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Bun Mee, a Vietnamese sandwich eatery, has launched franchise development plans for North America.
With four corporate-owned stores in San Francisco and an additional store set to open there in November, Bun Mee is looking for ambitious, adventurous, and creative entrepreneurs to bring it to local communities, said Denise Tran, founder and CEO of Bun Mee.
"Each Bun Mee location is designed to have a unique local vibe, with intentional choices regarding music, ambiance, and artwork," she said in a company press release. "We place a strong focus on the well-being of our employees and guests and strive to deliver a fine dining
experience in a fast-casual atmosphere. It's more than a meal - it's an experience. Vietnamese food has a wide variety of flavors and ingredients. If you aren't seeking it out or already aware of it, you may never get the opportunity to try it. I'm excited to spread love and awareness of my heritage through our restaurant and to inspire people to try something new."
Founded in 2011, Bun Mee is looking for single and multi-unit owners. Each store's gross sales revenue surpassed S1 million by or before the second year in operation, Tran said. Its two airport stores saw outstanding profit margins, with both terminal locations grossing over $4.6 million and S3.6 million in sales in 2023, respectively. Despite San Francisco being a robust and oversaturated market, Bun Mee's traditional storefronts have done over $1 million in sales every year since 2021.
"There has been a huge surge in popularity for Southeast Asian cuisine worldwide," Kera Vo, head of franchise development, said in the release. "It's healthy, bursting with flavor, and keeps you fueled and full. We plan on meeting the growing demand for simple, tasty, and healthy Asian dining options through our franchise expansion. There's not really a national name dominating the banh mi space, nor is there a go-to, popular Vietnamese chain or franchise. Bun Mee has a clear opportunity to become that household name, and fill a significant gap in the market. This provides a compelling case for potential franchisees looking to invest in a concept with minimal direct competition, in an unsaturated market."