billion, making it one of the largest markets in the food industry (Federation of Bakers Ltd).

Frozen Dessert Franchise

Frozen desserts include sorbet, ice lollies, ice cream, frozen yoghurt and any standard dessert that you can whack in the freezer. Take frozen yoghurt franchises, that retail one of the most on-trend and popular dessert choices of this decade. Combine constant innovation with our love of desserts and desire to try healthier alternatives and you get frozen yoghurt. Recent studies have found that between £35 and £45 million is spent on the tasty treat every year, with the versatile foodstuff being sold from specialist retail units, cafés and mobile retailers at events.

How much do Brits love their desserts?

Even with Brits becoming more aware of what they put in their bodies, it hasn’t impacted our love of a cake, brownie or scone. On average, 1.5 billion sweet, baked items are eaten every year and in 2017, approximately £760 million was spent on chilled desserts in the UK (Statista). With people choosing to eat higher quality desserts as a treat, rather than indulging in cheaper and less enjoyable alternatives on a regular basis, there is scope for dessert franchises to become lucrative and exciting business opportunities.

So, if you’re interested in starting one of the most popular types of franchises around, take a look below at our top five dessert franchises.

Best Dessert Franchises

Little Dessert Shop Franchise

Founded in 2014, the Little Dessert Shop is a vibrant and friendly space where customers can enjoy a variety of dessert creations. The brand believes in only using the finest ingredients to create the ultimate taste experience for its customers.

Following success in West Bromwich, Wolverhampton and Wednesfield, the Little Dessert Shop decided to incorporate a franchising model in order to achieve greater UK and international expansion. The franchise now operates from 18 outlets across the UK, including Altrincham, Trowbridge and Stafford.

In order to own a Little Dessert Shop franchise in the UK, you’ll need to raise between £90,000 and £160,000, based on the type of store you wish to open. This cost includes the property lease, equipment, fitting and franchise fees. The total franchise fee is £12,995 and you will be required to pay a monthly royalty of five percent and marketing fee of one percent of the gross turnover.

Crêpeaffaire

Crêpeaffaire is a young and vibrant brand that has significant growth ambitions. Its values are based on positioning crêpes as a decadent yet nutritious alternative to traditional fast food. The dessert franchise caters to a broad target audience for all-day eating and snacking with a product and packaging ideal to eat-in or to consume on-the-go.

Due to the stores not requiring any bulky and expensive kitchen equipment to operate, it's perfect for busy shopping centres or mobile vehicles. Locating your new franchise in a site with such heavy footfall ensures that your business gets off to the best possible start.

A minimum investment of £130,000, a total investment of £200,000 and franchise fees of £16,000 are required.

Dunkin’ Donuts

The eye-catching Dunkin’ Donuts branding and smell of freshly brewed coffee is enough to grab the attention of any passers-by.

Owning a franchise with this global brand will see you benefiting from their 70 years of experience serving customers doughnuts to dunk in their coffee. With an impressive 11,000 restaurants in 33 countries, Dunkin’ Donuts coffee and bakery shops serve five million people every year.

Investing in this opportunity requires hard work, dedication and deep pockets. Due to the size and reputation of this well-established franchise, the cost of the investment is significant; the minimum investment cost being £1,200,000. Not only do you need substantial liquid assets, but you also require a high net worth and the commitment to open at least 20 restaurants over an agreed period.

Tutti Frutti Frozen Yoghurts

Founded in California in 2008, Tutti Frutti Frozen Yogurt has grown substantially in just ten years. Now in 48 countries with over 800 stores, this global brand is the worldwide leader in the sector. The franchise is proud to be the largest self-service frozen yogurt retailer in the world.

And it’s easy to understand why. Tutti Frutti Frozen Yoghurts is always introducing new flavours of yoghurt. With over 100 flavours and a large, diverse array of toppings, there’s always something unique to tempt customers’ taste buds.

Owning a franchise with this fun and growing brand will see you join hundreds of other franchisees who come from every walk of life. What they all have in common is a passion for serving quality products and providing outstanding customer service.

In order to invest you will need a minimum investment of £80,000, a total investment of £100,000 and franchise fees of £20,000.

Baskin Robbins

If ice cream is more your thing, Baskin Robbins may be the right franchise for you. It’s one of the world’s largest chains of ice cream shops with more than 8,000 locations worldwide, including almost 150 sites in the UK.

This creative brand has expertly developed products to help ensure customers keep coming back for more. Baskin Robbins offers something for everyone, from cakes and speciality desserts to frozen beverages and take-home treats. The franchise also caters to customers who desire a healthier option; dairy-free, fat-free and sugar-free items are all on the menu.

This big brand expects a significant investment. To become a franchisee, you should have experience in the fast food sector and be committed to developing the brand. You’ll also need to sign a ten year franchise agreement and have at least £100,000 liquid assets for a single store investment or £500,000 for multiple stores.