Monster Cookies – Your sweet destination

What happens when all your sweet dreams come true! That is what Shaikha Mohamed AlMannaei – Owner of Monster Cookies is experiencing now as her dream to own a cookie franchise is gaining momentum. She passionately describes her journey from a home baker to a proud franchise owner with sheer determination to share all her best cookie experiences at one stop.

1. How did you enter the franchise business?

I first started Monster Cookies as a home business at first in April 2016. With the help of social media and the excellent quality of materials I use for my cookies, the business has quickly become recognizable in Bahrain. Soon after, we could not cope with a large number of daily orders, and I opened my first branch in September 2017. From that time to date, I have received many franchise requests from many different countries, and that is when I began considering franchising the business.

2. Where and how did the idea of your concept come from?

I have always loved cookies and tried them wherever I traveled to, to see all different varieties and ideas. Then I managed to merge all the best cookie versions I have seen to make the Perfect Cookie & give customers The Perfect Cookie Experience.

3. What inspired the brand name?

Our cookies are known to be bulky and loaded with huge chocolate chunks. Thus, the brand name (Monster Cookies) was derived from this concept.

4. What is the story behind the brand’s logo?

My dream was to establish a business of something that I love, so when I started brainstorming the business, I wanted to do everything by myself, including the logo, packaging, and decor, so that the brand is introduced exactly as I had visualized. Thank God, the brand now is precisely what I had in mind. Of course, along with opening more branches, I had to coordinate with graphic and interior designing institutions. However, my primary logo & interior never changed but was enhanced to meet the criteria needed as a franchise.

5. What makes your brand different from your competitors?

In Monster Cookies, we only use the best of the best ingredients! We always use local eggs and never replace them with imported ones to ensure the cookies are as fresh as possible. Also, we use premium flour & butter. The other & most crucial feature is that since we started, we have used a secret cookie recipe mix which has been made manually by me for the past five years! I am so excited that this year, we have received a customized machine for (Monster Cookies) that will mix & pack the cookie recipe. This machine is the kick-off to our franchise process.

6. What are the essential qualities that you look for in a franchisee?

We are looking for determined, financially stable franchisees with long-term goals of how to expand the franchise by opening new branches continuously.

7. How long does it take, on average, for your franchisee to realize their investment?

At Monster Cookies, we strive to sell premium desserts at average prices; therefore, our cookies and desserts are fast-moving. As a result, on average, our franchisee can realize their investment in as soon as six months!

8. What was the major challenge you faced in your career and how did you overcome it?

Along the process of becoming a franchisor, there are a series of challenges to overcome. The most challenging issue is how to keep the standard the same for all franchisees. For this particular issue, we have created franchise manuals detailing the process of work and recipes, which took us over a year to compose in the best way possible.

8.1 What is your best achievement?

My best achievement is the factory that will open up next month. This is a sister company to Monster Cookies, in which the cookie mix recipe will be distributed to all franchisees. Without this factory, we would not be able to franchise the business.

9. How does your business day start?

It is a great challenge for a mother to allocate time between home and work. So my day starts waking up at 5 AM, ensuring my eldest daughter gets ready for school. When she leaves, I work in my office on things like the franchise manual, daily memos, and HR matters. At 7 AM, I wake my younger kids, get them ready & drop them to kindergarten. After that, I head to one of my branches, meet with the manager to get daily updates and set our marketing plans, and then I head to the kitchen to prepare the cookie portions.

10. What was your best moment throughout your franchise career?

My best moments is when I get franchise requests from so many countries, it really means that my business is attracting world wide consumers.

11. Where do you see your brand in the next 5 years?

In five years time, I hope to see the franchisee of the 100th branch of Monster Cookies come to fruition.

12. Any tips you want to impart to our readers who want to be in the franchise industry?

If you feel that your business has the potential to be franchised, then work on it and give it all you have. Ensure that your products are at the highest standards and that you have created a clear manual of all your business procedures to ensure that franchisees will meet the same standards that you set. It might seem complicated initially, but when you are determined in your dream, you can make it your reality.

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