Ed’s Easy Diner to franchise its brand

Ed’s Easy Diner has announced plans to franchise its brand. Founded in 1987 by Barry Margolis, who opened Ed’s in Soho, the company now has sites in Bluewater, Trocadero and Covent Garden.

Despite the fact that Ed’s has always described itself as a family-run business and even had ‘Don’t talk to us about franchising’ branded on the walls, Tim Bennett, Operations Director said, “Ed’s Easy Diner has attracted a loyal fan base from around the world… and [fans] repeatedly ask us for franchises because they want to recreate the Ed’s Easy Diner experience wherever they are.” Lanbury Associates consultants who worked with Ask, Zizzi and Domino’s on their franchises are helping Ed’s with the process. Franchisees can expect to spend approximately £350,000 opening a diner, 30 per cent of which must be in liquid cash and includes franchise and legal fees plus training. Contracts are for 10 years with a possibility to extend for a further five and, although site dependant, franchisees should expect returns in three years.