Franchise Opportunities in Medical Marijuana
Where would fast-food franchises be without stoners? After all, there’s nothing like the case of the munchies to help spur sales of burgers, pizza, and donuts. So it’s only appropriate that the franchising industry is giving something back to its best customers. And that something is WeGrow, a new franchise opportunity that calls itself the “Walmart of Weed.” The company just opened up its first franchise in Phoenix. It also operates two other stores in California.
WeGrow doesn’t sell pot. But it does sell the paraphernalia needed to grow your own, including hothouse kits, irrigation trays, UV lamps, and any other hydroponic accessory you can think of. There’s even an on-site doctor with the authority to approve medical marijuana ID cards. Toking up for medicinal purposes is now legal in 16 states.
Sure, a business like WeGrow comes with inherent risks—like getting high on your own supply. But there’s also plenty of upside. Like getting high on your own supply.
The company hopes to keep growing the business. New stores are in the works for Colorado, New Jersey Delaware, and Oregon, according to the WeGrow website. The company says it’s looking for franchisees who have at least $166,000 in working capital. And no, you can’t pay in dime bags.
Chinese chicken: an unusual franchise opportunity
Usually, when franchises go abroad, they tailor their menus for local tastes. Hence squid ink pizza in Japan and seaweed cheese donuts in Singapore. But the latest release from KFC in China is a head-scratcher: “Taste of Ireland” Fried Chicken. Apparently, this is chicken marinated in a milky liquid that resembles Baileys Irish Cream.
Why the Chinese would go crazy for this dish is anyone’s guess. Check out this bizarre commercial and judge for yourself.
Less for more
With global food prices spiraling out of control, fast food chains are finding a way to charge more for less. They’re creating mini versions of some of their top selling items, like the mini Blizzard at Dairy Queen or the Angus snack wrap at McDonald’s, which is half the size of its regular Angus burger.
But even though these restaurants are cutting ingredients in half, they’re keeping the prices high. And they’re getting away with it. Why? Because mini-sized menu items appeal to guilt-ridden consumers who’d rather not spend a year in therapy just because they broke their diet.
“Consumers are willing to pay a little bit of a premium for the mini Blizzard,” a Dairy Queen exec tells Bloomberg News. “That has helped our operators protect their margins.”
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