Franchising

Edible's 1st 'manage-to-own' candidate takes over Florida store

Photo: File/provided.

April 6, 2021

Edible said the brand's first candidate in its Manage-To-Own (MTO) program, Tony Herlong, has taken the reins of his first store after completing the company's 90-day training program readying him for ownership, a news release said.

"I've always had a passion for the restaurant industry and having worked at almost every level, that experience has uniquely prepared me for my ownership with Edible," Herlong said in the release. "When I came across the MTO opportunity, it imminently sparked my interest as I've admired the brand for so long.

"My time in training solidified that as I saw firsthand the understanding the brand has for guest satisfaction which is equally important to me as a longtime restaurateur. Becoming the owner of the Melbourne store is an honor as the location is already established in the community. Looking ahead, I'm eager to continue expanding with Edible and put the tools I learned to use."

Herlong has more than 35 years of restaurant industry experience and is a decorated army veteran. After successfully taking over operations at the Melbourne store, Herlong has the potential to own the Palm Bay and Cape Canaveral locations, the company said. His goal is to ultimately own 10 Edible stores.

"Our MTO program is an exciting opportunity for longtime managers and operators to become entrepreneurs," Patricia Perry, vice president of franchise development, said in the release. "Qualified candidates that are passionate about business ownership make an initial investment of $30,000 and after participating in our training program, they are awarded an Edible franchise.

"Tony was the perfect person to kickstart this initiative. With his entrepreneurial spirit, established background in operations and overall commitment to success, I am more than confident in his ability to run the Melbourne store and am excited to see what his future with Edible® holds."

The brand's current growth markets in the United States are Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Georgia, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Missouri, Nevada, New Hampshire, Northern California, North Carolina, North Dakota, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, and Wyoming. Internationally, the focus is on Canada, China, Europe, India, Mexico, the Middle East, and Pakistan.

Those interested in opening an Edible franchise should have foodservice or retail experience with a proven track record of success within the franchise industry, as well as community ties and available liquidity to invest in a store. Investments start at $173,600, the company said.

Edible is based in Atlanta and has more than 1,000 locations worldwide.