Edible Arrangements® Heads West for Expansion

WALLINGFORD, Conn., April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Edible Arrangements^®, the pioneer and leader in handcrafted fresh fruit arrangements, has set its sights on the Pacific Northwest for an aggressive expansion campaign designed to open as many as 30 new locations in the near future.

Edible Arrangements^® already has 10 locations in Oregon and Washington and sees significant opportunity for growth, which will be accomplished through franchising.

The expansion comes only weeks after fresh fruit was declared the number one snack in the U.S., according to a "Snacking in America" report from consumer research firm The NPD Group. The report also states that fresh fruit is one of the fastest-growing snacks in popularity, a trend Edible Arrangements^® is also seeing. The company's same store sales increased by 11 percent in 2012 over the previous year.

"Healthy living is a top priority for consumers," Edible Arrangements^® CEO Tariq Farid said. "And the Pacific Northwest is no exception. It's one of the hottest areas of growth right now with the exact demographics we are seeking, and it's a dynamic, creative area that enjoys a healthy lifestyle. We are excited about the opportunities to expand our presence."

Farid said that most of Edible Arrangements^® growth will be focused in the Seattle, Tacoma and Portland areas and the company is currently seeking franchisees with the resources to open multiple locations.

"This is the perfect opportunity for an experienced franchisee or someone wanting to get into business for themselves," added Edible Arrangements^® Vice President of Franchise Development John Wuycheck. "Our start-up costs are low compared with similar concepts and we actually offer two businesses in one. We have a strong storefront model and more than 50 percent of revenue is generated through the Edible Arrangements^® proprietary e-commerce system. In addition, our franchisees benefit from marketing muscle that includes national TV and extensive online search and display promotion."

With more than 1,100 locations in the United States and 14 countries worldwide, Edible Arrangements^® enjoys 77 percent total brand awareness in the Gift Category, according to a winter 2012 ATU study. In addition, the company has been named one of the "Top 20 Franchises for the Buck" by Forbes.com and was named to the Internet Retailer "Top 100".

More information about Edible Arrangements^® franchise opportunities is available at http://www.eafranchise.com.

About Edible Arrangements
With over 1,100 franchise locations open or under development worldwide, Edible Arrangements International, LLC is the leading purveyor of delicious, high quality, artistically designed, fresh fruit arrangements that are practical and healthy gifts and centerpieces for everyday occasions and events. Brothers Tariq and Kamran Farid developed and launched the company in 1999 in East Haven, CT, after many years in the floral industry. The company has been recognized as an industry leader since its inception, including ranking first in its category in Entrepreneur magazine's annual "Franchise 500" for the past six years and also placing in Entrepreneur's Top 40 of "Fastest Growing Franchises" and "America's Top Global Franchises." Edible Arrangements^® was named one of the Top 5 businesses in Connecticut by Inc. magazine's first Hire Power Awards in 2012 and has also ranked in Inc.'s Top 5,000 fastest growing privately-held companies for seven consecutive years. The company was recently recognized as one of the "Top 100 Internet Retailers" by Internet Retailer magazine and was also named as one of 1851's "Top 100 Social Franchises." Customers may order arrangements by telephone at 1-877-DO-FRUIT, at one of the company's retail stores, or online at EdibleArrangements.com. EDIBLE ARRANGEMENTS^® and other trademarks noted are registered trademarks of Edible Arrangements, LLC.

SOURCE Edible Arrangements