Lebaneats

About Lebaneats

London-based Lebanese grab-and-go concept founded in 2010 when co-founder Hakeem Abdul noticed the growing popularity of Lebanese and Middle Eastern cuisine in the UK. Lebaneats has since grown to six sites in the capital, and in 2022 opened its first regional site, in Windsor. In July 2022, Propel revealed that the concept, founded in 2010, was planning to grow to 25 sites through a mixture of company-owned and franchised openings. It followed this by saying in January 2023 that it had set a 50-site target in the next five years. “We said initially that getting to 25 was the plan for the year, but I don’t think we’ll be closing with 25 this year, that will be our target for 2024,” said co-founder Hakeem Abdul told Propel. “I then think we can get to 50 over the next five years. We will be opening our first express site soon, and we will look to open more of those. There are other companies offering Lebanese food, but not in QSR, they tend to be more sit-down restaurants. Our expansion plans started in 2017, and we wanted to go into franchise market early in 2020, but covid stopped that. We’re looking for a mixture of company-owned and franchised openings.” That same month, it added Chris Lewis, former restaurants marketing director at Whitbread, to the leadership team. Its menu includes pastries, mezzas, wraps, salads, hot dishes, soups, snacks, dips and drinks and is suitable for vegetarians.

Why franchise with Lebaneats

• ✓Lebaneats is looking for franchisees to spread across the UK “and bring a taste of Lebanon to their communities”. Franchisees will receive the right to use the brand and system for five years, exclusive territory, site acquisition assistance, store design with an option of a turnkey project, initial training and ongoing support, staff training, website and mobile apps, marketing support, and access to technology and partner pricing. The master franchisee model will see the franchisee develop a network in their territory, develop brand awareness in that region and support sub-franchisees. They will recruit and train franchisees, maintain standards in their network and run their store as a certified training store. The master franchise fee is negotiable by territory, with a £17,500 store franchise fee and £1,500 per square metre fit-out costs. The restaurant model sees the franchisee launch a restaurant in their chosen area for a £17,500 franchise fee and a fit-out cost of £1,500 per square metre. The dark kitchen model sees the franchisee launch a delivery-only kitchen serving a local population, enjoying preferential rates with delivery partners like Deliveroo and Just East, for a £10,000 franchise fee and an approximate £15,000-£20,000 fit-out cost. Pop-up stalls can be taken to markets, student areas and events for a franchise fee of £12,500 and a fit-out cost of approximately £20,000-£30,000, while food trucks can be taken to festivals, markets and events for a £12,500 franchise fee and £25,000-£50,000 fit-out cost approximately. The company said: “We look for committed professionals with the desire and motivation to succeed. Experience in management or the food industry would be a bonus. As a franchisor, we will be entering into a partnership with you which involves significant levels of trust and confidence from both sides. The recruitment process involves a significant investment in time, money and effort with any new franchisee. We will also be looking to make sure you will be compliant with our systems. While we encourage ideas and innovation, for brand protection, it is essential that a system and proven business model is followed by all franchisees. Our stores are open nearly 24/7, catering to a diverse clientele of early morning breakfast seekers, lunch hour office goers, a place to chill in the evenings with shisha and drinks, as well as a spot to grab a quick bite after those late nights on the town.”

Investment breakdown