For the first time, Franchise FastLane has partnered with a fast-casual restaurant, California-based Sourdough & Co. Founded seven years ago, Franchise FastLane is a franchise development organization that handles sales — and much more — for emerging brands, with responsible growth being its top priority.
“This is the first fast-casual restaurant concept that met our criteria for a partnership with us,” says Tim Koch, Franchise FastLane president and chief operating officer. “Their validation is strong, with more than 80 territories already operating and lots of multi-unit ownership. All of their ingredients are natural and healthy. Both of those factors really stood out. Other strong selling points are that Sourdough & Co. doesn’t require fryers, the hours of operation aren’t as long as those of most restaurants, and staffing is relatively lean, which streamlines both cost and managerial responsibilities.”
Koch also credits Sourdough & Co. with “carving out a niche in the competitive sandwich space with its high-quality ingredients and strong customer appeal. The restaurant brand has a simple business model, superior menu and proof of concept with its consistent growth. We have full confidence in their leadership and vision as we partner with our first fast-casual restaurant franchise.”
Founded in the Greater Sacramento area by Nick Singh, Sourdough & Co. has built a loyal customer following over its 15 years with its signature made-fresh-daily sourdough: “the bread with benefits.” That’s more than a slogan: WebMD.com credits sourdough with boosting the availability of nutrients such as folate, potassium and magnesium as well as increasing protective antioxidants compared to other bread choices.
Another driver of Sourdough & Co. success is American consumers’ growing preference for healthful eating, as cited by the World Economic Forum. That has helped sourdough bread’s rise in the marketplace for a few years now, according to Grand View Research. The market research firm reports that the global sourdough market size reached $3.3 billion in 2023 and issued a forecast of 7.2% annual growth from now through 2030. At that point, the global sourdough market will be valued at more than $5 billion per year, Grand View Research predicts.
Sourdough & Co. taps those advantages in the marketplace as it expands across the United States. Known for its welcoming and modern restaurant designs, Sourdough & Co.’s 82 locations are currently concentrated in California, but the brand also has restaurants up and running in Colorado, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Texas and Washington.
Franchisees appreciate that Sourdough & Co. has a loyalty program, partnerships with third-party delivery services, and catering capabilities that help the brand’s owners maximize their revenue. Its menu includes traditional sandwiches such as turkey, pastrami and roast beef, but Sourdough & Co. also offers nuanced house-specialty sandwiches like Cranberry Turkey, Chicken Cholula, Smoked Brisket and Caprese. In addition, the menu includes flatbreads, salads and an array of soups ranging from New England clam chowder to chicken-poblano pepper, plus cream of potato, tomato, chili and more.
Sourdough & Co. has grown steadily since Singh opened his first restaurant in El Dorado Hills, a community just outside Sacramento. Sourdough & Co. began franchising in 2021, and the brand has already experienced substantial expansion, nearly doubling its footprint in both 2023 and 2024. Singh hopes it will reach 700 locations by 2027.
“We’re thrilled to join forces with Franchise FastLane as we begin our most ambitious expansion yet,” Singh says. “Franchise FastLane’s deep industry connections and commitment to carefully considered, responsible growth make them the perfect partner to help us scale Sourdough & Co. at a pace that we couldn’t achieve alone.”
Franchise FastLane, headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska, is a franchise development organization that specializes in accelerating growth for the most qualified franchise brands. It offers comprehensive solutions, including full-service franchise sales management through the FastLane program and development coaching plus a turnkey franchise development operating system through the CarPool service. Franchise FastLane uniquely serves both emerging and growth-oriented franchisors. Both programs are supported by the MasterClass training series and the Preferred Partner Network, equipping franchisors with the tools and expertise needed to thrive and achieve sustainable, responsible growth.
For more information about Franchise FastLane and the Sourdough & Co. franchise opportunity, click here.