Taziki’s Mediterranean Café is a fast-casual restaurant franchise specializing in fresh, made-from-scratch Mediterranean cuisine. Founded in 1998 by Keith and Amy Richards in Birmingham, Alabama, the concept was inspired by their trip to Greece, where they experienced the communal, flavorful nature of Mediterranean cafés.

This inspiration led to the creation of a unique dining experience that blends healthy meals with southern hospitality.

The brand began franchising in 2013 after successfully opening several locations. It remains headquartered in Birmingham, Alabama. The menu features gyros, grilled meats, fresh salads, soups, and signature sauces, all prepared without fryers or freezers to emphasize freshness and quality.

Taziki’s stands out for its commitment to health and sustainability. It was the first franchise in the U.S. to receive REAL certification from the United States Healthful Food Council, recognizing its focus on nutritious, minimally processed ingredients.

Training

Taziki's Mediterranean Café provides a thorough and multi-level training program to prepare franchisees and their teams for restaurant operations. The training is structured into various components targeting different roles within the restaurant.

1. MIT Program Training
   Franchisees (or Owner-Operators) and their general managers must complete eight weeks (approximately 400 hours) of training at a Certified Training Store. This extensive training includes operational methods and a standard chart of accounts for business accounting. It's designed to immerse key leadership in the daily functions of the franchise.
2. Assistant General Manager Training
   Each franchise is required to have two Assistant General Managers complete four weeks (approximately 200 hours) of in-store training. This ensures consistent management standards and operational quality across locations.
3. Shift Leader Training (Optional)
   Two shift leaders can receive two weeks (100 hours) of in-store training, which is optional but encouraged. This prepares frontline supervisors to maintain service and operational excellence.

Territory Protection

Taziki’s Mediterranean Café provides franchisees with a defined “Assigned Area” during the term of the Franchise Agreement. This area is determined based on county population and is detailed in the agreement—ranging from a one-mile radius in dense counties to five miles in sparsely populated ones.

However, the franchisee does not receive true exclusivity and may face competition from other franchisees, company-owned outlets, or other brands the franchisor controls.

Despite having an assigned territory, Taziki’s reserves the right to sell products and services through various channels, including supermarkets and online platforms, even within a franchisee’s area.