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Brewing Innovation: Inside PJ's Coffee Menu Research and Development

By: PJ's Coffee
Category:About PJ's Coffee
At PJ's Coffee, we pride ourselves on innovation and meeting consumer demand with our specialty crafted beverages and beans. We're constantly refreshing our menu and conjuring up new, flavor-packed items that customers across the globe will love.

When adding new items to our menu, we rely on several factors to maximize our profitability. We know that to keep up with consumer trends, the timing of our new menu items and limited-time offers (LTOs) has to be just right.

Offering anything from classic drinks to modern favorites, our line of coffee products is what sets us apart from competitors, and our menu research and development team knows just when to implement new trends.

Specialty Coffees Require Strategy

A lot of the research we do is observing what's trending and what's working in the industry and measuring our customers' comfort level and willingness to accept the latest trends. This happens both at the regional and national levels.

When it comes to making changes to our core menu, we go through a four-step process ahead of making any adjustments:

  1. Review the P-Mix (product mix) Report. Our P-Mix report outlines what's working and what's not. We review what's been selling and what hasn't.
  2. Review the competition. We study what our competitors are doing and how they're presenting information. We analyze their decisions and their menu.
  3. Review the cost of goods. We study what might be inflated to learn what we may have to make up for cost-wise. We're strategic about the products we highlight to ensure our stores remain profitable and that products with a low cost of goods are highlighted to customers.
  4. Review the USP. (Unique Selling Point) If we're known for being the original Cold Brew, but Starbucks is marketing it as a new product, we'll tailor our strategies and reiterate our USP.

If we happen to run into any distribution issues with any products or products that just aren't selling, we'll assess whether or not we need that product or if it can be swapped with something different. We also like to facilitate a level of education into the menu, educating customers on the difference between products (such as kinds of milk, for example) and allowing them to build their own beverage.

Taste That's Always Trending

As a coffee franchise known for our delicious, hand-crafted coffees made with only the top 1% of Arabica coffee beans, we pride ourselves on studying flavor profiles and sourcing roasts. Our products can change depending on the trends or the beans themselves and where they're sourced. Each roast is directed by an origin and has its own flavor story. Once we decide on a roast, we'll mix and match different additions to enhance our portfolio of small batch roasted coffees.

When it comes to seasonal offerings, we push our seasonal staples such as King Cake in January and February, and Southern Wedding Cake in the summer months, and promote the trending holiday flavors like pumpkin or peppermint in the fall and winter months. We'll bring specific LTO's back seasonally based on consumer buying behavior or phase them out with something new. We also swap out seasonal LTO's based on the market. For example, we change our offerings in the northern areas since customers might not be as familiar with certain southern flavors.

Flavor That's Flexible

At the core of our decision-making process is the quality of our products and sticking to our brand persona, which is rooted in New Orleans, craftsman and hospitable. We go beyond traditional coffee offerings like hazelnut and vanilla. We frequently take risks to test new flavors to provide our customers with the unique specialty coffees they know and love.

Over the last year, we've inherited several Starbucks and other competitor customers who we've welcomed with open arms. While we've been able to cater to our new customer base with offerings similar to their taste and preferences (such as sweet cold foam, for example), we pride ourselves on being distinctly different. We won't ignore trends, and we aim to be flexible because people know what they like, but we always put our PJ's spin on traditional flavors.

Contact us today if you're interested in owning a rapidly growing coffee franchise that’s dedicated to strategically developing a menu based on sound trends that contribute to strong profitability.

  • $1,034,105*

    Average Unit
    Volume (AUV)

  • 14.3%

    Same-Store Sales Increase

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Learn More About Our Available Markets

Want to bring the PJ’s community to your community?
We have opportunities around the country.

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Investment Tiers
  • Traditional Model

    A larger scaled PJ's with a full service menu offering located within a strip mall or free-standing building likely featuring a drive-thru.

    • Size: 650sqft - 2,000sqft
    • Initial Franchise Fee: $35K
    • Initial Investment: $406,000- $1,131,000
  • Non-Traditional Model

    A smaller scaled PJ's possibly with a limited menu offering located within another business - College/University Campuses, Healthcare Facilities, Hotels, Government Facilities, Military Bases, Airports, Shopping Malls, Etc.

    • Size: 250sqft - 1,000sqft
    • Initial Franchise Fee: $25K
    • Initial Investment: $192,000 - $534,500
  • Multi-Unit Option Agreements

    PJ's offers opportunities to enter into a Multi-Unit Option Agreement to develop multiple PJ's over a specified development schedule in a designated market. The initial franchise fee for the first PJ’s location is $35,000. Subsequent PJ’s Units receive a reduced franchise fee. The fee for each PJ’s Unit numbered two or greater is $10,000.

  • Master Franchise Agreements

    PJ's offers opportunities to International Franchisees to enter into a Master Franchise Agreement to develop multiple PJ's over a specified development schedule in a designated country or countries.

    • Initial Master Franchise Fee: $250k minimum (Varies depending on size of country or countries)
    • Total Investment: Varies depending on the number of PJ's developed
A Few More...
  • PJs has provided me with the flexibility to prioritize my day-to-day responsibilities. While demanding, the work/life balance I have been able to obtain while owning my locations is invaluable. PJ’s is a family-oriented brand and that is evident every day - we have great working, as well as personal, relationships with many folks at corporate. It truly is a family centered culture that I am excited to grow with! - Andrew Jones
  • We loved the products and the business model, and it all worked out so well. The ability to work with them is what sets them apart. They are very reasonable people and it’s a solid company. When we went to meet the team, everyone was super kind, and it was very apparent that they provide a ton of support to their franchisees. It’s important to feel like you can always reach out to somebody when needed. - Angela Harmon
  • I think if someone is looking for a franchise opportunity they should find something that fits their lifestyle. If you're a morning person, a coffee business might be good for you. I'm a morning person so waking up at 4 A.M. is fine, the whole 'wake up and smell the coffee' thing - that's me. - Anthony Satterlee
  • I decided to look into coffee and probably spent about 3 years doing the investigation. I decided on PJ's because the quality of the product is just head and shoulders above everybody else. - Tom Lewis
  • It's easy to be successful. You can become part of your community in a way you can't otherwise in a lot of other businesses. I would highly recommend it. - Polly Fisher
  • The best part of being a franchisee is the freedom. It gives you the opportunity to provide for your family, but also be a part of your family. It gives you time to play with your children or take a vacation, but still have a fantastic business. - Kelly Songy
  • I decided owning a PJ's Coffee shop was the way to go. From start to finish, corporate was there for me when I selected a location, ordered equipment and furniture. - Mateusz Dabrowski
  • I fell in love with PJs Coffee and the brand, years before I ever owned a location and now I own two! I wanted a business that, with the right staff, would be able to operate successfully without me having to be there all day every day. PJs coffee gives you that flexibility and freedom. I also love the family atmosphere that corporate provides and the camaraderie between franchisees is wonderful! You are in business for yourself, but not by yourself, and that is a great sense of comfort and security. I love this business!

    - Roxanne DeNicola
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