Great Harvest Bread Company: A Unique Bakery Café Franchise

Since its inception in 1978, Great Harvest Bread Company has distinguished itself in the bakery café franchise world. The journey began with the opening of the second Great Harvest bakery in Kalispell, Montana, and the franchise quickly expanded beyond its Montana roots. Today, it stands as the nation's first family of independently owned and operated whole grain bread bakeries and cafes.

Headquartered in Dillon, Montana, Great Harvest remains true to its core values of authenticity, camaraderie, and individuality. These principles resonate with people across the country. The company’s franchising model is unique, promoting local ownership and community integration rather than a standardized approach. Franchisees are encouraged to adopt the company’s successful systems while adding their local touch to the business.

Great Harvest's franchise model is notable for its brand authenticity and a business concept that has been profitable for over 30 years. The company prides itself on having no direct national competitors, aiming to transform daily bread consumption habits by offering a superior alternative to supermarket "pseudo artisan" bread.

Training 

Great Harvest offers a comprehensive training program to franchisees, ensuring they are well-equipped to manage their bakery cafes in line with the company's high standards and procedures.

Initial Training Program Franchisees receive two training slots as part of the initial program. This includes completing the self-directed, self-paced Great Harvest University (GHU) online coursework, which provides foundational knowledge for running a successful bakery cafe.

Baking Fundamentals School A key component of the training is the "Baking Fundamentals School," a five-day intensive production training held in Dillon, Montana. This program covers all aspects of bread making and cafe item production, ensuring franchisees master the techniques and principles essential to Great Harvest products.

On-Site Training Franchisees also benefit from hands-on training at their bakery cafe locations. This practical training is conducted by seasoned franchisees, experienced bakery cafe employees, and corporate staff. It encompasses daily operations, customer service, marketing strategies, and employee management, providing franchisees with real-world experience and personalized guidance.

Territory Protection

Great Harvest provides franchisees with exclusive territorial rights, ensuring that each Great Harvest store maintains a healthy distance from others. Once a franchisee secures a suitable location for their Bakery Cafe within their Exclusive Search Territory and completes a lease or building purchase, Great Harvest establishes an Exclusive Franchise Territory around that site.

The Exclusive Franchise Territory is intentionally smaller than the Exclusive Search Territory, which primarily serves as a broader area for franchisees to identify potential sites for their Bakery Cafe.

Great Harvest guarantees not to establish or franchise another Great Harvest store within the physical location of a franchisee's Exclusive Franchise Territory. However, it is important to note that this commitment does not extend to restricting all business activities of Great Harvest and its affiliates.