Founded in 1977 in Palo Alto, California, Mrs. Fields began as a single cookie store offering freshly baked cookies made from founder Debbi Fields’s original recipe. The company is now headquartered in Salt Lake City, Utah, and its franchising arm, Mrs. Fields Franchising, LLC, was formed in 2004 to expand the brand through franchise opportunities.

Mrs. Fields sells freshly baked cookies, brownies, cookie cakes, and other sweet baked goods. The franchise operates in various formats, including traditional stores, kiosks, and non-traditional locations such as malls and high-traffic areas.

What sets Mrs. Fields apart from competitors is its reputation as one of the first premium cookie franchises and its commitment to baking products fresh daily using proprietary recipes. The brand’s strong identity, long-standing heritage, and loyal customer base have helped it maintain a leading position in the dessert and snack market.

Training

Mrs. Fields provides a comprehensive training program to help franchisees successfully operate their bakery business. The franchisor offers several structured programs designed to build product knowledge, operational efficiency, and management skills.

1. Initial Training Program: Franchisees are required to complete an initial training program conducted at the franchisor’s headquarters or a designated training facility. This program typically lasts several weeks and covers topics such as daily store operations, product preparation, customer service, inventory control, and financial management.
2. On-the-Job Training: Following the classroom instruction, franchisees receive on-site, hands-on training at an operating Mrs. Fields location. This phase allows them to apply learned concepts in a real-world environment with guidance from experienced trainers.
3. Management and Staff Training: The franchisor provides training for key management personnel and store employees. This includes food safety, employee supervision, equipment handling, and adherence to brand standards to ensure consistent quality and service.

Territory Protection

Mrs. Fields provides territory protection to its franchisees to help ensure each store can operate without direct competition from another franchise location. The franchisor typically grants an exclusive or protected area defined by geographic boundaries or population metrics.

This protection is designed to give franchisees a fair opportunity to develop their market and maintain consistent sales potential within their designated territory. However, the extent of the territory protection may vary based on the type of location and surrounding market conditions.

Mrs. Fields retains the right to sell products through other distribution channels, such as retail stores, online platforms, or licensed outlets, which may serve customers within a franchisee’s area.