BeaverTails: Serving Iconic Canadian Pastries Since 1978

BeaverTails is a beloved Canadian franchise known for its unique, hand-stretched fried dough pastries shaped like a beaver’s tail. It was founded in 1978 by Grant and Pam Hooker in Killaloe, Ontario.

The first permanent location opened in Ottawa’s ByWard Market in 1980. Today, the franchise is headquartered in Montreal, Quebec, and operates over 200 locations across Canada and internationally, including the U.S., Japan, France, Mexico, and the UAE.

Franchising began in the early 1980s, with major growth taking off after 2002 when Pino Di Ioia and his family took majority ownership.

The menu features sweet and savory pastries topped with cinnamon sugar, chocolate hazelnut, and even Reese’s Pieces. Additional offerings include poutine, BeaverBites, and moozoo® smoothies. The franchise stands out for delivering a nostalgic and indulgent treat, appealing to families, tourists, and snack lovers alike.

Training

BeaverTails provides a structured training program for its franchisees to ensure consistent operational standards across all locations. The franchisor requires this training to be completed before the opening of any franchised business.

1. Initial Training Program
   The initial training program is mandatory and must be completed by the franchisee or all Principal Owners if the franchisee is an entity. This program typically lasts between 5 to 12 days and is conducted at a designated location, such as the head office in Montreal. It covers store operations, management techniques, and other foundational aspects of running a BeaverTails store.
2. On-Site Opening Support
   During the store's opening, BeaverTails provides 4 to 5 days of on-site assistance. This support is crucial for ensuring the store starts operations smoothly and aligns with company standards.
3. Ongoing Training and Refresher Courses
   BeaverTails may require franchisees, Principal Owners, or managers to attend additional training, retraining, or refresher courses during the franchise term. These may be held at locations designated by the franchisor and typically incur additional costs.

Territory Protection

BeaverTails provides limited territory protection to franchisees. For permanent retail stores, a typical Territory is a 600-foot radius, within which the franchisor agrees not to open another fixed-location store under the same brand, provided the franchisee is in good standing.

However, BeaverTails reserves the right to operate or license mobile units and other sales channels (like catering or kiosks) even within a franchisee’s Territory. Additionally, a temporary “Hunting Territory” may be granted to find a store location, but this exclusivity ends once a site is secured or the term expires.