What was the net change in the number of company-owned Bambu outlets during 2023?
Bambu Franchise · 2025 FDDAnswer from 2025 FDD Document
| Outlet Type | Year | Outlets at the Start of the Year | Outlets at the End of the Year | Net Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Franchised | 2022 | 59 | 61 | +2 |
| 2023 | 61 | 69 | +8 | |
| 2024 | 69 | 60 | -9 | |
| Company Owned(2) | 2022 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| 2023 | 1 | 0 | -1 | |
| 2024 | 0 | 0 | 0 | |
| Total Outlets | 2022 | 60 | 62 | +2 |
| 2023 | 62 | 69 | +7 | |
| 2024 | 69 | 60 | -9 |
Source: Item 20 — Outlets and Franchisee Information (FDD pages 47–52)
What This Means (2025 FDD)
According to Bambu's 2025 Franchise Disclosure Document, the net change in the number of company-owned outlets during 2023 was -1. This means that Bambu had one fewer company-owned store at the end of 2023 than it did at the beginning of the year. At the start of 2023, there was 1 company-owned Bambu location, and by the end of the year, there were 0.
It is important to note that the FDD states that the store listed as company-owned is actually owned and operated by Bambu's affiliate, Drinks of Denver. The document specifies that Bambu does not directly own or operate any of its stores. The store operated by Drinks of Denver was used as a test drive-thru model.
For a prospective franchisee, this information indicates that Bambu primarily focuses on franchising as its method of expansion, rather than operating company-owned stores. This could mean that Bambu's interests are aligned with the success of its franchisees, as their revenue is largely dependent on franchise fees and royalties, rather than the profits of company-owned stores. However, it also means that prospective franchisees may have limited opportunities to learn from or compare their performance to company-owned locations.