Top 5 Dessert Franchises

Gone are the days when pubs and coffee shops dominated 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 progressively sweet-toothed population and the entry of larger US confectionary players that has helped increase consumer awareness.

And customers are expecting more from their desserts and are no longer prepared 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 £3.5bn.

Even the focus on healthy eating hasn’t impacted Brits love of a cake, brownie or scone. 1.5bn sweet baked items are eaten every year with people choosing to eat higher quality desserts as a treat, rather than indulging in cheaper and less enjoyable alternatives on a regular basis. Great news for dessert franchises.

So, if you’re interested in starting one of the most popular franchises around, maybe one of our top 5 dessert franchises could be for you:

Best dessert franchises

Crepeaffaire franchise

Crepeaffaire 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 transport settings. Locating your new franchise in a site with such heavy footfall ensures that your business gets off to the best possible start.

Dunkin’ Donuts

This is probably one of the best known and most popular franchises in the UK. 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 5 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. 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.

Creams British Luxury

Creams are a quintessentially British franchise that specialises in afternoon tea, cakes and patisserie. The dessert franchise is luxurious, unique and oozes the charm of 1900s tea rooms.

There are two routes to owning a franchise with Creams. If you have sufficient funds, you can invest in a Creams store. This will see you running a beautifully designed franchise boasting marble tables, live music and digital ordering. If you'd rather make a reduced investment, however, then there's the option to purchase a Creams miniature showpiece. This option provides customers with the same quality of produce and service, but on a smaller scale. These stores are ideally located in shopping centres and airports.

There are also choices when it comes to how you invest in the business. You can choose to go down the traditional franchisee route, or you could consider becoming part of a syndicate with other franchisees from as little investment as £20,000. You can now be an owner of your own store with a group of franchisee investors enabling you to remain in charge of your investment amount.

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.

And it’s easy to understand why this is one of the most popular franchises for customers. Tutti Frutti Frozen Yoghurts are always discovering new flavours of yoghurt. With over 100 flavours and a large selection of toppings, both fresh fruit and candies, there’s always something different for customers to enjoy.

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. So, if you want to join this lucrative business, you can choose to own a single outlet or start to grow your own multi-store franchise.

Baskin Robbins

If ice cream, rather than frozen yoghurt, is your thing, then 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 keep customers returning 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 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 10-year franchise agreement and have at least £100,000 liquid assets for a single store investment or £500,000 for multiple stores.