Roly Poly: The Original Rolled Sandwich Franchise

Roly Poly is a distinctive sandwich franchise known for its rolled tortilla sandwiches, offering a healthier and flavorful twist on traditional deli fare. Founded in 1996 by Linda Wolf and Julie Reid in Atlanta, Georgia, the brand quickly built a following for its unique concept.

Franchising began in 1997, allowing the business to expand beyond its initial location.

Headquartered in Alpharetta, Georgia, Roly Poly serves over 50 varieties of rolled sandwiches, along with soups and salads.

The franchise emphasizes fresh, high-quality ingredients and accommodates a wide range of dietary needs, including vegetarian and low-carb options. This attention to customer preferences and quality differentiates Roly Poly in the fast-casual market.

Training

Roly Poly provides a multi-stage training program for its franchisees and their staff to ensure effective business operation. The training includes both pre-opening and ongoing sessions. Here are the components:

1. Pre-Training Program: Conducted over 6 days at a designated Roly Poly location, this training is mandatory for the franchisee and their designated manager. It covers essential operations, including food preparation, cleanliness, employee management, and health code compliance.
2. Grand Opening Training: Spanning 12 days (2 days before and 10 days after the opening), this program occurs at the franchisee's unit. It ensures the franchisee and their team are prepared for actual store operations during the launch phase.
3. Ongoing Training and Counseling: Roly Poly may require attendance at up to two days of additional training annually. This can take place through seminars, site visits, or digital communication, with the franchisor covering instruction materials but not travel or lodging expenses.
4. Optional and Remedial Training: Additional sessions may be offered or required if performance issues arise. A fee of up to $215 per person per day may apply for these.

Territory Protection

Roly Poly provides a form of territorial protection to its franchisees through designated “Delivery Areas” and, in some cases, “Development Territories.” Franchisees are typically granted an exclusive Delivery Area, within which the franchisor will not authorize other franchisees or company-owned units to deliver, as long as the franchisee continues to meet service expectations.

However, Roly Poly may redefine the Delivery Area if it believes the franchisee cannot adequately serve it, and this redefinition does not entitle the franchisee to compensation.

For franchisees operating under an Area Development Agreement, Roly Poly grants a Development Territory, within which only the franchisee can open new units, provided they meet the development schedule and remain in compliance. This territory does not include parks, previously existing units, or newly acquired competitor locations.