An exciting new franchise has been generating quite a bit of buzz in recent months. You might have seen their ads in a number of business magazines like the Franchise Times, or read about them online via the Wall Street Journal, The Boston Herald, or CNN Money. It’s a very simple concept really, but with enough of a twist to make it interesting.

The franchise is French Fry Heaven and their mission is “to serve the best fries on earth.”

What’s So Special About French Fry Heaven?

French Fry Heaven is a snack-only franchise that serves two kinds of fries — Angels and Saints.

Angels are classic french fries served Belgian-style with a choice of toppings, from the familiar to the unusual. Saints are sweet potato fries served either salty, with a choice of toppings, or dessert-style rolled in cinnamon and brown sugar and covered with things such as caramel, vanilla, or marshmallow.

Customers can choose any flavor ranging from salty to sweet, Cajun fries to caramel sweet potato fries. French Fry Heaven currently has 51+ flavors in their flavor library, with new varieties being introduced regularly. A typical location will offer at least 21 “master flavors” plus a few extra that cater to local tastes.

The fries are made fresh, cooked in gluten-free oil, made with zero trans-fat, and served in a cone.

French Fry Heaven Franchise Background

French Fry Heaven, billed as the first and only gourmet fry franchise, was founded in 2010 by Scott Nelowet in Jacksonville, Fla. It now has 3 locations, with 69 more in the works.

The total estimated initial investment to begin operation of a French Fry Heaven outlet ranges from $117,900 to $298,900. Its Royalty Fee is 6% of gross sales, while its Advertising Fee is 3% of gross sales.

French Fry Heaven can be operated in a variety of locations — from shopping malls and college campuses, to stadiums and hospitals.

Franchisees receive a high level of support from Paradise (headquarters) that includes support and systems for site selection, build (design through open), marketing, daily operations, online training, and financial analysis.

French Fry Heaven is open to both individual owners and multi-unit operators, with a preference for those who are driven and have a history of community service.

French Fry Heaven Explains Menu Through Mobile App

With new locations opening in 10 states over the next few months, French Fry Heaven has come up with a simple way to explain the unique concept and extensive list of flavors to all future customers.

Founder Scott Nelowet developed an “educational” game app for the iPhone platform (now available for free on iTunes) that teaches consumers about the different types of fries.

The French Fry Heaven Game works by introducing 50 characters that each represents a flavor of fries found on the French Fry Heaven menu. Users unlock each character one level at time by completing various tasks that teach them about that flavor and its ingredients. Upon completing all 50 levels of the game, users will have a chance to win free fries.

The Bottom Line

French Fry Heaven is one of the most intriguing new franchise concepts I’ve come across in a while. I like the low initial investment, flexibility in site selection, great branding, and a product line that people love. French Fry Heaven is a franchise to watch!