Locali Healthy Convenience to Begin Franchising

LOS ANGELES — After eight years of operating in the Los Angeles area, Locali has decided to expand its reach across the country through franchising.

A new partnership with Hossein Kasmai of Franchise Creator, which will manage the franchise development and sales, will also bring the Locali brand into some international territories.

"While we are continuing company-owned expansion in Southern California, we are now officially going to franchise across the rest of the country, and believe it or not, Australia will likely be our first spot to franchise internationally due to extensive interest coming from there now," according to a company spokeswoman. 

Locali will begin its franchise push this summer and has already compiled a list of vetted parties interested in franchising opportunities, she added.

The company will be franchising both Locali Healthy Convenience, its organic deli and natural market quick-service restaurant, as well as Localita & The Badasserie, its vegan fast-food brand. 

"We look forward to offering a healthy restaurant franchise opportunity to fellow entrepreneurs that puts quality ingredients, community involvement, sustainability, limiting food waste and workers on par with the bottom line," the spokeswoman explained.

According to the retailer, both models are relatively easy to successfully operate in a small retail footprint based on the profitable systems the company has created over the past eight years.

As the demand for healthy eating options grows, Locali is a certified member of ChooseHealth LA, the LA Green Business Program and RAISE, an association of restaurant industry leaders committed to sustainable business models that champion living wages, basic benefits and fair promotion policies.

The retailer is also overhauling its look. Its new tagline for Locali Healthy Convenience is "Eat Smart. All Day." Localita & The Badasserie will keep its current tagline of "Eat Nice. Live Naughty." New signage is expected to be installed in the next two weeks.

In addition to franchising, the retailer's packaged fresh-food line of Locali Healthy Kitchen quinoa bowls and vegan salad dressing are with a local distributor, available for Southern California natural grocery stores, juice bars and cafes. The company will expand the Locali Healthy Kitchen product line over the next year as well. 

The Locali On The Go vending machine brand is also growing its presence, according to the company.