By Aleasha Sandley
August 28, 2008 12:04 am
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ANDERSON — Next Easter’s dinner might not be such a hassle for Anderson residents who would rather spend time with their families than baking the Easter ham.
National chain HoneyBaked Ham Co. and Cafe is looking to make a home in Anderson before Easter, bringing spiral-sliced, specially glazed hams, turkeys and other meats for purchase, as well as side dishes and desserts.
“They’re extremely popular during the holidays,” said Jim Squire, director of franchise development for HoneyBaked.
The store also will offer a cafe open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday serving soup, sandwiches and salads, and catering for special events and businesses.
“A lot of local businesses and organizations that have luncheon meetings enjoy having HoneyBaked Ham drop off our lunch boxes and gourmet meat trays,” Squire said.
The company wanted to locate in Anderson after creating a chain of stores around Indianapolis. The closest one to Anderson is in Carmel, so HoneyBaked decided to make its next move to the northeast Indianapolis area.
“It’s sort of a natural upcropping of establishing in a greater metropolitan area,” Squire said. “Muncie is a sister opportunity in Delaware County, which we think will give us a good tradition in the northeast part of the Indianapolis area.”
Anderson is already primed to have a HoneyBaked Ham location, said Ken Caldwell, vice president of franchise operations for the company, in a news release.
“The demographics and consumer lifestyle in Anderson meet the HoneyBaked expansion model and criteria,” he said.
The company cannot move to Anderson, however, without a franchisee, someone willing to open and run the business. Once a franchisee is found, the company will find a specific location.
HoneyBaked Ham stores usually go into strip shopping centers with about 1,600 to 2,000 square feet for operation.
Squire has had a few people from the Anderson area express an interest in opening a HoneyBaked franchise, but has not made a decision yet. The position offers limited hours and opportunity to be engaged in the community, he said.
“It’s really somebody that would like to be really engaged in the community,” he said. “We are not a traditional fast-food service where we just open the door and expect people to come in.”
HoneyBaked expects its franchisees to be involved in the local chamber of commerce to promote the catering side of the business and to participate in community causes, like corporate gift giving.
“It really requires somebody that likes to get away from the store, get out and establish their location in the community,” Squire said.
A franchisee interested in operating more than one store also could own the store HoneyBaked plans to put in Muncie, he said.
The store will employ four to six part-time workers during the non-holiday season, and possibly more around Thanksgiving, Christmas and Easter, the firm’s busiest times. Squire hopes to find a franchisee within 30-60 days to get the store open before Easter.
Although HoneyBaked has not contacted Anderson Economic Development in its search for a franchisee and location, some franchises do so, said Linda Dawson, economic development director.
Franchises help the city by adding to its tax base and providing jobs, she said.
“They’re a great benefit, but they’re not for everyone,” she said.
Franchisees can benefit from having the company’s expertise behind their store and having a name-brand product to sell, which reduces marketing efforts, she said, although opening a franchise can cost upwards of $100,000 in franchise fees paid to the company.
Those interested in creating a HoneyBaked franchise in Anderson should visit honeybakedfranchise.com or speak to Squire at (678) 966-3254.
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HoneyBaked Ham locations in Indiana include:
— 2001-10 E. Greyhound Pass, Carmel
— 3905 W. 96th St., No. 100, Indianapolis
— 8100 U.S. 136, Suite N, Avon
— 2431 E. 65th St., Indianapolis
— 8309-11 U.S. 31 South, Indianapolis
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