Franchisee Profile: Jim and Kathy Keyser, Philly Pretzel Factory Franchisees of Chalfont, PA

Location: 205 E Butler Ave
Chalfont, PA 18914-3107

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Q: What were you doing before you got started in franchising?
A: I started in sales about 25 years ago. I worked in software sales and even a startup internet company. Eventually, I became the division president for a financial services company and then later the COO.

Q: How did you learn about Philly Pretzel Factory?
A: I learned about the brand as a customer! We’re a big pretzel family. The last two years I had been thinking about starting my own business. I learned about my location through one of my doctor’s patients who happened to be the owner at the time.

Q: How did you validate the brand prior to joining the system?
A: I looked at other pretzel company’s a little bit and I got to see some of the competitors. I asked around in my community about Philly Pretzel Factory and found that the brand had a very positive reputation. I even tried doing internet searches to see if I could find some negative press, but I couldn’t find one thing. After interviewing the franchisees, and seeing that they were all so happy, it solidified the decision in my mind.

Q: Why was Philly Pretzel Factory a good fit for you?
A: Being a franchisee is not a financial decision, it is more about the quality of life. It’s about setting priorities and doing the things that are important, like enjoying my life and spending time with my family. I also like the more physical aspect of the job as opposed to working behind a desk. Philly Pretzel Factory is a good fit because I really like the variety of product, the excellent franchise structure and the thorough training.

ABOUT PHILLY PRETZEL FACTORY
Philly Pretzel Factory was founded in 1998 by college buddies Dan DiZio and Len Lehman who created a recipe unique to Philly, yet desired in any market. Today, the award-winning pretzel feeds customers at more than 100 franchised locations, primarily in the Northeast. For more information on Philly Pretzel Factory, visit www.phillypretzelfactory.com.

Philly Soft Pretzel Factory featured in Smart Business Philadelphia

Philly Pretzel Factory was featured in Smart Business Philadelphia in an article titled, “Building a growth strategy at Philly Pretzel Factory,” which came out in May’s edition. The article discusses Philly Pretzel Factory from the founding to where they are now at and how they have developed a strategy to help them grow over the past 8 years. Dan DiZio and his college roommate Len Lehman have really found a way to make this once simple company grow to 120 stores down the Eastern seaboard. Looking at their strengths and their core values, they were able to create a successful system with strong framework that positioned them for continued growth. By focusing on each franchisee, the company knew that each operator would help them to build the brand in local markets and to continue to bring new ideas back to the system to keep it fresh. Click here to view the article in its entirety!

Building a growth strategy at Philly Pretzel Factory
By Erik Cassano

They were planning to close at 9 a.m. that first day.

Dan DiZio had just co-founded a small pretzel bakery with his former college roommate. He had been a stockbroker; his roommate was a psychological counselor. They had tired of the daily 9-to-5 grind and decided to pool their resources and get into the pretzel business.

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Philly Pretzel Factory featured in Dover Post

Philly Pretzel Factory was recently featured in the Dover Post in an article entitled “Meet Your Bakers: Anita and Joe Anderson." This article features Anita and Joe Anderson, owners of Philly Pretzel Factory of Dover, discussing what makes their pretzels unique and the attention that goes into baking the 800-1000 pretzels they make fresh every day. Anita and Joe also divulge that twisting pretzels isn’t as difficult as you might think and how important the dough is to creating the perfect Philly Pretzel Factory pretzel. Click here to view the full article!

MEET YOUR BAKERS: Philly Pretzel Factory's Anita and Joe Anderson
By Sarika Jagtiani

Dover, Del - Anita and Joe Anderson have owned the Philly Pretzel Factory for two years. They took a break from the job to talk about two years of early mornings, twisting pretzels and learning the ropes as bakers. They also offered a tip to pretzel lovers: When you buy a bag of pretzels, keep the top open to let the pretzels breathe. Otherwise the salt will melt and dampen your pretzels.

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Philly Soft Pretzel Factory featured in The Centre Daily Times

Philly Pretzel Factory was featured in the Sunday edition of The Centre Daily Times in a business column that highlighted National Pretzel Day, which is Tuesday April 26. In the article, Dave Rosania, owner of Philly Pretzel Factory in State College, Pa., encouraged readers to come to the 124 S. Allen St. location from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on National Pretzel Day to receive a free pretzel. He noted that Pennsylvania has a rich pretzel history and he enjoys celebrating it with his customers. For those who are watching their diet, he said the pretzel is a guilt-free indulgence with no fat, no cholesterol, 4 grams of fiber and14 grams of protein. Click here to view the full article!

BITS OF BUSINESS
By Cliff White

If you happen to be feeling both hungry and cheap on Tuesday, stop by the Philly Pretzel Factory at 124 S. Allen St. From 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., they’ll be serving up free pretzels to customers in celebration of National Pretzel Day.

“We really encourage people to come over,” store co-owner David Rosania said.

(Read More)