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SesamMe launches new low-cost retail food franchise

06 April 2018

It’s unusual for a business to accurately call itself unique, but that’s exactly what the team at SesamMe are able to claim after launching the UK’s first franchise model focused on the sale of sesame-based products, concentrated on the increasingly popular superfood halva.

Franchisees will run their own retail food kiosk located in large shopping centres, benefiting from multimillion-pound marketing campaigns attracting thousands of potential customers daily. The brand decided to franchise after experiencing exceptional demand and growth at its existing sites, located in Intu shopping centres at Lakeside and Milton Keynes.

SesamMe was founded by Bary Levy and Remi Shaham to fulfil Bary’s long-held dream of bringing halva to the mass market in the UK. Initial arriving with just a suitcase of halva – a sweet treat enjoyed across Eastern Europe and the Middle East for centuries, made primarily from tahini (crushed sesame seeds) – Bary quickly had to upgrade to shipping containers thanks to customer demand for his new and exciting products!

SesamMe’s halva is made to a generations-old recipe in a dedicated production facility and contains 65% tahini, believed to be the highest proportion available anywhere in the UK. To give the traditional dish a modern twist, there are 35 delicious flavours available from SesamMe kiosks, including the likes of cherry, white chocolate and pistachio.

Bary and Remi brought in Simon Wise, former British Franchise Association deputy director general and an ex-franchisee himself, to develop the franchise model to the highest ethical standards.

The result is a low-cost, kiosk-based business model which allows entrepreneurs to get in at the start of the brand’s nationwide growth with liquid capital of just £35,000, subject to status – a much lower investment than food and retail franchises typically demand.

Bary said: “This is a very exciting time for our rapidly-growing business, and for those looking for a truly different offering that’s proving hugely popular with the general public. Alongside exceptional halva, we have several new and unique tahini-based products in development that will ensure franchisees can build an exciting business.

“Standing shoulder to shoulder with retail giants in their nearest large shopping centre, franchisees can expect healthy profits to go with their healthy products!”

Simon added: “I’ve been at forefront of the UK franchise industry for over 20 years and in that time I’ve seen the good, the bad and the ugly. I have used all my experience and franchising knowhow to build the best franchise opportunity – low entry costs, high profit potential and an excellent return on capital. We are building a business format franchise with real potential to give our franchisees the lifestyle they always promised themselves.”

The franchise offers comprehensive training and support to franchisees, including a sales technique proven to increase both customer numbers and order cost per customer. Potential SesamMe kiosk owners need only to be passionate about halva and providing superb customer service – Simon and his team will guide on all operational and administrative aspects of running the business.


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