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Who we Are
The Spice & Tea Exchange® was founded in 2008, by a group of talented individuals with a passion for life and food. What started as a small shop St. Augustine, Florida, has quickly grown into a nationwide franchise powered by flavor, passionate franchise owners, and a desire to bring flavorful ingredients to your kitchen.
Creating & sharing the experience of a more flavorful life...
...is the mission and cornerstone of our business, in which we strive to provide guests with quality products and flavorful memories. We offer a high quality, diverse assortment of products in a sensory shopping experience. One step into our shops will kick your senses into high-gear as you open the jars and smell, explore recipes, and speak with our knowledgeable staff about your culinary interests.
The Industry
As a spice and tea retailer, we have the pleasure of being in two distinct industries at once as demand is growing for high-quality, fresh ingredients and unique beverage alternatives. Driving the current purchasing trends are conversations regarding health and wellness, natural foods, transparency and variety. From raw spices to our extensive tea line, all products are sourced with quality in mind.The Global Seasoning & Spices Market is projected to grow 4.7% annually through 2025. If you’re looking for a smart business investment and one of the best food retail franchise opportunities, The Spice & Tea Exchange® may be the perfect opportunity for you!
The Difference
We believe that investing time in our franchisees is key to a successful franchise system. From start to finish, our experienced training staff is working with you from store development throughout your franchise lifetime. Our franchise owners are the #1 reason for what we do, and our team is a close-knit family you’d enjoy sitting with around the dinner table.
The Team
Our Franchise Development team is ready to begin discussions with you! As you engage in our process, you will see the familiar faces to the right. Each individual brings a wealth of knowledge to our Discovery Process as you begin to dive into what it takes to become a The Spice & Tea Exchange® franchisee.
OUR FRANCHISEES
The Spice & Tea Exchange® Franchising, LLC awards franchises to individuals willing to work within our proven system and commit to the highest standards in customer service, community relations, and business. In each area of interest, a candidate is evaluated carefully. We invite anyone who shares our passion for food, tea, and creativity in the kitchen to contact us for an opportunity to learn more!
No culinary experience necessary! As a part of our franchise system, you will have access to professional and experienced field consultants, virtual, in-house, and on-site training throughout the franchise development process. Ask us how our proven franchise model shifted to support our franchise owners AND continued to open stores amidst the 2020 economic crisis!
"I was looking for something to do with my life, and I was doing a lot of soul searching, trying to figure out what I really loved…and what that boiled down to was food. I'm a foodie!"
Inventory Sourced for Franchisees
90%+
Average Store Gross Margin
73.3%
"It's so gratifying to see people walk in the front door, take a deep break to experience the smells, and smile as they begin their shopping experience."
Steps To Ownership
The Process
How Does This Work?
How Does This Work?
The Investment
How Much Does it Cost?
How Much Does it Cost?
TOTAL INVESTMENT RANGE
$183,650 - $384,250
INITIAL FRANCHISE FEE
$38,750
ESTABLISHMENT PACKAGE RANGE
$95,000 - $125,000
BUILD OUT RANGE
$40,000 - $150,000
TOTAL INVESTMENT RANGE
$188,650 - $389,250*
*Includes franchise fee, establishment package, and build out. Majority of stores run in the mid $250K range.
FAQS
Questions Answered
Questions Answered
Do I need culinary and retail experience?
The short answer is no! We have franchisees that have come from every walk of life. It is our job at The Spice & Tea Exchange® to make you a specialty retail expert by the time you open your store. As a part of our franchise system, you will have access to professional and experienced field consultants, in-house and on-site operations training, virtual training, and education libraries to assist you on your franchising journey.
How much does it cost to open a store?
The total cost for opening a store is $183,650 to $369,250. Cost will vary depending on geographical location, size of store, demolition and overall build-out. Complete details will be provided in your FDD (Federal Disclosure Document)!
Do you offer financing?
The Spice & Tea Exchange® has established relationships with lenders that can provide very competitive terms and rates for qualified individuals. We are an Approved Vendor with the SBA, a member of FranRegistry, and proud to offer qualified veterans a discount of 25% off the franchise fee.
What is the typical build time frame?
Franchise location build is determined by a number of factors including, permitting, demolition and site capabilities, seasonality, training team availability, and more. For an accurate estimate, please consult with one of our Franchise Development Team Members.
Am I responsible for our own construction?
While we do not manage the construction process for you, we will be there every step of the way to assist you with the process. You can follow our recommended process in choosing your General Contractor. Once your General Contractor turns the store over to you in "paint ready" condition you are ready for the final step. The Spice & Tea Exchange highly recommends our proprietary build team Store Development, LLC as our premier contractors. Having worked with us for 8+ years, they have built a significant portion of the stores within our system. You do have the option to contract your own builders if desired, and we will work to provide them with guidance throughout the build to ensure brand standards are communicated and requirements met.
Do stores have an area to market assigned to them?
Yes, each of our The Spice & Tea Exchange® franchises are given a specific marketing area (radius) in which you may advertise your store. This is determined by a number of factors, including: population density, foot traffic, and nearby tourist attractions. There may be opportunity to partner with a neighboring Franchisee to combine marketing efforts for greater brand awareness. In addition you can expect tremendous support from our extensive marketing staff.
Do you help me find a location?
Yes, we work with you by visiting sites with you that you have identified. We also recommending finding a commercial real estate broker in the area. We do provide final approval on the site. BTW, many of our franchisees have relocated to "unique/cool areas" of the country to open their stores!
Am I able to open multiple locations?
Many of our franchisees opt to open multiple locations depending on their lifestyle and geography. In addition, The Spice & Tea Exchange® offers discounts of Franchise Fees for Area Development Agreements for three or more stores.
Available Locations
Click on your state of interest to view open territories.
Please note that although prospective locations below are noted as areas of interest, further areas of interest may not be listed on the map.
OPEN LOCATIONS FOR SALE
The following locations may be the perfect fit for you.
- San Francisco, CA
- Ashland, OR
KEY FACTORS TO TARGET
The Spice & Tea Exchange® develops locations that support other unique businesses with similar footprints, including specialty retail, restaurants, and entertainment venues. Learn more about store layouts and community here:
AWARDS & ACHIEVEMENTS
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Entrepreneur® Top 200 Food & Restaurant Franchises #4 Retail Food |
2021 |
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Entrepreneur® Top 200 Food & Restaurant Franchises #5 Retail Food |
2020 |
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Entrepreneur® Top 200 Food & Restaurant Franchises #6 Retail Food |
2018 |
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Entrepreneur® Top 200 Food & Restaurant Franchises #8 Retail Food |
2019 |
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Top Franchises for Veterans #140 |
2021 |
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Entrepreneur® Franchise 500 #240 |
2017 |
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Entrepreneur® Franchise 500 #279 |
2018 |
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Entrepreneur® Franchise 500 #312 |
2021 |
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Entrepreneur® Franchise 500 #375 |
2015 |
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Entrepreneur® Franchise 500 #392 |
2019 |
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Entrepreneur® Franchise 500 #442 |
2020 |
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Top 200 Food & Restaurant Franchises Inc. 5000 #4059 |
2016 |
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America’s Fastest-Growing Private Companies Inc. 5000 #4959 |
2015 |
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Tampa Bay Business Journal Fast 50 Fastest Growing Companies | 2014 |
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