For the health conscious who crave a hamburger, they generally find themselves eating a veggie burger instead. Elevation Burger has created a dine-out opportunity for those individuals that want the healthy hamburger instead of that veggie or tofu alternative.
During a time when people care about their own health as well as the well-being of the planet, Elevation Burger has found a niche in the restaurant world that previously went unnoticed. Hans Hess is the CEO behind this innovative new business and franchise opportunity. We were able to get in touch with Hans and ask him a few questions about this unique opportunity.
What is Elevation Burger?
Elevation Burger is a healthier take on fast food. We use organic, grass-fed, free range beef, cook our fries in olive oil and offer veggie burgers and fresh scooped milkshakes.
When did the company first launch?
September 2005
How long was it after the launch of your business that you decided to start franchising?
2 years
How long did it take to organize, then execute, your plans?
4 months
Did you have any previous experience that you were able to apply during the start up of your business, or in franchising?
From my real estate consulting background I became adept at seeing financial and market opportunities.
Do you have any specific goals you’d like to meet over the next year or two?
We look forward to becoming even more efficient in our operation and getting our prime costs down to about 51%. We’re very close, but as we open more stores, we should have more opportunities to push our costs down further.
What do you look for in a potential franchisee?
We look for people who understand the Elevation Burger brand. We sell organic burgers and cook our fries in olive oil because we want to offer a healthier product. Shopping at Whole Foods isn’t a pre-requisite for becoming a franchisee, but we’ve noticed that it helps if people have personal conviction about eating healthier.
How did you end up where you are today? Have you always wanted to be an entrepreneur?
I was always fairly unconventional, even contrarian, in my approach to life. At some point, I realized that this is an excellent trait in the marketplace of ideas. It allows you to see things differently. For example, when I first started experimenting with cooking french fries in olive oil, I was told by everyone in the food industry that it was a fool’s errand — “it can’t be done” was repeated to me over and over. But I was committed to a highly differentiated fry product, so I spent 6 months figuring out how to make it work.
What makes your burgers healthy? How is it different from other restaurants that claim to offer a healthy alternative?
We don’t claim that they are necessarily healthy. What we do claim is that they are healthier. We think the food is generally healthier because of the higher content of Omega 3’s and CLA’s in the meat (due to it being grass-fed) and the olive oil content in the fries. You can read more about it on our website. Go to www.elevationburger.com and click on the ‘Ingredients Matter” tab.
What is the first thing an individual should do before they contact your company for more information about franchising an Elevation Burger?
Know the basic requirements, which can found on our website under the “Our Business” tab.