Food-Prep Company Sells Two Franchises
Cena Franchising Inc. expands on West Coast, to start supper club here
by Emily Brandler
Of the JOURNAL OF BUSINESS

Cena Franchising Inc., of Spokane, which operates a store here called Cena Entrees To Go, says it has sold its first two franchises, both on the West Coast, and plans to start a supper club early next year.

Cena Franchising supplies ingredients and materials to customers who can prepare six or 12 six-serving takout meals at Cena's store, located at 12501 N. U.S. 395, says Tami Badinger, its president and CEO.

It's target customer base is people who like the convenience of "pre-prepped" home meal replacements that they can take home, freeze and then serve later.

The store also offers single meals sold ready-to-go, recommends and sells wines to go along with its entrees, and operates a bakery, Badinger says. Cena means dinner in Spanish and Italian.

Cena Franchising, which as 12 employees here, sold a franchise in Olympia a few weeks ago and one in Sacramento in October, she says. The franchisee in Olympia plans to open a store by March, and the franchisee in Sacramento plans to open one in February.

Cena Franchising sells franchises for $25,000 and charges a fee of 5 percent of the franchisee's gross sales, she says. It also requires a four-day training period at the store in Spokane.

Badinger says a potential franchisee in San Diego is interested in buying franchise rights to open 10 stores there. The company also has received inquiries about buying franchises from people in San Antonio and Chicago, as well as Canada, Mexico and Pakistan, she says.

In addition to expanding its franchising business, the company plans to start a supper club in February. Up to six couples will be able to form a group that meets once a month at Cena to prepare six different meals, and then can take those meals home, freeze them, and bring them to group members' houses later. Cena also plans to hire guest chefs and wine experts to help groups with meal preparation.

Badinger and business partner Nancy Hough started Cena LLC in 2004 and turned it into a franchising company in August, Badinger says.

####