Established by John Puckett, a former Boston-based management consultant, the first Caribou Coffee location opened in Minnesota in 1992.

As a company dedicated to sustainability, all Caribou Coffee coffees and espressos are 100% Rainforest Alliance Certified. Focusing on only clean-label ingredients, like real chocolate and real caramel sauce, each drink is crafted without artificial additives.

Over time, Caribou Coffee has moved into the retail space, producing K-Cup® Pods, a variety of ready-to-drink beverages, and specialty bagged coffee that can be found online and in grocery stores across America.

Caribou Coffee is part of the Panera Brands portfolio, alongside Panera Bread® and Bagel Brands®, sharing a mission to be positive forces for guests, communities, and the planet.

• Caribou Coffee offers franchise opportunities in three formats: chalet, cabin, and kiosk. It emphasizes quality, innovation, and global connection.
• Training includes a Certified General Manager program and adherence to Caribou Coffee’s core values, fostering a vibrant company culture.
• The initial investment ranges from $249,100 to $1,146,300, depending on the venue type, and additional fees are charged for training, design, and permits.
• Franchise fees vary from $15,000 to $30,000, with stringent qualifications including multi-unit experience and substantial liquid assets.
• Average annual revenue per franchise ranges from $500,000 to $1,000,000, with personal profits influenced by venue, location, and management effectiveness.

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Yes, Caribou Coffee is a franchise with establishments specializing in fresh roasted coffee and baked goods.

Caribou Coffee began offering franchise opportunities in 2004 and provides three distinct formats for franchising: chalet, cabin, and kiosk.

• Chalet: Traditional coffee house style with a full food and beverage menu and seating for guests.
• Cabin: Drive-thru only format with an emphasis on fast and friendly service.
• Kiosk: The smallest footprint of the three models, featuring a limited menu and often located in colleges and universities, hotels, or entertainment venues.

For nearly 30 years, Caribou Coffee has prioritized quality, innovation, and connection, inviting potential franchisees to join them in delivering memorable experiences worldwide.

There are more than 750 Caribou Coffee franchises worldwide, 294 of which are franchised, and the remainder are company-owned locations.

Of the 496 Caribou Coffee venues in the United States, a remarkable 307 (64%) are located in Minnesota. The adjacent states, Wisconsin and North Dakota, each have 7% of the total number of Caribou Coffee locations.

The company’s footprint also extends to an additional ten countries, most of which are in the Middle East.

Franchisees must appoint a Certified General Manager, endorsed by Caribou Coffee, who is responsible for daily operations and staff training.

The Certified General Manager is required to undergo up to six weeks of training at designated Caribou Coffee locations. Additional personnel may be required to attend seminars or other training as directed by Caribou Coffee.

Caribou Coffee emphasizes company culture, training new franchisees in their five core values:

• Be Yourself
• Make Fun Happen
• Serve with Love
• Support One Another
• Take Ownership

Franchisees or their approved management personnel must commit full-time to business operations and offer only approved Caribou Coffee goods and services at company-regulated prices.

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When considering opening a new Caribou Coffee or traditional franchise location, be aware of several Caribou Coffee franchise costs. These costs vary depending on several factors, most notably the type of venue being opened.

• Kiosk locations cost $249,100 to $606,300.

• Cabin locations cost $446,100 to $732,300.
• Chalet locations cost $722,100 to $1,146,300.

Regardless of which style the potential franchisee pursues, additional costs will include the initial franchise fee, architecture and design fee, business licenses, training expenses, signage and furnishings, and minimum royalty fee.

Caribou Coffee’s initial franchise fee is $15,000 for kiosks and $30,000 for chalet and cabin-style stores.

Before being considered for franchise opportunities with Caribou Coffee, the company requires several qualifications. To qualify, an individual must have the following:

• At least $3 million in cash or liquid assets.
• Multi-unit food and beverage or franchise experience.
• Commitment to opening ten or more additional locations over a set period of time.

The required qualifications for Caribou Coffee franchising are higher than those for many competitor brands; however, initial fees and potential earnings make franchise opportunities a still viable option for those who qualify.

Caribou Coffee enjoyed its highest year of profits ever in 2023, with gross sales reaching $262 million globally.

The average annual revenue across all individual Caribou Coffee locations ranges between $500,000 and $1,000,000.

Personal profits of each individual Caribou Coffee location will range based on a variety of factors. These include venue type, number of employees, store location, and ability and tenacity of the franchisee and his or her team.

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