BART Focaccia launches franchisee recruitment in Toulouse

BART Focaccia is preparing to publicly launch its franchise network at the Salon de l’Entreprise et de la Franchise Occitanie, a business and franchise exhibition, on 17 November 2026. With two founder-operated restaurants in Lille and Nice, the brand is looking to meet its first prospective franchisees in Toulouse. It has set a target of four franchised openings in 2027, followed by a network of twenty focaccia restaurants by 2030.

Two restaurants before the move into franchising

Founded by three childhood friends, Antoine Jacques, Victor Jacques and Nicolas Chaix, BART Focaccia is entering a new stage of development. The partners operate their first restaurant in Lille, which opened in December 2023, and a second in Nice, launched in August 2025. These two sites form the basis of the proposition they will present to prospective franchisees.

To prepare for this move, the brand is working with consultancy Franchise Management. The Toulouse event is intended to mark its public launch within the franchise community. This is therefore a recruitment drive for its first partners, rather than the announcement of an established franchise network.

Its stated ambitions have two milestones: four franchised openings in 2027 and a network of twenty focaccia restaurants in 2030. These figures remain development targets. They do not represent contracts announced as signed or sites with confirmed openings.

An exhibition to meet the first prospective franchisees

The 22nd Salon de l’Entreprise et de la Franchise Occitanie will take place at MEETT, Toulouse’s exhibition and convention centre. All three BART Focaccia founders will attend to speak directly with prospective business owners and present their concept, business model and ambitions.

The team has set a specific goal for the event: to generate fifty qualified leads and arrange five immersion days. These meetings are intended to pave the way towards signing the first agreements. The distinction matters for applicants: the exhibition provides an initial introduction, while the immersion days offer a closer look at the business.

The brand’s presence in Toulouse is not solely about recruitment. BART Focaccia also intends to introduce itself to banks, business support organisations and commercial property companies. It hopes to raise awareness of its plans among organisations that could help finance, prepare or secure premises for future restaurants.

Targeting city centres and business districts

For its next locations, BART Focaccia is targeting city centres and business districts in major French cities. This geographical focus will provide an initial framework for discussions with applicants, whose preferred city and proposed location will be explored in individual meetings.

The brand is particularly interested in employees seeking a career change into business ownership. It is also targeting restaurateurs interested in a concept described as designed to simplify day-to-day operations. Both groups form part of its recruitment strategy, although none of the planned openings has been allocated to either group.

Discussions will also cover project financing. Visitors will be able to receive a franchise brochure, a detailed presentation of the business model and further information about the application process. For interested entrepreneurs, these documents should provide a basis for a practical assessment of the opportunity beyond the initial conversation with the founders.

A business model to examine with the founders

BART Focaccia reports average turnover of €750,000 across its company-operated restaurants. This figure has been supplied by the brand for its existing sites: it is neither a guaranteed result for a future franchised restaurant nor an indication of profit.

The support outlined covers site selection, financing, training and start-up assistance. These stages will be explained to applicants during the exhibition, alongside details of the proposed process leading up to opening.

Key takeaway for prospective franchisees: the event on 17 November offers an opportunity to meet all three founders ahead of the first franchised openings targeted for 2027. To prepare for the discussion, it is worth identifying your preferred city, outlining your experience and assessing your financing options, then asking to review the business model and the arrangements for immersion days.