Franchise Pick

89 opinions for Is Super Suppers for Stupid Suckers? And Other Meal Prep Franchise ???s

• NYT on the Meal Prep Franchise: Hot Concept Gone Cold?
  Feb 20, 2008 at 8:06 am

  […] (FranchisePick.Com)  See related story:  Is Super Suppers for Stupid Suckers? And Other Meal Prep Franchise ???s […]

• KK
  Feb 29, 2008 at 2:49 am

  I’ve read alot of blogs about how individuals have tried Super Suppers and they don’t think it is worth the money. I consider myself frugal, but I first heard about it four months ago and couldn’t imagine my life without it. I live in New Mexico, belong to the “Super Suppers Club” - which means you allow them to automatically bill your credit card once a month (you can cancel at any time). I get 24-half entrees (serves 3) for $198.00. If you belong to the club they will prepare your meals for FREE!!! That’s $8.25 for the family or $2.75 per person. It takes me about 20 minutes from the time I leave my house until I have all my meals for the month loaded in my car. I now spend around $325/month on groceries (including milk, snacks, etc.) vs. $400-$500 I was spending before SS. I save about an hour and a half clean up and cooking time EVERY NIGHT!! I also save about 3 hours of shopping time EVERY WEEK!! We are eating healthier than before, because I’m not throwing frozen dinners with tons of preservatives, msg, etc. on the table for dinner. We are also eating out far less and enjoy more time at home (another savings of about $300/month)!! It is by far the best gift I have ever given myself!!!! _ I think the key is going to be that they see the need for offering meal prep for FREE. Most people who utilize this service don’t want to spend 4 -6 hours preparing their meals for the month - they want it done for them - with the option to prepare one or two the way they want it. Like any new concept, it will undergo scrutiny until it has polished itself into what customers truly want.

• onthemove
  Mar 2, 2008 at 7:01 pm

  Dream Dinners has just had a lawsuit filed against them in New York
  and I would guess that this won’t be the last.

  [Ed. Note: Thanks for the tip, onthemove. See the post: Meal Prep Franchise Dream Dinners Sued for $30M]

• Meal Prep Franchise Dream Dinners Sued for $30M
  Mar 5, 2008 at 10:13 am

  […] Is Super Suppers for Stupid Suckers? And Other Meal Prep Franchise ???s […]

• We are Medical Professionals with family to feed
  Mar 14, 2008 at 6:21 pm

  We are just discovering Dream dinners here in southern Michigan. I am going to try it out this month and my coworkers are very interested trying it out. They were willing to pay for the 36 min servngs - but I found out I can invite them to a sneak peak party. We are all looking forward to it and will be driving an hour to the location. I don’t know if they’ll get loyal and repeat business from us - but the price is right and productive time with friends is exciting.

• Jan
  Apr 2, 2008 at 7:08 am

  I don’t know where you live in southern Michigan but try Super Suppers, Rochester. No rules here. You can make as little or as much as you like. If you just want to try us out, come in and purchase from our Grab n’ Go freezer or come in on a Saturday and make as little as one entree. We hold parties for you, also. We have a great menu this month. We also have pickup service - you order on line and come and pick up your entree or entrees. We even make them fresh for you oven tonight (Take n’ Bake).

• Mary Ann Lettieri
  Apr 22, 2008 at 3:09 am

  Well, is the meal assembly going to make it? Who thought that selling hamburgers and french fries would become such a boom in the late 1950’s? My aunt and uncle were approached to invest $25,000 back then and were afraid the “new concept” would never catch on!!! One never knows what will work… I know before the meal assembly came to be, some teachers in our area got together once a month and “assembled” meals in someone’s kitchen to help them save “time” not money and have fun! I was shocked to hear that story from one of my customers - after my daughter open her on the other side of the country. In a conversation with one teacher, she ask about my daughter and what she was doing and I told her about Super Suppers and the response was, “Oh, my goodness, that is what a few of my friends and I do. Go figure. It is a new idea for most people and I think there is a need for the service, however, shame on the corporate offices for not having a better training program for their stores. The “food” must be right before it is sent out. The recipes from the corporate office must be tested and tested. I have been in the food bsiness for 26 years and know first hand there is no room for error. One bad meal and the customer often won’t come back. My son also opened a “Super Suppers” and the trainer was so bad she came in and started throwing out product that was perfectly good, costing them hundreds of dollars. I was there helping my daughter-in-law and saw first hand the lack of leadership and skill from the trainer. We are involved in a franchise and they taught us in 2 weeks what would have taken us over a year to learn on our own. I blame the owners of the coroprations and don’t know how the government does not have stricter guidlines for these people to follow. My children’s 2 stores held their own, only because they knew how to adjust recipes and make sure the customer food was put out correctly. My daughter has chosen to close her store; with the economy she doesn’t feel she can pass the break even point anytime soon and she has 2 small children to care for. My daughter-in-law is keeping hers open (the stores are on opposite sides of the country), her store is near me and right now she has no other meal assembly stores near her. It is going to be a tough to make this work, can it be done, I don’t know. The public needs the service but they do not understand the service. I think the seniors need the service, we are all tired of cooking and some living alone won’t cook form themsleves; they need educated that this service exsist! With the economy, it is going to be an even tough struggle, lets hope the publice wakes up to see what a great concept this is..hamburgers and french fries? Who thought!

• sean
  Apr 23, 2008 at 4:10 pm

  Mary Ann:
  You make some great points and ask some important questions.
  The difference between the fast food example and meal prep is that success has usually come by offering more convenience. Note that fast food didn’t involve cooking your own burgers.
  The Public Radio hosts of Car Talk sometimes talk about their great idea that flopped: do-it-yourself garage bays where you could change your own oil. I thought of the same thing years ago when I lived in the city and changed my own oil, had to dispose of it, etc. They actually did it and it flopped - More people wanted to pay a little more and have it done for them.
  I have a client who started a cook-your-own steak restaurant. People kept screwing up great meat and their waiters and waitresses ended up doing the cooking. So he went back to full service and now has a successful chain.
  I think there’s a successful business lurking nearby somewhere, but it hasn’t been figured out yet. My guess is it won’t involve high overhead & franchise royalties like these poor franchise owners are saddled with.

• Jan
  Apr 25, 2008 at 6:56 am

  Here I am again - After being in this business almost 2 years now, I believe self-assembly is not the answer to “what’s for dinner?”. Take n’ Bake and Grab n’ Go just might be. If consumers reason out in their mind that they don’t want a steady diet of fast food, or calorie/fat laden, costly meals from sitdown restaurants and they still don’t have time to plan, shop, chop and clean-up then meal assembly kitchens are the answer. Especially Super Suppers where the individual owner has the final say as to what goes out their door. (We have found Super Suppers corporation to be the best of the best when it comes to listening to their franchisees.)

  A number of Super Supper franchises have switched over to a newer concept of “preparing your meals for you” - at no added cost to the customer - so they really don’t have to do a thing but walk in the store and pick out their meals for the week. They can special order if they have picky eaters - still at no extra cost to the consumer.

  Super Suppers still enforces the “no trans fat in any entree” rule. Some owners will use better ingredients than others (always reflected in their prices) but the bottom line is good, healthy, home cookin’ for a decent price. We stress our entrees are family friendly - not so much for a sofisticated pallet but more for a mom’s cooking pallet. Sure once in a while we spice it up or have something a little exotic but when the family sits down to dinner, mom wants smiling faces staring back at her - not kids with their tongues stuck out.

  If we could only afford national advertising most of our problems would be solved. TV spots telling people how we can alleviate their dinner time woes would surely help this business grow.

  When all is said and done - especially in this economy - Super Suppers is a bargain for working moms and dads. Super Clubs are an even better bargain and with the Loyalty Reward points we offer, your life can’t get any easier than this.

  One last thing, if a customer eats an entree they don’t like - at our store - they tell us and we replace it with something else. There is no excuse not to continue to use our services when you get a guarantee like that. We have so many to choose from, sometimes our customers need to experiment a little. We have never had anyone take advantage of us.

• mysterymiss
  Apr 29, 2008 at 10:47 am

  Great Commercial for Super Suppers, but I don’t think Grab & Go is the answer either-there are just too many cheaper solutions to the OLD what’s for dinner question (could one of those crack Meal Assembly marketers please come up with a new tagline question? We have been using that line since I was started as a years ago Personal Chef ) Along with the other TIRED cliche of “70% of people don’t know what they’re having for dinner at 4:30″-that could be because 45% of those asked the question ” What’ s for Dinner? were husbands who really had no clue because they just come home and sit at the table with their forks & knives at the ready waiting for dinner to be put in front of them!
  There is too much competition out there now for a piece of the “tummy pie” and super markets, restaurants and even Schwans can do it cheaper and better than Super Suppers or any other Meal Assembly company.
  I’m sorry to say af riend and I went to Super Suppers and the food was not that good. She declined the retry pitch…. The reason? She didn’t have confidence the food would be any better the second time and it was too expensive. She tried it as a favor to me, we were visiting from out of town. She was not impressed enough to want to try it again. She had had a competitors food and to be fair doesn’t frequent any MAK because it just doesn’t fit her budget or lifestyle.
  I owned an MAK that went under and we had grab & go almost 2 years ago, it didn’t make a bit of difference because business still sucked. Offering pizza and Grab & Go’s ARE NOT going to save this sinking ship of an industry.
  I’m sorry for those of you who are still saddled with your stores, debt and Zors.
  MM

• Jan
  Apr 29, 2008 at 3:01 pm

  I reiterate what I said above. Mysterymiss sounds like she’s crying in her soup. It just so happens that our food is exceptional and we have hundreds of customers that can back this statement up. Too bad mystermiss went bottom up in her MAK effort but just because she and a friend had a bad experience at a SS doesn’t mean we everyone should throw the baby out with the bath water.

• sean
  Apr 29, 2008 at 4:01 pm

  Jan:

  If I were in your position, I would probably agree that the take out or custom meal service is the best avenue to pursue, because you’ve got to retrofit your concept into your existing store. But MM has a valid point. If you were going to start that business from scratch, would you still choose the same retail location, with the same square footage, same decor, fixtures equipment? Or would you find cheaper space, set up an efficient commercial kitchen, and staff for it?

  One problem, it seems to me, is not only the established competition for prepared foods coming from every conceivable direction, but also new competition who can set up more efficiently in a space that was not originally built for a MAK. Can you hold on to those hundreds of customers and maintain your margin in the process?

  I hope you can, but it’s not easy to change horses in midstream. In the food business, everyone will try a new restaurant or service for awhile. Keeping them when the next new thing to try opens across town that’s the challenge.

• mysterymiss
  Apr 29, 2008 at 7:28 pm

  Jan,
  Mysterymiss is not crying in her soup anymore, that would have taken place when she OWNED an MAK, and while she was loosing her shirt in the process of owning an MAK, not after she closed…I mean I closed.
  Sean you do have a valid point about smaller space being needed and less equipment needed to run a retail Take & Bake; all of which is money down the drain if an owner switches to full retail & no session format. You’ll only get pennies on the dollar for any un-needed equipment after you convert.
  The other point is that most SS owners bought a meal assembly franchise whose “proven concept” was for the customer to assemble the meals, they did not buy a meal assembly franchise to become a psuedo restaurant. The “social” aspect of the MAK industry has been tried and is dead, the pizza thing-well I’m not really sure what that “big” press release was about, grab & go already been tried and still found lacking mostly because of the competition from mega marts via the frozen food section and fresh grab& go’s, Schwans, curb side service from casual restaurants and the list goes on, there is just too much competition out there for a piece of the “tummy pie” …Nothing sets MAk’s apart from any of those listed above…
  Don’t talk to me about food quality, we all get our food from the same suppliers who get their food from the same manufacturers.
  My question is what is the next big trend- having it hot & ready for them to pick-up when they want it or will MA’s owners just eat it for their customers too? Pun intended
  MM

• sean
  Apr 29, 2008 at 7:33 pm

  Mysterymiss is not crying in her soup anymore
  That’s where MM went wrong.
  Tear drop soup sounds delicious.
  And MAK’s can bring down their food costs by producing their own ingredient

• Jan
  Apr 30, 2008 at 5:35 am

  One of the most important things I can say about SS corp. is they are flexible and will change with the trends. In fact, they struggle constantly trying to stay on top. When something is hot - it sells well. When it cools down, you either change gears or go out of business.

  I think we can all agree when you go into business, you must try and stay fresh and inventive and SS allows that from it’s franchisees.

  As far as quality food goes - we don’t get all of our ingredients from the same place. Sorry MM - you are dead wrong. We, as an individual franchisee, purchase our ingredients from different sources (where ever we want) always using the highest quality and freshest ingredients we can find. We, of course, wouldn’t use fresh broccoli in an entree when the entree is going to be frozen - so we use beautiful, frozen, broccoli from Costco in our entrees - all heads - no stems. It costs a little more but our customers love it. This is just a small example of how we customize our buying habits.

  Now, the question from Sean. What do we do with the front of the store - the largest part of the store? Right now, we still have sessions and parties. Parties still do bring in a lot of money and there are still people who want to assemble their own entrees. So we closed the bars five days a week and open them for Saturdays (or parties). If we were to go strictly GnG and fresh take out, of course a bigger kitchen and smaller front would be appropriate. I would say it would be time to move the business if all you wanted to do was GnG or Take and Bake. Many SS owners have taken their store fronts and put in more retail and are using them as meeting places, tea parties, birthday parties, etc. They are selling some of their bars and recreating a store front that has limitless possibilities. All wih corporate approval.

  So, you see, there is light at the end of the tunnel. All you need is good marketing skills, an innovative mind and of course the desire to make things work. Our corporation is absolutely the best in this field. If we were to go out of business tomorrow, I wouldn’t have one bad thing to say about them.

• mysterymiss
  Apr 30, 2008 at 8:00 am

  Gee Jan, Did I give you the impression somehow I was stupid? Sorry about! My bad…
  Again great commercial, but you all are losing stores out the ass, then again could be why you’re doing commercials here on Sean’s sight.
  Uh where do you think Costco gets it very fresh broccoli florets-no stems from?
  We all (food inclusive talk here) get our supplies from the same manufacturers and suppliers.
  Do you somehow think none of the rest of us have thought to buy from Costco (a competitors of yours by the way), I might rethink buying my supplies from them…
  And just a stab in the dark here Jan, but you sound an awful lot like a SS corporate type trying to resell SS here on a site that called you all Suckers.

• mysterymiss
  Apr 30, 2008 at 8:01 am

  And Sean…my Tear Drop soup was simply delish;-) but my humble pie was even better! ;-000

• mysterymiss
  Apr 30, 2008 at 9:01 am

  Meal Assembly businesses should not have to “change with the trends” because that makes you no longer the animal you started out as.
  At this moment it looks as if SS et al are simply throwing stuff at the kitchen wall to see what will stick and work…that is not good business practice for a failed concept to begin with.
  Every fast food chain company is still fast food chains at their core… there is no brand confusion for consumers as to what they are. McDonald’s, Burger King, Carls Jr. may add a new menu item or two every quarter or a couple times a year to keep their menu’s from getting stale, or for the obligatory consumer driven nutritional aerobics but even at that those new product items go through months & months of formulation & rigorous testing and re-testing etcetera before they are given the green light for distribution through out the whole company.
  At their core however they still make the most money selling hamburgers…
  You can not in all honesty say that about the meal assembly business.
  I’m not real concerned about the Byrds, unless the Mrs. keeps doing those half-baked cooking shows of hers.
  They still have millions and other businesses they can fall back on when SS folds…it will be just a tax write-off to them, for all you in the trenches it won’t be that easy.
  Jan, your cavalier comment about going out of business shows your lack of compassion or understanding for those of us who have. It’s offensive to me or to anyone else who has put their heart and soul into this industry. It’s not a decision that comes easily or without a hefty price.
  Your comment about good marketing is a giggle-if it were that easy all of SS stores would still open and none of us would have gone out of business because we were told we each were the best company in the industry….
  Getting me to invest in the MAK was the example masterful marketing (add that to my naivete) but unfortunately the masterful marketing ended with that sales pitch.
  You might want to check in with Make & Take or Shake & Bake or whatever the MAK company is that lays claim to being the best in the business.
  I hope I’m not sounding too much like a cranky pantz today….

• mysterymiss
  Apr 30, 2008 at 11:06 am

  I just feel like starting all my posts with
  “And another thing!”
  MM

• Jan
  May 1, 2008 at 7:20 am

  MM - you may not be stupid but you are bitter. My comment about Costco was to show you that some SS owners buy all their supplies from Sysco while others don’t. Sysco cannot offer me the same broccoli nor can RD. So I shop around for eye appealing and delicious ingredients.

  Your language is innappropriate for this blog. I would almost say without judging you too harshly
  that you’re a disgruntled ex-SS owner. Remember, you’re the one that took the risk and failed - whether it was the economy, lack of advertising funds, poor location, disinterest by the public - whatever the reason - it was your business that failed. What did your corporate do to your business that made it fail?

  The reason you think SS is on a downward trend - which is true by the way - is because it is a MA business - while a novel idea, it has seen it’s hayday and our customers have told us they would rather we make their meals. Do you expect SS to fold up and go away or do you think they should refit and move forward?

  I am in constant contact with SS - a little more on the inside than you are. While we do have disgruntled franchisees (whiners), a positive, mature attitude goes a long way in this business.

  If we go belly-up, I know I could fill a bus tub with all of the mistakes we’ve made.

  I have said all I’m going to say on this subject.

• Jan
  May 1, 2008 at 8:54 am

  Yes, you are sounding like a cranky pantz. There is no reasoning with you. You have a mind set so it doesn’t matter what I say, you are determined to think the way you think and bad mouth Super Suppers. So be it. Have your say. You’re disgruntled and closed to any input from me. I came on to this blog to defend a fine, upstanding company and you’re hell-bent to try and prove me wrong. It’s too bad because people like you can be distructive to a growing industry. Just remember, everytime you spew your hatred, you ruin it a little bit for the rest of us that are trying very hard to make it work.

• Kelly aka MM
  May 1, 2008 at 10:03 am

  Here’s the thing Jan-I’m right and you’re wrong, there is no “reasoning” that needs to take place.
  I have had months to reason my way through the train wreck of my business and association with another “upstanding company” in the MAK industry-to hear tell, the ZORS should be up for sainthood, they’re so integrity based-it’s just plain poppy . They’re in CYA mode full bore right now and with the help of useful idiots the carnage will continue….
  Your claim of SS being an upstanding company is prit near laughable…I suggest you actually read some of the things readily available on the internet about your “upstanding company” and founders.
  Here’s another little known secret-we ex-r’s actually talk to each other and share war stories….it’s a very eye opening experience, especially when Zor’s run around the country trying to convince everyone who’ll listen that it’s the fault of the individual store owners and their personal and professional ineptness or lack of executing the “model” that caused their businesses failure, not the “proven concept”, never the concept..except their supposed ” proven concept” is still evolving and adapting..the only thing proven about the model is that it’s still evolving and adapting.
  And let me add that franchisees are hand picked by Franchisors, these franchise sales are not done over the friggin internet with no personal contact before hand..You can’t just write a $35,000 check , send it to HQ and magically own a franchise.
  Owners are supposedly vetted to prove they meet some standard, again set by the Zor’s.
  There are how many companies selling the same product & services and none of them can make a go of it? Even if someones not too bright, it should give one pause.
  Touting the company line holds little or no sway with me, it’s just seems sad…..
  I think you came here to try to salvage your investment that you see slipping through your fingers or it was a feeble attempt to garner customers from the Dream Dinners store that posted above.
  Only someone had the audacity to call you on it and it rankled you. Too bad.
  I already understand SS zee’s think they stand head and shoulders above the rest of the peasants in the MAK world.
  Guess what even really, really smart people, like lawyers got snookered by this industry and now they are scrambling to get the hell out.
  The only growing going on in the MAK industry is the bank accounts of the Franchisors from franchisee who dutifully send HQ their royalties & fees and other woefully uniformed prospective franchisees who listened to the sales pitch of their respective HQ’s, as they CONTINUE to sell new franchises and resell failed ones-that’s a real prime example of upstanding companies in my estimation.
  The concept is BROKEN and it cannot be fixed, and even if it could don’t you think the genius who thought this thing up (or the ones who creatively borrowed it from others) would have fixed it by now?
  My little diatribes do nothing to tarnish an already tarnished and failed industry but it does bring some much needed balance about the industry to light for everyone to read and to help consumers make an INFORMED choice about buying into this dandy idea that is an UNPROVEN & FAILED CONCEPT.
  If someone reads and researches and still decides they want to jump in and save the world through an MAK than by all means jump. But when I bought in nobody would tell me the truth about this industry, not even the existing Zees. There were instances where closures were hidden from prospective franchisees even as they were signing the papers, while they were asking the question!
  I’m trying to help remedy that situation for others.
  If your food is so darn good, then let it stand on it’s own, if your marketing is so good let it stand on it’s own and bring in all the customers you can handle, if your chosen Zor is such an upstanding company then let it’s brand recognition stand on it’s own…
  What I have to say, by the way, is not spewing hatred as you put it-it’s skillfully relating informed opinions based on intimate experience and research and talking to current and former owners- it should have no affect whatsoever on your business, and if it does, than I would say then that means it takes a closer look on your part, not mine…
  And yes, I’m still a cranky pantz today, tomorrow doesn’t look so good either…..

• Kelly aka MM
  May 1, 2008 at 11:11 am

  Ok Jan, maybe you can help a cranky pantz out here cause I’m getting confused is the MAK industry growing or waning?
  Because you stated both points of view in two separate posts above.
  Kelly

• Jan
  May 1, 2008 at 1:04 pm

  Miss Cranky Pantz is so bitter and hatefilled you can see the steam rising from her blog. I hope she got it all off her chest. That must be a heavy weight to carry.

  I see a future for the meal assembly business - not self assembly. Though some SS are very successful doing self assembly so it should always be there for them. I think if you have enough money to market your store properly, you could be half way there. In this economy you would have to prove to prospective customers that buying from your store would save them money. Our corporation doesn’t do national advertising but they supply us with the latest and best information so if you’re not a marketing major, you can still function rather well doing your own.

  It will take time to build your business, so purchasing an already existing franchise wouldn’t be such a bad idea. The previous owners put their foot in and all you have to do is shake it all around. You will not have the initial investment as they did so you just might have more money to retrofit or market your store.

  I get a lot of pleasure serving our clients. They love us. We work very hard but that’s to be expected. If no one told you, I will tell you now, you won’t get rich. No one can get rich owning one franchise of any kind. Be patient . Be careful with every entree that goes out your door. Make sure it’s better than the best and guarantee it.

  Most importantly - keep a postive attitude but if you have to close your franchise - do it with dignity.

• Kelly aka MM
  May 1, 2008 at 1:35 pm

  OMG-For once I’m speechless-somebody anybody… help me out here…I can’ t be the one having all the fun!
  First Jan, I have been in your shoes…but I have a real concern for prospective franchisees who are seeking to risk A LOT of money and their financial futures and current franchisees, who find themselves in a tenuous/precarious financial situation. I’m sorry if I seem to come on too strong, but some things just need to be addressed and done so head-on with no polite how-do-you-does as a preface.
  With that said…..
  “It will take time to build your business, so purchasing an already existing franchise wouldn’t be such a bad idea. The previous owners put their foot in and all you have to do is shake it all around. You will not have the initial investment as they did so you just might have more money to retrofit or market your store.”
  Anybody else want to jump in on this????
  SO many things to say so little time…

• Kelly aka MM
  May 1, 2008 at 1:49 pm

  And just for the Miss Cranky Pantz record, I am not bitter, nor hate-filled towards the vast majority of existing MAK franchisees-there are a few however, well, that is for another blog…www.allthingsculinary.biz-sorry shameless self promotion coming through!
  I am, however, freakin mad, hatefilled and bitter at MAK Zors, especially those who continue to sell franchises for an “unproven & failed concept”
  I’m jaded, there is a nuanced difference…

• sean
  May 1, 2008 at 2:27 pm

  Jan said: It will take time to build your business, so purchasing an already existing franchise wouldn’t be such a bad idea. The previous owners put their foot in and all you have to do is shake it all around. You will not have the initial investment as they did so you just might have more money to retrofit or market your store.

  Re: bitterness, Ms. Cranky Pants, etc.
  On discussions involving troubled concepts, there’s always some friction between those who have already closed (and seemingly can’t wait for the industry to implode) and those who are still in their slugging away. I always recommend both sides stay loose and cut the other some slack. The Ex’s see people in the spot they were once in, and want to warn them. The still-opens are still hoping a cure can be found before it’s too late. Both have opinions worth considering, so try to keep it light and not too personal. There are a lot of people - thousands - who will read this exchange and consider both sides.

  It would also be helpful to peruse post comments like Snappy Auctions and iSold It. eBay drop off has many similarities, as do many “hot new concepts.” There’s something about the idea that makes people certain - even when they’re failing - that this concept can work with a few tweaks. The message of many of these stories is that if the initial premise is unfounded, it ain’t gonna get fixed. That doesn’t mean quit if you haven’t exhausted every means possible.

  Jan: You’ve made a lot of good comments, and a little optimism is certainly welcome in a lot of these darker discussion. But the comment above makes me wonder if you sell franchises for SS. Do you? That’s not a problem, but it would explain why, with otherwise rational comments, you would characterize entering a long-term lease, signing an inch-thick, 10 year franchise agreement, purchasing the equipment and trying to make a concept work in a market where it’s already failed as the equivalent of doing the Hokey-Pokey.

  If it were that easy, wouldn’t the SS be snapping those babies up for corporate stores?

  Because “The previous owners put their foot in” it doesn’t mean you want to step in it too.

• Jan
  May 2, 2008 at 6:49 am

  No, no Sean - I guess that wasn’t a good analogy. SS stores are going at rock bottom prices and to pick one up at a very reduced cost where the owner just wants to get out becauce they can’t tolerate the heat of it anymore is deal of a lifetime in the waiting.

  I don’t sell SS stores for corporate. But, I have lived long enough to know to place blame where it belongs. I don’t expect to change MM’s mind about how she feels about corporate. I do hope to soften her blow and let anyone who reads this blog to understand going into business is a risk - a huge risk especially if you put all you have in it. Why would she do that if the MAK industry is so “unproven” as she likes to put it? All business ventures are risky. She obviously cannot accept any blame in this except her naivity. She’s had a really bad experience and wants the whole world to know it. Fine, but I’m here to tell anyone who reads this if you are careful with your build out costs (which would be cheaper now if you sell GnG and Take n’ Bake) requiring less square footage and market your store properly (which means having a good manager, get out there yourself and sell your store) you could probably make a nice side-income. I know you couldn’t support a family on one store but it is possible to make a profit and enjoy what you’re doing as many successful SS stores have proven.

  A lot of factors go into a successful business. Some are in your control - others aren’t. I have to admit that I don’t read every word MM puts in print here. It’s all fury and wrath which zones me out and I hope others.

  Meal Assembly Kitchens offering meals ready made - ready to cook would flourish in a better economy. In a good economy, people buy rocks.

  I’m just offering up another viewpoint. I don’t believe this industry has failed. I see many young working mothers still going to work everyday and still having a hard time getting dinner on the table.

  MM should know that not everyone goes into business without reservations and what ifs. If we fail in our business, we can only blame ourselves for things we did wrong or didn’t do and the conditions we cannot control. I have almost 2 years experience dealing with a very young company and I can honestly say I admire this corporation and all of it’s employees. They have done everything I have asked of them and more. They listen to their franchisees with respect and are demonstrating their desire to grow in so many ways I couldnt’ possibily list them all here.

  Reading our Bulletin Board, I see there are disgruntled franchise owners. I feel sorry they have to dwell on the negative all of the time. They kind of spoil it for the rest of us that are truly in a progressive state of mind.

  I will give you an example; we have two owners that are constant critics of corporate. They rarely say anything positive about them. In fact, once a month, when the menus come out, you can count on them to submit a rant. They are never happy with the menu. One even claims that corp. promised her 12 new entrees every month. They never promised us that. Whether they did tell her that or not - I am tired of hearing about it every single month. Enough already. Move on for crying out loud.

• Kelly aka MM
  May 2, 2008 at 1:10 pm

  Jan,
  I promise I will move on when MAK franchisors stop selling franchises.
  I certainly will and have taken responsibility when I have made a mistake, however…
  Sadly your belief in the success of industry or it’s long term viability is not backed up by any facts that point towards your statement of belief; you just keep repeating SS corporate talking points….

• sean
  May 2, 2008 at 2:58 pm

  Jan said: …I do hope to soften her blow and let anyone who reads this blog to understand going into business is a risk - a huge risk especially if you put all you have in it. Why would she do that if the MAK industry is so “unproven” as she likes to put it? All business ventures are risky. She obviously cannot accept any blame in this except her naivity. She’s had a really bad experience and wants the whole world to know it….
  IMHO, Jan, you are right & wrong.There are a number of former franchisees that contribute here, and MM is like many. You are right that she is angry. You are right that she wants the whole world to know it. But like most failed franchisees of troubled concepts, she knows full well that she made the decision to take the risk. And she knows that this is a new concept and therefore riskier. The anger comes from the continued sale of franchises when the franchisor knows full well that there are serious flaws with the concept and a high risk of failure. There’s a huge difference between selling an innovative new service that you’re sure will work, and a year or two later selling it when you know it won’t.

  Jan said: …if you are careful with your build out costs (which would be cheaper now if you sell GnG and Take n’ Bake) requiring less square footage and market your store properly (which means having a good manager, get out there yourself and sell your store) you could probably make a nice side-income. I know you couldn’t support a family on one store…
  I agree with this assessment. But why on earth would someone take that risk and invest $175,400 - $263,200 (SS investment) to “probably make a nice side-income”? A job at Wal-Mart would provide a nice side income - and you wouldn’t risk losing your house.
  Jan said: Meal Assembly Kitchens offering meals ready made - ready to cook would flourish in a better economy. In a good economy, people buy rocks.
  Respectfully, Jan, people do not “buy rocks” in a good economy. Being a successful business owner is tough in any economy. The only difference is that in a tough economy, weaker or less established, and non-essential concepts are weeded out. In a tough economy you really have to have your act together. You have to know your business, and refocus on the basics. It’s not a good time to be figuring out what business you’re in while you’re running it. When you’re signing a 10-year agreement, your concept better be able to weather good and bad times.

• Mindy8221
  May 2, 2008 at 3:13 pm

  ok Jan, Fess Up, You work for Super Supers Corporate. or Maybe a new hire at Dream Dinners, Inc.?? After reading your posts you cant possibly tell me you dont.

  On average, a given week, I recieve calls from SS, DD, DNR, MGFK & DBD Owners about some of the situations they are dealing with. I can promise you this, I am NOT negitive. I live in the REAL world. I speak common sense to people that have risked everything on a concept that has failed. I am their to help pick up the broken peices and encourage Owners that They arent the ones that failed- The ZORS are.
  I am sure as a ZOR you would precieve us as being Negitive- I would too, however, In the REAL World- This is the Reality for the MA Owner- and if you would like to help the MA Owner out, go back and Encourage the ZOR your working for and have them STOP collecting Royalities until this concept is Proven not to fail. Owners will be facing a very hard Summer and many will be closing- I ask you this- What PLANS does Your ZOR have to save their Company that WONT cost another dime for the MA Owner???

• Kelly aka MM
  May 2, 2008 at 5:33 pm

  Sean and others-
  3 more Supper Thyme owners just closed stores last month…..

• Kelly aka MM
  May 2, 2008 at 5:39 pm

  At the risk of boring poor Jan with my comments- Remember, you’re the one that took the risk and failed - whether it was the economy, lack of advertising funds, poor location, disinterest by the public - whatever the reason - it was your business that failed. What did your corporate do to your business that made it fail?

  The reason you think SS is on a downward trend - which is true by the way - is because it is a MA business - while a novel idea, it has seen it’s hayday and our customers have told us they would rather we make their meals. Do you expect SS to fold up and go away or do you think they should refit and move forward?

• Kelly aka MM
  May 2, 2008 at 5:51 pm

  Sorry hair trigger- I wasn’t finished!-I know the internet sigh from all you was received!

  “Jan Said:Remember, you’re the one that took the risk and failed “-( before I was…the unproven concept existed)
  “Jan Saidwhether it was the economy, lack of advertising funds, poor location, disinterest by the public - whatever the reason - it was your business that failed.”(so by your reasoning my Zor had no compelling reason to make an effort to help me survive?)
  “Jan said: What did your corporate do to your business that made it fail? ” (the answer to that would be selling an unproven concept as a proven, viable, profitable concept,when by your own admission it is not.)

  Jan Said:”The reason you think SS is on a downward trend - which is true by the way - is because it is a MA business - while a novel idea, it has seen it’s hayday”- (Now that right thar is a honest/factual statement)
  “Jan said:our customers have told us they would rather we make their meals.”- (I did that in my business and closed before SS even instituted it so yawn….)
  Do you expect SS to fold up and go away or do you think they should refit and move forward?
  (Yes & Yes-as long as the Franchisees have to bear the cost for retrofitting)…
  All people that walk & talk the company line or are part of the establishment can try to shut us up and marginalize us by calling us unsavory things like negative and bitter…
  The Zors have had it their way for too long.
  POWER TO THE PEOPLE!!!

• Kelly aka MM
  May 4, 2008 at 9:45 am

  I posted this on another thread too, but at the risk of sounding ill-informed I feel I need a clarification of terminology-
  I had a discussion with Mindy about Sean’s comment about “profitability” and whether a franchisee should be dependent on the ZOR to make them profitable…I keep using the word profitable and I think I need to clarify…no I don’t think that you should hold the Zor totally responsible for not becoming profitable. I truly understand what Sean and some others are saying…
  Here is my problem with the word “profitable” and maybe someone can give me the correct term so I quit using the term that is obviously wrong…How do you define the way that MAK store owners in VAST numbers can’t take a salary out of their store to pay themselves-they end up working for free? When I say “show us a way to make our store profitable,” that is what I mean, show us how to get our stores in the position that they are grossing enough so that the that the store owners actually get fairly compensated for the time they work. I know I can hear the backlash now….”it takes 3-5 years before a business can” statistic. yeah, yeah yeah…Does that really mean that any and all franchisees and small business owners never see a paycheck for 1-5 years into a new business? Have I somehow missed a vital piece of the puzzle? Or is this just a MAK phenomenon?
  So what is the correct term for that?
  I know one owner who sometimes grosses $500-1000 over her monthly costs on a inconsistent basis (she is the only one to date that I know who does this)
  No one can make a nice little side income on that when you realize that she is not paying herself anything, that $500-1000 IS her pay in the months she is able to gross that much.
  Store owners in the MAK business are growing poorer and poorer every month they are in business. The only ones getting paid consistently are the Franchisors.

• sean
  May 4, 2008 at 2:41 pm

  Kelly wrote: …maybe someone can give me the correct term so I quit using the term that is obviously wrong… When I say “show us a way to make our store profitable,” that is what I mean…So what is the correct term for that?
  Kelly: What you’re referring to could be called a “viable business model.” While it’s not the responsibility of a franchisor to “make a franchisee profitable,” it is their responsibility to provide an opportunity that is not fundamentally flawed, or that is doomed from the start or is not “viable.”
  A franchisor should provide a business model that can be profitable under normal circumstances. If the Zee makes his Corvette payments through the business, or doesn’t manage his labor costs, gets ten new competitors or didn’t realize he opened his burger joint in a vegetarian neighborhood, his unprofitability is probably not the FRs fault.
  Franchise opportunities are still “opportunities,” which include the opportunity to fail as well as succeed.
  However, some concepts, like the eBay Drop-off store, are so labor intensive and have so many costs, profitability is near impossible. There’s no sustained evidence that the public is willing to buy what they’re selling in a sufficient quantity to make it viable.

  Is meal prep in the same situation? That’s the question of the hour.

• Kelly aka MM
  May 4, 2008 at 4:58 pm

  IMP-(in my opinion) MAK’s are in the “hell no” category(I liked the line so much I repeated it on this thread). I think that the dandy idea that is MAK has been proven to be a really bad business model.
  I went to a site that lists MAK’s(it claims to be the most current).
  I was looking for listing that appears in BizQuest for a Meal Prep business in Utah that is for sale…here’s what I found,
  The information is so convoluted its maddening. The way “directory based websites” are so out of date-because they are dependent on a store informing them when they close. Or there is just hiding of store closures going on by the Zors.
  How can anyone who is trying to do due diligence possibly follow how many stores are open, when the Zors and even Indies Associations like EMP are hiding the true numbers or at the very least not giving current numbers???
  Is this just again an MAK Phenom?
  I and others have spent countless hours searching websites, back and forth to get a true picture of the industry.
  IMP it seems that Bert just uses some kind of goofy algorithm to “project” the growth of the industry. Again the problem is people take those numbers for gospel and they are merely educated guesses with no basis in fact.

• Jan
  May 5, 2008 at 7:14 am

  You all sound like sour grapes to me. I keep telling you, I do not work for SS corp.

  In case you all have forgotten, we do live in a free country. I think SS has more faith in their own company than you all do. They are entitled to try and survive and grow.

  If you all would put your failure in the proper perspective, you would learn from your mistakes instead of trying to bring everyone down with you.

  If your true agenda is to try and warn people not to invest in a MAK business, that’s fine but would anyone really listen to you? It’s a good idea and you must have thought so or you wouldn’t have invested in it. There is a need for our services. If this rotten economy hadn’t happened, you might all be singing a different song.

  Super Suppers is an entrepreneurial company -unlike DD for instance. They allow their franchisees more room to fit the needs of their community. So, when you buy a SS franchise, you can shape and mold it into a store that has regional appeal. A store that might be totally different from another one 30 miles away. We can set up our own hours, menu, services, retail, marketing, promotions, prices, etc.

  And, yes Sean, people do buy rocks in a good economy. You must be too young to remember this.

• sean
  May 5, 2008 at 7:35 am

  Jan said: And, yes Sean, people do buy rocks in a good economy.
  That’s good news for anyone who buys a meal prep franchise from here on out. At least they can sell the rocks in their head as soon as the economy turns around.

  Jan said: If your true agenda is to try and warn people not to invest in a MAK business, that’s fine but would anyone really listen to you?
  Here are a 10 reasons to consider:

   

    Super Suppers

    Super Suppers

    Super Suppers

    Super Suppers

    Super Suppers

    Super Suppers

    Super Suppers

    Super Suppers

    Super Suppers

    Super Suppers

   

• Jan
  May 5, 2008 at 8:42 am

  How dramatic, Sean. This whole “right back at ya” blog is not about store closings - everyone and anyone who is considering purchasing a SS franchise will know SS had many more stores than they have now.

  You and MM are trying to blame SS for your failure to survive in this business.

  You are probably very good people with strong convictions but I can see this all with a different perspective.

  Your bashing of SS is harmful to those still in business. It is harmful to corporate. If you wanted a sure thing, you should have invested your money in oil.

  You gambled and lost. Corporate did not make you sign and they did not lie to you. If you really belived they did, you would take them to court.

  If you invested in a franchise and didn’t do the research, you’re the fool. But, you see, when you did invest in it, it was a growing business not showing any downward trend. You jumped on the band wagon and things changed and now you’re pi____. In fact you’re more than that, you’re trying to ruin the corporation.

  For your own peace of mind, go do something constructive with your time.

  Well folks, it’s been real. My vacation is over and I have to go back to work tomorrow. Good luck and happy trails. Jan

• sean
  May 5, 2008 at 9:00 am

  Jan said: You and MM are trying to blame SS for your failure to survive in this business.
  Actually, I never owned a meal prep franchise - like you. I’ve been in franchising for 20 years and could see this was a concept destined to fail from the beginning. Not because it wasn’t an engaging idea - all of the big “hot new franchise” failures are. They all SEEM like a great, creative idea. But what is missed is that franchising is all about duplication of an established, fine-tuned system, not an experimental concept still in R&D. The inflexibility and the fees of a franchise render defeat the approach needed for a speculative, unproven venture.
  Addressing the criticism on this blog, mealassemblywatch, franchisepundit.com and others is not detrimental to the corporations - it’s the only thing that could possibly save them.
  They are not going to sell their way out of this. Their only chance is to stop selling franchises immediately, focus solely on the businesses that are open, and possible even collaborate with other Meal Preps to find the adaptations necessary - if there are any - to survive.

  If they were honest in their focus on franchisees, the competing franchisors would pool resources to create some shared strategies and programs to refine and promote the entire concept. However, the enormous egos and self-interest of this group make this idea just another meal prep fantasy.

• Jan
  May 5, 2008 at 9:37 am

  Geesh, Sean, I’m trying not to respond to you but I have to. What you don’t know about SS is they do exactly what you said they don’t do.

  They don’t confer with their comepetitors but they do with their franchisees. In fact, some of their best ideas have come from store owners. An example would be the very successful “Supper Club” another would be the “Pick-Up Party”. We are getting a new website because we asked for one. There are too many to list them all.

  Another thing you don’t know about SS is Bill and Judie Byrd do not have enormous egos nor does anyone I have encountered. And, excuse me, but remember they are in business and self-interest is always the first line of defense.

  If you knew this business was going to be a “failure” (in your words) why weren’t you blogging about it seven years ago. My gosh, you must be a billionaire with such clarvoiant business perception.

  As hard as you try, you cannot justify your comments pertaining to SS. And, now that I know you have never owned a MAK franchise, I can understand your misconceptions.

• Kelly aka MM
  May 5, 2008 at 9:45 am

  Jan Said: “If you all would put your failure in the proper perspective, you would learn from your mistakes instead of trying to bring everyone down with you.”
  (My perspective: is $450,000 in debt, bankruptcy story-more than you ever wanted to know about the process, my house has been foreclosed on, my car repossessed, my reputation in shreds, my financial security gone.
  I did not buy a franchise to have a “nice little income,” I bought a MAK franchise to support my family and for income to retire on and pass onto my children-based on the figures such that they were and yes “promises” that were implied by the franchisor when I bought said franchise.)

  Jan Said-”If your true agenda is to try and warn people not to invest in a MAK business, that’s fine but would anyone really listen to you? It’s a good idea and you must have thought so or you wouldn’t have invested in it. There is a need for our services. If this rotten economy hadn’t happened, you might all be singing a different song.”…..( Unfortunately no one does listen-Oh we did have one success that didn’t buy a franchise. However, my song would be the same to people.
  As for your economic statement-I got out of the business even before the worst of the economic crisis hit, so your comparison for me is not even valid. For those still in the industry-hold onto your hats cause it’s gonna be a WILD, bumpy killer of a ride. The rotten economy was not the problem I had, the problem I had was the non-viable rotten concept.)
  Jan Said-”everyone and anyone who is considering purchasing a SS franchise will know SS had many more stores than they have now.”
  (Then why would they buy based on that factor alone?
  Why?Because the Bryds and every other Zor
  1.Either giving eveyone the impression that mission is accomplished and they are in the process of “fixing” the problem….
  2.Tell everyone that there “is no problem..”
  So which is it Jan? A problem or no problem?

  Jan Said-You gambled and lost. Corporate did not make you sign and they did not lie to you. If you really belived they did, you would take them to court.( I would but I have no money to after paying legal fees for Bankruptcy proceedings…the sad thing is that all the Zors know that once an owner goes belly-up that means that the store owner has exhausted all of the possiblities for capitol infusion and they are broke-thus not being able to get their day in court with the Zor..kinda of funny how that happens for all of the integrity based MAK Franchisors huh?)
  Jan said-”For your own peace of mind, go do something constructive with your time.” (Jan this would be what I do that’s constructive & gives me peace of mind.)
  I will make a suggestion to you-stop back here in another year or just email me personally and let me know how your bankruptcy proceeding is going….Certainly happy trails in the future to you but it will be the same worn one that many of your fellow SS x-owners have walked.
  I frankly don’t care of I damage any MAK corporate office, they all made their beds and made their choices let them live with the consequences of the risks they took with MY money for once….

• Jan
  May 5, 2008 at 10:04 am

  MM - I can understand your utter frustration with SS if you had been held up at gun point by them and robbed of your future.

  Why in God’s name didn’t you create a LLC? Why would you go into business and put your home, car and all of your assets on the line? Would you go to the Horse Races and bet all of this on one horse.

  Everyone wants to be their own boss but in reality, you are far better off working for the man than doing what you did. Financial security does not come in promises - it comes in facts.

  Another fact - you like facts - No one can get financial security from owning one small franchise.

  You do have my sympathy - which I’m sure you’ll reject. I just hope you are young enough to recover your losses.

• Mindy8221
  May 5, 2008 at 10:29 am

  Jan- you seem to be the dramatic one here, ok, lets face it, I agree, Kelly is darn right hiliariously dramatic as well! I love reading her posts:) SHE is passionate and with out that, ZORS will continue to run amuck in this Industry. She is creating Due Diliagence….People have choices, they can decide for themselves.

  I will continue to say this over and over until maybe a cow comes home:

  Along with ZORS stopping the selling/reselling of stores, They should Stop Collecting Royalites/Marketing monies. The money Then should be used for each Owner to Market in thier Own Communities. I beleive THEN Most Stores may survive the summer.

  This doesnt give the freedom card to the Zor away, this should be where the Zor puts the metal to the petal & FIX the problem: failed concept.

  The Second issue is Zors do not have Employee’s that bring solid ideas to the table, Test Them on Corporate FIRST then ROLL out to Owners. You can see where the greed/ego have come into play here….

  Excepting Zee’s to continue to pay for this Experimental business IS WRONG!

  Most Owners have LOST everything, because ZORS are experimenting with the business model, and THIS is WHAT the ZORS have created- ANGRY, HURT, BITTER, franchisee owners…

  Do something then Jan, Go back and Express to SS, or I dare ya go to DD, and See what THEY say.

  As Dr. Phil would say, How is that working for yah?

• Curious
  May 5, 2008 at 10:49 am

  Jan,

  What is a “Pick Up Party?”

• sean
  May 5, 2008 at 10:54 am

  “Along with ZORS stopping the selling/reselling of stores, They should Stop Collecting Royalites/Marketing monies. The money Then should be used for each Owner to Market in thier Own Communities. I beleive THEN Most Stores may survive the summer.”
  Mindy makes several important points.
  When reputable strategic planners structure the terms of a new franchise offering, they do not set the franchise fee amount to initially be a profit center. It as meant as cost-recovery for the $5K - $10K in recruitment advertising it costs for an average franchise sale (more for a new and/or troubled concept), and costs incurred in recruitment, planning, training and supporting that franchisee. They might break even on a $20K - $30K franchise fee is they deliver the support needed. Reputable franchisors derive their revenue from the ongoing royalties of successful stores.
  If a franchise company is dependent on selling the next franchise for the chain’s survival, in almost every case they’ve got a house of cards and they’re just hurting more people in the process. I’m sure a few have sold their way out of a temporary crisis, but not any with marginal concepts.
  I agree that they if their units are struggling, they should stop selling franchises immediately. Bankruptcy will not protect them from fraud charges. They should suspend royalties at least for those who have not reached break-even. And marketing expenditures should be be used for direct awareness and sales-building activities within the immediate proximity of the franchisee’s store, and should be at the discretion of that owner.
  None of these concepts have effective systemwide advertising, so put the responsibility into the hands of the people who are fighting for their livelihood and who know the local communities they serve.

• Kelly aka MM
  May 5, 2008 at 10:57 am

  Jan, we did form an LLC-again, did I give you the impression I was stupid or incompetent…Again MY BAD! We had a lawyer, two in fact and a business accountant..
  Let me just for the record give you a roll call sister….
  I have been in the culinary biz for going on 30 years. I have been a Chef for nearly 10 of that. I have owned several other culinary businesses for almost 10 year…I am neither stupid nor incompetent when it comes to the food business….my business partner was an food manufacturing plant controller.
  In this day and age an LLC that does not protect you…which you may find out if you are covered under one. Everyone I know who got an SBA loan has to personally guarantee it. Now unless you are independently wealthy or have real nice deep pockets and oodles and boodles of cash with which you launched and are capitalizing your business with, you are in the minority….We were told (by the Zor experts) we would $35,000 for operating capitol for the first 3-6 months of operation until we were profitable(their words to us)Now the number has gone to $75,000 and it should be much much more than that….

• Kelly aka MM
  May 5, 2008 at 11:09 am

  Jan,
  Honestly…all the good luck in the world from me to you in your SS business, it’s folks like you that make my life more fulfilling and enriched for the MAK experience and you will be the ones to support me in my next career as a legal professional. God Bless America!!!
  Just remember “I told you so” you can thank me later

• Jan
  May 5, 2008 at 11:32 am

  This is working for me just fine, Mindy. You really make me laugh. You lean so far to the left I fear you may fall.

  All new business models are experimental. Like I’ve said before - if it’s a sure thing - then everyone would do it.

  This all reminds me of a young couple who owned a SS on the east coast. They opened with a bang. They were the envy of all franchisees everywhere. We all sought advice from them and they couldn’t tell us enough how much they loved Judie and Bill and the rest of them at corp. and what a wonderful corp. it was. He was a marketing guy who left the business to open up a Super Suppers. He gave us the impression he had been an expert marketing magician. Oh, by the way, his biggest income in his store was his private parties.

  Well, a couple of years down the road, his parties went bye-bye (a concept that kind of wore itself out) and he wasn’t making the profit he once did. On the BB, I started to notice he was becoming preturbed with corp. Criticising their menus, recipes, marketing stratagies, promotions - all things he praised in the past. You could see he was getting very irritable. This whole time, he had this once profitable business up for sale at a respectfully high price. (It was on the market before the downward turn.) I would say because he was either clairvoiant like Sean or he wanted to make a profit and get out becauce it does consume a lot of time and hard work (he has small children).

  So, in the beginning when his profits were high he was a happy camper, couldn’t say enough good things about corp. When his private parties disappeared, you could see how fast he changed gears. He started to become critical of corp. and even critical of other owners. He became super senistive to any criticism of himself. He sold his store. I don’t know for how much but I’m sure he has no regrets selling. The new owners seem pretty happy - no complaints that we can see.

  Any Franchisor will tell you, if the franchisee is profitable they love corp. If the aren’t, they hate them.

  Now Mindy, do you really think any MAK corp. is going to say “Don’t pay us our royalties or marketing fees you poor little babies?” “Let mama corp. take care of you.” Gees - get real lady.

  What you really want is to punish them. If SS stores are doing so poorly, you can’t possibly think that 5% + 1% is going to make a hill of beans difference in their lives.

  But I digress - My whole point of blogging on this site was to show you that even though we are struggling, we don’t hold corp. entirely responsible. We have made many mistakes on our own. And that’s just the point, we made them on our own. We bought into this great idea - WE did - we weren’t lied to or fed a line of bull. We still have hopes of it becoming a habit - the same habit as Friday night pizza and morning coffee at Starbucks.

  With a fuzzy economic future in store for us all, who knows. If we had to do it all over again, we probably would have done more things corp. recommended. We probably wouldn’t have done some things they recommended, aslo. But, you see, we made the choices and decisions - not them. We grown up enough to realize that.

• Jan
  May 5, 2008 at 11:42 am

  And, Kelly - did you ever once stop to think before you invested so much into this business, what would happen if I fail? Me thinks you were trying to get rich.

• onthego
  May 5, 2008 at 11:46 am

  I fear Mindy, you have hit the nail on the head of this one The top ten of who Jan really is
  5. Runs her SS as a hobby-just needs something to do so she doesn’t get fat at home eating bonbons
  4. Is a closet koolaide-drinker
  3. Really is delusional -of course that could be the same as #4
  2. is a SS corp toadie-and she must be entertaining at corporate functions!
  1.SS Corp

• KellyakaMM
  May 5, 2008 at 11:53 am

  GASP……Since when did making money become bad if you do it in an honest way?
  My whole beef with MAK Zors is they are getting rich selling a faulty system…
  Just reread your posts you KNOW the system is broken yet you make all sorts of rationalizations, excuses and nonsensical counter charges.
  My guess is either you see the writing on the wall or you are as Mindy says a corporate type.
  If you ARE a SS zee and you do see the writing on the wall, I suggest you embrace the fear with dignity and when your time to close comes…
  Remember I will be there for you with legal counsel when you need me.
  I think my 866 number may just be 1-866-MAK-SUCKER

• Kelly aka MM
  May 5, 2008 at 11:54 am

  GASP……Since when did making money become bad if you do it in an honest way?
  My whole beef with MAK Zors is they are getting rich selling a faulty system…
  Just reread your posts you KNOW the system is broken yet you make all sorts of rationalizations, excuses and nonsensical counter charges.
  My guess is either you see the writing on the wall or you are as Mindy says a corporate type.
  If you ARE a SS zee and you do see the writing on the wall, I suggest you embrace the fear with dignity and when your time to close comes…
  Remember I will be there for you with legal counsel when you need me.
  I think my 866 number may just be 1-866-MAK-SUCKER

• Kelly aka MM
  May 5, 2008 at 12:04 pm

  All new buisiness models are NOT experimental and oops… it looks like everyone did do it…
  If any franchise was accepted and was understood as being experimental NO ONE in their rigth mind would buy one.
  IF the MAK concept were touted as experimental that would be one thing, but I think if you look on any MAK site where they are selling franchises you will see the phrase in some form that says-proven business model and systems……

• Jan
  May 5, 2008 at 12:14 pm

  Are your minds so engrained in the “it’s not my fault” track that it is out of your realm of thinking that someone might actually be willing to accept responsibility for their own mistakes. My gosh, where are you people from?

  You all bought into an idea - except Sean because he can see the future - that you thought would make you money - maybe even enough to “retire on”. You goofed - whether you got bad advice and took it or you didn’t educate yourself enough about the possible failures. Greed got in the way of good judgement.

  When we close our doors, there will be a hefty debt to pay - no one will lose their house or car or financial future because no one was stupid enough to lay it all on the line. Yes, I said stupid! That point aside, it doesn’t take away the fact, that I feel bad for all of the SS and other MAK owners that folded up with huge debt. I feel bad for us. When more people start to take responsibiliy for their own actions, we won’t need any lawyers. That’s a laugh - pardon me - I must be “stupid” to ever think that would happen.

• Jan
  May 5, 2008 at 12:23 pm

  Mindy says: “The Second issue is Zors do not have Employee’s that bring solid ideas to the table, Test Them on Corporate FIRST then ROLL out to Owners. You can see where the greed/ego have come into play here….

  Excepting Zee’s to continue to pay for this Experimental business IS WRONG!”

  Super Suppers does have employees that bring solid ideas to the table and they experiment with them in their corporate stores. If they succeed in those stores, they reccommend them to us.

  So, you really don’t know what you’re talking about now, do you? Your blanket statements are beneath you and you should know better.

• sean
  May 5, 2008 at 2:48 pm

  Jan wrote: All new business models are experimental.
  I agree with you wholeheartedly, Jan. What you fail to acknowledge - or admit - is that franchising is a method of expansion that based on the duplication of an established, proven business model. The burden of franchise fees, marketing contributions and royalties are not dues to the club - they must be more than offset by the benefits and risk reduction that comes with duplication of a time-tested system - one that is past the high-risk trial and and error stage. Start-up businesses cannot survive BOTH the risk and uncertainty of experimentation AND the fees and lack of flexibility that come with a franchise.
  The very concept of franchising is that franchise owners can focus from Day One on implementation of a proven system and procedures. That’s why they buy a franchise. If they need to be part of an “experiment,” they should be paid, not paying. Please show me where in the franchise sales materials of these franchisors it says “Buy our franchise and help us experiment and figure out what our concept is.”
  I am not clairvoyant, but I can predict the outcome of certain situations with remarkable accuracy. It’s not psychic ability or even (I admit) intellectual superiority. It’s simply that I’ve helped to launch and grow more than 100 franchise chains. I was part of the management team of a successful startup franchise that opened hundreds of franchises with nearly no failures. I’ve seen more of these “hot new franchises” burst on the scene, redistribute large sums of money from the many to the few, and then hand the gold baton to the next.
  There’s a name for selling a concept and hiding the defects from the buyers, even if done with confidentiality agreements and gag orders: Fraud.
  Give it some thought, Jan. If you’re selling franchises without providing full disclosure, being an employee or going bankrupt won’t protect you.

• independent owner
  May 5, 2008 at 2:57 pm

  Jan says: “All new business models are experimental. ”

  A model should be tried and true before it is franchised. Buying into a franchise doesn’t ensure success, but it should ensure that you are not paying for an *experimental* business model.

• Kelly aka MM
  May 5, 2008 at 3:01 pm

  Has anyone ever heard of Jon Huntsman?
  See link
  http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=1207&CFID=67422299&CFTOKEN=89196730&jsessionid=9a30d26c21db4e165263#
  It would interesting to have every MAK ZOR and Zee read this article and shine the light on the industry.
  Jan, I happen to know Mindy personally-do you?
  She is a sister and someone I am pleased to call a friend. She has inimate knowledge of the MAK business. We have talked for hours about these very issues…
  Sean is one of the most business savvy franchise guys I have ever talked to, as is Micheal Webster who posts here. They along with a host of other people have looked at this industry and see it crumbling under its own weight,
  I am very happy you were able to open your SS business 2 years ago with no mortgage(if you are in fact a zee)…you are certainly the exception and good for you for such great insight and pre-planning and deep pockets.
  Unfortunately for many of us in the MAK business to get the business opened we were encouraged to do whatever it took to get there and to KEEP our stores open we were encouraged to do even more to put us into financial hardship.
  I sat with bank officials who encouraged us to mortgage our home as a guarantee for the SBA loan, we were not independently wealthy, but we were comfortable. We had a great business plan in hand that had been painstakingly researched for months. When we sat with the SBA banker, that was the advice he gave us…that was the ADVICE HE gave us, again the expert, the professional. The SBA loan as an LLC is the way both our attorney and business accountant told us was the route to go. Did we count the costs? Yes, did we take a risk, yes,
  did we expect to fail, no, who goes into a business expecting to fail?
  WE consulted with EXPERTS every step of the way and followed their advice. I do not have a beef with them. I have a beef with who started this whole mess and that was a FAILED CONCEPT PEDALLED BY A FRANCHISOR. That is where the fracture started.
  You can be as pompous as you choose but one day you will be in my position and the position of hundreds of others and I can only hope that someone is less callous and judgmental as you have been when your time comes and it will come.
  Many of us are not alone in our being “stupid” as you so eloquently put it-thank you for that.
  I have been having a good time up until this very post when I realized that you have either no clue, or are part of a PR firm for SS or are part of
  SS yourself.
  We have all taken responsbility except for the ZORS, they seem to be given a pass in all of this mess, why is that?
  You and they seem to be able to say “sux to be you” and that seems to be Okay.
  Do you know why I believe you are part of the Franchisor structure? Because you use the language, the accusitory tone towards all store owners for the failure of the concept, the smugness and pompousness,you blame us for our stupidity and you talk in circles, all the hallmarks of Zortalk.

• Jan
  May 5, 2008 at 3:34 pm

  Kelly - the system is not broken, not yet at least. You shouldn’t have bought into a such a young corporation if you wanted a sure thing. Why didn’t you buy a more established franchise? Because you thought the idea of a MAK was great and because the other SS’s were having considerable success at it. You wanted in on the action and you believed in it. Now, the novelty has worn off, corporate is scrambling to help us all stay in business and you think they’re somehow at fault ? Do you think they could see the writing on the wall?

  This whole business actually could have taken off and been a huge success and we all would have opened 2nd and 3rd franchises and been rolling in dough. Now, if that had happened would you still be critical of SS corp.? Would you still say they should of held back and done more research to prove to all of their potential franchisees they could have a “sure thing” while DD and MGFK ran with the ball? They had acquired enough success in their own corporate stores and newly opened franchises to satisfy you or you wouldn’t have bought one.

  If you had waited two or three years more to go into this business, you would have backed away when you saw the many store closings. What was your big hurry? You tout you are an experienced business woman - tell me did SS lie to you? Did they give you misinformation or fudge their figures to make it look like they were having success. Did they tell you, you would be successful in your endeavor and make enough money to retire on? I’m sure they said you could but did they make that promise to you? Where is your fault in any of this. If you have none and they did all these things, you have a lawsuit. You don’t need money to sue. If any lawyer thought you had a real case against SS, they would be happy to take them on.

  Fiery, deflamatory blogging isn’t going to change a thing. SS and the rest of the MA corporations are trying to stay in business as much as their franchisees. They believe in their product and will hold on until they can either get over the hump or die trying.

• Jan
  May 5, 2008 at 5:15 pm

  But Sean, SS had an established business model -they had success. The novelty of assembling meals in a studio kitchen wore off in some parts of the country most recently. They still maintain their original concept but have expanded into other areas. It is still a viable concept with these new additions. They allow their franchisees to make the decision to relinquish self assembly or keep it. All of these new areas of services have value and to not try to develop them would be suicide.

  Because the public made an about face and decided they no longer want to make their meals or party it up at Super Suppers means we change the format to give them what they want. Even if we change it 180 degrees - so what? There is still a need for us out there.

  By selling franchises they continue to grow so we will grow. If they knowingly sell them to people who are gullable and setting them up for failure - that would be unethical. Who is going to admit they’re gullable? Do you think they should say buy at your own risk - I think that is understood.

  You shouldn’t buy into a franchise or go into a business unless you are educated in the field, know exactly what you’re getting into and be able to tolerate failure. I know you must agree with this. Where we part ways, is you believe SS and other MAK corporations are selling franchises to gullable, inexperienced people with a promise of an impending fortune. Maybe others do this but I believe SS doesn’t. I am in constant contact with these people. I can see how much they are doing for us. I don’t feel they are unethical which is what you are accusing them of being.

  Like I told Kelly - if SS is lying to it’s potential franchisees, then that is a different story. She is so vial in her attempt to prove I’m wrong and don’t deserve a voice with a different opinion other than her own. If we were in the same room, she would likely shout my soft voice into oblivia. Unlike Mindy - I don’t admire the way she handles her defeat. Unfortunately, I have met many people like her in my lifetime. I believe you should learn from your mistakes and move on. It will make you sick if you dwell on past failures - no matter who you perceive is the cause.

  Apparently, Kelly doesn’t think she made any mistakes - it was all the “experts” that gave her bad advice. She is old enough to know and experienced enough to understand the pitfalls of going into so much debt on a new type of business.

  Was it Kelly that chose her location? Did she choose the size of her store and decide she could live with the build out costs. Did Kelly research her market? Did she speak with other franchise owners who had gone out of business? Did she think all she had to do was open the doors and the guests would pour in or did she know that summers in the MA business are so slow she could go out of business before September came? Did she anticipate the high cost of gas leading to high delivery fees and higher food costs? What totally evades me and she still hasn’t answered me except to say she was naive, where does her fault come into the equation? Tell me Sean - please explain to me why you think Kelly is exempt from any blame?

  Since her ordeal I wonder, if she so strongly believes there are so many people out their being pulled in by corporate franchisors in unethical ways, she hasn’t contacted her congress person. If she has, I would be interested in hearing what he/she had to say.

• sean
  May 5, 2008 at 5:52 pm

  SS had an established business model -they had success. The novelty of assembling meals in a studio kitchen wore off in some parts of the country most recently.
  A year? Two years? That’s not established when you’re referring to a society being willing to incorporate an entirely new pattern of behavior. The fact that the novelty wore off is exactly my point.
  Another “hot new franchise” that dropped off
  Before Meal Prep there was the eBay drop off store. Great idea. They calculated the average household had $2500 worth of stuff they didn’t want, but no good way to sell it. Why not set up a storefront where people could drop off their stuff, and the experts would shoot pics, post it on eBay, sell it, ship it and split the fees with the customer. Hundreds of people got swept up in it, bought iSold It, Snappy Auctions, etc. Just like meal prep, most people didn’t get it. The franchisors got their fees with no risk, eBay got their fees on each sale, but the franchisees found it took a lot more labor, and despite the initial novelty and hoopla, consumers were not as eager to change adopt this model into their lives. The ones who are tuned in to eBay do it themselves. The ones who aren’t don’t really care that much about the the junk in the attic.
  I see many consumer comments that indicate the same attitudes toward meal prep. The people with the gourmet sensibilities don’t perceive it as that hard to do it themselves. The time starved convenience seekers aren’t perceiving the need for mealprep other than an occasional thing. I see many comments from people saying it was fun to try, but picking up prepared foods from CostCo or Whole Foods is a much more convenient option than the whole rigamarole of MAK.
  Being “established” or “proven” does not mean popularity for a year or two. That’s how long most fads last. The franchise agreements are for 10 years, correct? Having to change the basic premise of the business 2 years into a ten year contract is not an indication that it’s “established.”
  Another franchise on a downward Curve
  Curves was another hysteria-inducing concept: 30 minute women-only exercise targeting “deconditioned” women (Couch Tatettes) with a low monthly fee. Started out gangbusters. Then came the thousand knock-offs. Then came the 2nd & 3rd year and ex-Tatettes maxxed out & joined real clubs, while the real Tatettes went back to the couch or the Snickers display at Wal-Mart. The concept flaws became apparent in years 2 & 3 when they realized they couldn’t retain members, and they had no good add-on services to supplement member fees. Experienced health club pros know this - which is why Curves never wanted health club pros.
  The latter is one of the areas that I find disconcerting. Franchisors of these concepts proudly proclaim “no experience is required,” and their training and support will provide “all you need to know.” The moment the franchisee fails, it’s their fault because they were inexperienced, naive, or should have been able to conduct science experiments while running a business.
  Putting money where the corporate mouth is
  The real question that was glossed over: If these beautifully appointed Super Suppers in corporate-approved locations are viable, why doesn’t corporate take them over and show everyone how it’s done? As you pointed out, all the big costs are already made… The franchisees would probably stay on as employees if corporate assumed the lease.

• Mindy8221
  May 5, 2008 at 10:26 pm

  Great post Sean & Kelly!

  Jan- I have re-read your posts a few times through out my day- Your all over the board here- My gut feeling is SS hired you to be their PR person- to try and put a Spin on the crumbling Mess THEY have created.

  I average about 3-4 calls a WEEK from SS Stores about All kinds of situations they are having. Ideas, Food Cost, you name it- bottom line- It ISNT working and SS Corp. needs to take some responsiblity and give a grace period of not paying Royailties.
  Here is an example: Oprah gives a $100 to each audience memeber to GROW the money she gave- They later came back, and with much suprise People GREW money. Some people didnt grow as much but Learned something that has changed them forever- It’s Called Pay it Forward.
  I challenage ALL ZORS to pay it forward to the Owners that BELIEVED in this concept, took risks FOR YOU.

  Summer is Coming- Wonder which Company will stand up and BE WHO THEY CLAIM TO BE-

  To God Be The Glory

• Jan
  May 6, 2008 at 4:36 am

  Well, Mindy - you are dead wrong. Your gut feeling is wrong and I am not all over the board. I haven’t wavered in my statements since I came on here. You are so intent on putting a label on me that you can’t get it through your head that there are people in this country that take personal responsibility for their actions.

  Don’t flatter yourself. I’m sure SS is not interested in anything Kelly, Sean or you have to say. They don’t need a PR person to go to bat for them on this site.

  It really bugs you to see someone stick up for a corporation, doesn’t it?

  Sean - corporate approved locations are locations that are not in close proximity to another SS. The franchisee still chooses their own site.

  When the dust settles, there is still a need for our services. SS corporate and all of their franchises are in this together trying to be keep it together. Negative, false remarks coming from you and Sean do nothing for the remaining SS.

  Your request for MA corporations to refund royalties and marketing fees makes me laugh. What planet are you from?

  The only thing SS corp. can do for us is to keep up the good job they’re doing now helping us all stay viable and continue with the success a lot of stores are having and will have.

  Sean still hasn’t answered my question - where was he 7 years ago when this so called fad all started? Why wasn’t he out there warning people like Kelly - would she have listened to him? My point is, a lot of people believed in the idea and still do. The ones who couldn’t take the heat closed up. Like all new ideas and concepts, SS is still in it’s young s