A Taste Above is located in the heart of the city, at 74 Richmond Street East (at Church), in Toronto Ontario, Canada. The neighborhood is set amongst several multi-million developments, and we have been able to attract a discerning client with disposable income. Our state of the art design offers gourmet shopping in “Casual Elegance.”
This is a first model show room in Canada with plans to open 50 boutiques in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) area www.toronto.ca.
Toronto offers the most diverse selection of ethnic cuisines in Canada, and A Taste Above is there to fulfill the demand. We are proud to take part of the food experience in Toronto.
Toronto is one of the world’s most cost-effective cities for business and a major gateway to North America’s and Europe’s fast-growing markets and unlimited opportunities.
Canadian trade continues to grow beyond its borders. Indeed, with a small domestic market, the steady expansion of multilateral trade is critical to the structure of its economy and the continued prosperity of the nation.
Is there a food that is quintessentially Torontonian?
Toronto is so multicultural that it is equally Torontonian to have Thai chicken curry, or fresh Italian pasta. You can enjoy the best foods any culture has to offer at A Taste Above.
What makes A Taste Above so unique?
A Taste Above Boutiques offer a wide product selection of rare and exclusive brands. Also, we feature A Taste Above’s own brand of products that are healthy, nutritious, chef prepared, gourmet meals – all which can be ready to eat in minutes in the comfort of your own home. The concept is not easily available in most large grocery stores.
Our motto: “If we don’t have it, we will get it.” These hard to obtain items compliment and easily transform A Taste Above’s core entrée items into signature fare to match your ambience, and exceed the expectations of your guests. Imagine creating thousands of deliciously consistent meal combinations.
Because the majority of our Sous-Vide-Fresh entrees are packaged separately from the sauces, you can create customized dishes through your unique assembly of different items. For the hurried individual we offer Sous-Vide-Ready: Completely ready, heat and serve with added herbs aromatics and sauces prepared by our chefs.
Mission
A Taste Above is governed with a philosophy of providing service to an under-serviced market looking for quality, gourmet food and accompaniments at affordable prices. A Taste Above is able to fulfill this philosophy by utilizing our own culinary kitchens, allowing us to maintain the highest quality and to control costs.
The low staffing requirement to run an A Taste Above boutique, our point of sale system, our just in time delivery system, and our centrally located culinary kitchens all work together to keep our costs low. Where possible, local purveyors will provide the boutiques with fresh, quick-frozen, organic meat products and other ingredients. Some of our delicacies are purchased from local producers and are produced exclusively for A Taste Above boutiques.
Management
Our management team is comprised of individuals who have many years in Food Processing, Food Management, Sales and Administration fields. This cohesive unit works well together and is always striving to improve upon past successes, and to meet future goals.
Sous-Vide-Fresh™ is an improved process which is available for the home meal consumer under the trade label of Sous-Vide-Fresh™, available exclusively in casual elegance at the A Taste Above boutiques. www.atasteabove.com.
Financial Summary
Our management team is projecting slow and steady growth over the next 5 years. Anticipated sales for any store in its first year are projected to be approximately $1,000,000.00 (see Appendix 2) and will increase over the following 4-6 years to be approximately $2,000,000.00 (See Appendix 3). With A Taste Above’s low overhead, low capital expenditures and minimal amount of chattel investments, the boutiques should show profits faster than most other food service franchises.
A Taste Above offers 2 concepts
Concept (1) a standard Boutique, key ready for purchase will cost approximately $400,000.00. Concept (2) is the same as the larger model only a smaller version at $300,000.00 to accommodate the specific neighborhood. This includes all training courses and opening inventory.
A Taste Above combines the synergistic concept of retailing exclusive product lines to five (5) consumer groups; all within 1000 to 1500 Square Feet, of healthful eating in “casual elegance”.
A Taste Above own sous-vide-fresh brand products: add your personal touches and serve.
Fresh frozen hormone free meats, fish, and wild game: cook from scratch.
For all your party needs or corporate events: a complete selection of hors d’ouvres, and pastries.
For all your lunch needs, focaccia sandwiches for you and your children.
At the culinary café bar, sample our house blend coffee and take home teas and coffees of the world, oils from Spain, Swiss chocolate, truffles from France, porcini and aged balsamic from Italy, and spices from the Orient.
Better than a Franchise:
A Taste Above Boutiques are (not franchised) Corporately owned in Partnership with qualified individuals who express a desire to invest in Para Foods Corporation, and/or purchase an A Taste Above retail boutique with a desire to succeed and graduate from the ranks of share holders, employees and customers.
A Taste Above corporately partnered concept is better than franchise. A Taste Above concept has low barriers to entry and requires limited entrepreneurial experience with the burden of profitability shared by proportionate profit sharing.
A Taste Above does not franchise operations to individuals, however it may consider franchising to select Corporations who:
- Have required Capital and Human Resources.
- Business experience in the local market where you are seeking a franchise.
- Share A Taste Above corporate values and culture.
- Ability to locate and obtain and construct prime real estate properties.
- Financial and Human Resources with committed top management.
- Desire to succeed in the food Experience.
- Apply the highest standards of excellence to the use of fresh quality products and Sous-Vide-Fresh method.
- Apply the same high standards of training; employ participation benefit plans and philosophy.
Why A Taste Above is the right time
Private equity and investment firms have heightened levels of interest in franchise operational concepts as the perfect model for investors because of solid management, high positive cash flows for partner operators, and clean, straightforward balance sheets. Private equity firms have found franchising to be their new golden goose; a discovery that has fostered more interest than available deals. Financial firms are buzzing around, trying to find the buried treasure or the golden goose. Private capital from innovative monetary sources is available for low investment franchising, specifically franchises that can be turn-keyed for less than $400,000.
A Taste Above encourages senior partners. With seniors as a thriving part of franchising today, their presence will explode in coming years as record setting retirements take place. For many older North Americans, retirement is not a viable option; many are postponing the gold watch party and going back into the work force as franchise employees or franchisees.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of workers age 55 and above rose to nearly 24 million in 2004, up from 22 million in 2003, and from 20.7 million the year before. At the same time, the government is forecasting a significant labor shortage nearing the end of this decade.
A Taste Above realizes that the hospitality industries want and need seniors as a reliable work force for years to come.
SOUS-VIDE-FRESH™. Healthy oven-ready foods for your dining pleasure are available in the A Taste Above boutique outlets exclusively www.atasteabove.com