Case Study: Small Food Shop drives franchise growth with Catalant Technologies

Strategic Growth Plan Gives Beloved Brand a Competitive Edge

Small Food Shop, a beloved food brand that grew from a local shop into a national franchise with more than 40,000 distribution points and 550 franchises, needed help balancing growth across retail and distribution channels. As the company expanded, it struggled to support franchisees while preserving its homegrown brand feel, and it wanted a better way to think beyond its physical retail locations. To address this challenge, Small Food Shop turned to Catalant Technologies and its on-demand digital expert platform.

Catalant Technologies connected the company with an outside specialist who had experience scaling food startups and leading consumer brand marketing. Over six weeks, the expert analyzed the franchise network and competitive landscape, then delivered three strategic support initiatives centered on technology, training, and communication between franchisees and the executive team. The result was a more centralized approach to off-site franchise sales, reduced focus on fringe projects, and improved franchisee support that helped transform off-site sales for five years.