SONNENTOR opens franchise shop in Erlangen

SONNENTOR has opened a new franchise shop in Erlangen, Germany. Franchise partner Patrick Petzina and his wife Simone welcomed their first customers on 9 October 2026. The shop at Hauptstraße 21–23 forms part of the organic brand’s German franchise network expansion, supported by development partner StarDev SE.

New shop on Erlangen’s Hauptstraße

The opening was announced in a company statement published on 21 October. Patrick Petzina is the shop’s operator and franchise partner. His wife Simone joined him in welcoming the first customers. The statement does not describe any separate contractual role for Simone Petzina within the franchise system.

The Erlangen opening brings the partners’ planning over recent months to fruition. StarDev supported Petzina throughout the preparations. The company lists the key stages as finding a site, assessing the premises, signing the lease and preparing the shop for launch.

For those following the German franchise market, this confirms a new shop that is already trading, rather than simply an intention to expand. However, the announcement concerns this shop alone: it gives neither a current total for SONNENTOR shops in Germany nor a specific number of further planned openings. The Erlangen launch therefore provides no basis for quantifying the brand’s growth trajectory.

StarDev’s role in setting up the shop

StarDev SE describes itself as a development partner for selected franchise systems in Germany and Austria. For SONNENTOR, the company is responsible for expanding the franchise concept in Germany. Its work includes recruiting and assessing new franchise partners, developing locations and providing support through to opening.

The Erlangen shop illustrates these responsibilities through a completed opening project. Support began with the search for a suitable site and an assessment of the premises. It was therefore not limited to the final phase before the first day of trading, but covered several stages on the path to opening a business.

The distinction between the parties’ roles is important: Patrick Petzina is named as the new shop’s franchise partner, while StarDev is the development partner providing support. The statement thus describes how local business ownership combines with support for network expansion. It does not elaborate on any services agreed for the period after opening. The support documented mainly concerns the run-up to launch.

Further partners sought in Germany

According to StarDev, Erlangen is part of SONNENTOR’s long-term expansion in Germany. The company is also seeking entrepreneurs in other regions who share an enthusiasm for organic products and high-quality food and drink. It is targeting both people planning to become self-employed and existing business owners looking to broaden their activities.

The search for partners is therefore explicitly not limited to first-time founders. The announcement does not specify which regions will be prioritised next, what types of premises are being sought or when further shops are expected to open. No firm opening schedule is given.

The statement also provides no details of investment costs, required personal capital or ongoing franchise fees. For prospective partners, the news is therefore primarily an indication that recruitment is under way. It does not yet provide a basis for calculating the financial requirements of a SONNENTOR shop or comparing them with other opportunities.

What prospective partners can learn from the opening

The main practical value of the Erlangen announcement lies in its description of the preparation process. Finding a site, assessing the premises, signing the lease and preparing for opening are identified as specific stages. Anyone interested in the concept can use these points to structure an initial discussion: which tasks does the development partner handle, which decisions rest with the future operator, and what documents are needed to assess a location?

It also makes sense to examine the financial and contractual questions separately from the opening announcement. These include the total capital required, the services agreed before and after launch, and each party’s responsibilities when leasing the premises. These are due diligence questions for a potential partnership, not services promised in the statement.

Practical takeaway: Erlangen demonstrates a completed franchise launch supported by StarDev. Prospective partners should use the ongoing recruitment drive as an opportunity to obtain a detailed explanation of the support available and the financial requirements for opening their own location.