Co-Op Meetings Give TacoTime Franchise Owners Serious Control

By Having a Seat at the Table, Owners’ Groups Can Weigh in on New Food Concepts, Marketing Plans and Much More to Control Their Destiny

Entrepreneurs overwhelmingly say they launch businesses in order to be their own boss and control their financial destiny. That’s certainly true for TacoTime^® Mexican food franchise owners, and they also benefit from the ability to act together around core business needs so that they all benefit.

TacoTime’s co-op meetings are unique in the franchise world, in that they bring together franchise owners within a geographic area for meetings to review everything from marketing ideas and media placement to research and development around products and packaging, says Kevin Gingrich, Brand President.

Owner Feedback Helps Drive Brand Evolution

“When we meet, a co-op group goes through everything that we’ve got going on, from what’s on the menu now to what’s being worked up in the test kitchens,” Kevin explains. “We involve our franchise owners every step of the way in product development, for example. They see and taste the new item, but they also weigh in on the packaging and promotion that will support that product if everyone agrees we should add it to the menu for a trial run.”

The co-op members also talk about how the TacoTime Mexican food franchise can best be marketed for their individual locations, as well as for the region. Again, the owners carry the conversation, Kevin says.

“These are the people who are in the market, and they know what promotions bring customers in,” he explains. “If they are seeing that a social media campaign is paying dividends, then we want to support them as they try to build on that. That feedback helps the marketing team come up with new ways to increase customer traffic to every TacoTime.”

Shared Best Practices Produce Improved Operations

In addition to the feedback that makes its way to the corporate office, the franchise gatherings also produce valuable dividends when it comes to store operations, he adds.

“Someone may be having issues around inventory control, and another franchise owner may have dealt with that same problem successfully,” says Kevin, a franchise owner himself. “They are able to compare notes on what’s happening, and how to address it. That kind of collaboration is a big part of every co-op meeting, and I believe it’s unique to TacoTime. Our franchise owners know they have the brand’s attention whenever they want it, but being able to meet up with each other as well is a huge benefit, and a definite differentiator for the brand.”

TacoTime is ready for the spotlight. With more than 350 locations in the United States and Canada, the Mexican food franchise is ready to break out of its home turf in the Pacific Northwest and hit the national stage. TacoTime is looking for entrepreneurs who are passionate about bringing authentic and affordable Mexican food to their communities. TacoTime is led by a veteran franchise team and dedicated brand support team as part of the Kahala Brands™ family.

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