Farm Stores
Farm Stores is a private franchisor of America's largest drive-thru convenience chain, combining grocery, bakery, and café in a double drive-thru. Founded in 1957 and headquartered in Miami, the brand operates nearly 70 Florida locations with active expansion across seven additional U.S. states.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1957
- HeadquartersMiami, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Farm Stores does
Farm Stores is a privately-held franchisor operating America's oldest and largest drive-thru convenience store chain, founded in 1957 in Miami, Florida (originally as Land O' Sun Dairies dating to 1935). The company's core offering is a hybrid grocery, bakery, and café delivered through a patented double drive-thru footprint of approximately 400 square feet, allowing customers to purchase staple groceries, fresh-baked baguettes, dairy, ready-to-eat foods, beverages, and household items without leaving their vehicle. The chain serves busy working families, commuters, and suburban neighborhood residents seeking quick-trip convenience, with signature products including hot, on-demand French baguettes (the #1 selling item) and seasonal Famous Eggnog.
Underlying the operating model is the Farm Stores 4.0 technology program, which equips franchise locations with top-of-the-line ovens and freezers, a cloud-based point-of-sale system, a mobile ordering and payment app, and an online ordering platform. The company also operates Farm Stores iExpress, an online grocery service with drive-thru pickup launched in 2012, and pursues an eco-friendly pre-fabricated and shipping-container store design that compresses deployment timelines from six months to roughly six weeks. Distribution is extended through third-party delivery partnerships with Uber Eats, DoorDash, Postmates, GrubHub, and Waitr, plus a digital loyalty program via the mobile app.
Farm Stores generates revenue as a 100% franchise-based business: franchisees pay a $25,000 initial franchise fee, a $2,500 Real Estate Services Fee, ongoing royalties, and bear total initial investment of $230,000 to $571,700 per location. The company does not operate stores directly; instead, it licenses single-unit, multi-unit, and area-development franchises with territorial rights (e.g., up to 100 units in New Jersey), and adds to its footprint through M&A (Swiss Farms, acquired April 2020). Corporate leadership is the Bared family, with Carlos Bared as CEO and Maurice Bared as COO since approximately 1999; notable external investor Dr. Sanford Ziff (Sunglass Hut founder) has also backed the brand.
Farm Stores firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Farm Stores
- Legal name
- Farm Stores, Inc.
- Website
- https://farmstores.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1957
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Farm Stores is a private franchisor of America's largest drive-thru convenience chain, combining grocery, bakery, and café in a double drive-thru. Founded in 1957 and headquartered in Miami, the brand operates nearly 70 Florida locations with active expansion across seven additional U.S. states.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Farm Stores industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Convenience Stores (Drive-Thru Grocery, Bakery, and Café)
- SIC
- Retail-Grocery Stores (5411), Retail-Convenience Stores (5412)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops) (CRAHAGAO)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Organic Produce & Farm Market Retail (CRAHAEAD)
Keywords
Where Farm Stores is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Miami
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices3 records
Markets served
Farm Stores business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Supply Chain, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Franchise Fees: Farm Stores generates revenue through initial franchise fees for new franchisees. The initial franchise fee is $25,000 per store. Total cost of investment ranges from $200,000–$500,000 per store.
- Franchise Royalties and Ongoing Fees: Franchisees pay ongoing fees as part of the franchise agreement. The company also charges a Real Estate Services Fee of $2,500 and various development and build costs.
- Retail Product Sales: Farm Stores locations generate revenue through retail sales of groceries, bakery items, beverages, prepared foods, and household goods to consumers via drive-thru. Products include fresh-baked breads, dairy, eggs, produce, snacks, coffee, smoothies, soups, and proprietary Farm Stores brand products.
- Delivery Service Commissions: Some Farm Stores franchise locations partner with third-party delivery services (Uber Eats, DoorDash, PostMates, GrubHub, Waitr), with the company earning commissions on orders placed through these platforms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | One time/ perpetual license | Initial Franchise Fee — $25,000 per store |
| Other | Multi-year contract | Liquid Capital Requirement — minimum $150,000 |
| Other | One time/ perpetual license | Veteran's Discount — 20% off Initial Franchise Fee |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Farm Stores product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Farm Stores operates a double drive-thru retail concept that combines a neighborhood grocery store, in-store bakery, and café into one location, allowing customers to purchase fresh-baked bread, dairy, ready-to-eat foods, beverages, snacks, and household essentials without leaving their car. Beyond consumer retail, the company sells franchise rights to single-unit, multi-unit, and area developer operators and supports them with cloud-based POS, mobile ordering, online grocery (iExpress), and a pre-fabricated building program.
Product overview
Farm Stores is America's largest drive-thru convenience store chain, established in 1957, operating a unique hybrid concept that combines a grocery store, bakery, and cafe into a single double drive-thru location. The core offering centers on the Farm Stores Drive-Thru Concept, which provides fresh bakery items (including their signature Famous French Baguettes), dairy products, ready-to-eat foods, grocery essentials, household goods, beverages, and beer/wine without customers leaving their cars. The company has expanded beyond its Florida roots through franchising, offering multiple investment models including single-unit, multi-unit, and area development options. Digital services include the Farm Stores Mobile App with order-ahead and loyalty rewards, the Farm Stores iExpress online grocery platform, and the Farm Stores 4.0 technology program featuring cloud-based POS systems. Sustainability initiatives include eco-friendly shipping container store buildings and Ecopod cleaning product refill stations.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Farm Stores 4.0: Complete remodel program of operations including top of the line appliances, cloud-based POS system, mobile app, online ordering, and updated store look
- Farm Stores iExpress
Products and services
- Farm Stores Drive-Thru Concept Double drive-thru retail concept that combines a grocery store, in-store bakery, and café in one location, enabling customers to purchase fresh-baked bread, dairy, prepared foods, beverages, snacks, and household essentials without leaving their car.
- Farm Stores iExpress Online Grocery Service Website-based online grocery ordering platform that lets customers browse a full line of grocery items, place orders, and pick up pre-packaged orders at drive-thru locations without leaving their car.
- Farm Stores Mobile App Mobile application (iOS and Android) that supports order-ahead, mobile payment, real-time location-level inventory and pricing, and digital loyalty points management.
- Farm Stores 4.0 Store Program Standardized franchise store remodel program pairing pre-fabricated building construction with cloud-based POS, mobile ordering, and online ordering capabilities deployed across new and existing locations.
- Loyalty and Rewards Program Digital rewards program accessed through the mobile app that lets customers earn points on purchases, redeem rewards cash, and manage coupons; new members receive a registration bonus credit.
- Farm Stores Franchise Program Franchise offering covering single-unit, multi-unit, and area development rights to operate a Farm Stores drive-thru grocery, bakery, and café; includes initial franchise fee, ongoing royalties, training, and access to corporate purchasing and marketing programs.
Quantifiable outcome
- Sales doubled during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the limited-contact, drive-thru model
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Farm Stores
Customer profileNamed customers5 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Farm Stores technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Feature5 records
Farm Stores partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.
- EcopodminorFarm Stores partnered with Ecopod to install cleaning product refill kiosks at Farm Stores locations in Miami, Hialeah, and Miami Springs. The kiosks allow customers to refill eco-friendly cleaning products (laundry detergent, fabric softener, all-purpose cleaner, dish detergent) into reusable containers, reducing single-use plastic waste. Products are free from parabens, phthalates, SLS, SLES, synthetic dyes & fragrance, responsibly sourced, and never tested on animals. Four locations were initially targeted for installation.
- Uber EatsminorFarm Stores products, including its famous eggnog and other menu items, are available for ordering through Uber Eats. Individual franchise locations use the platform for delivery orders.
- DoorDashminorDoorDash is one of several third-party delivery services used by Farm Stores franchise locations to fulfill delivery orders.
- GrubHubminorGrubHub is used by some Farm Stores franchise locations for delivery orders. One GrubHub listing references the store at 1204 9451 SW 56th St, Miami.
- PostMatesminorPostMates is one of several third-party delivery services used by Farm Stores franchise locations for delivery orders.
- WaitrminorWaitr is one of several third-party delivery services used by some Farm Stores franchise locations for delivery orders.
- Swiss Farms StorescoreFarm Stores completed the acquisition of the operations and trade name of Swiss Farms stores in Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Swiss Farms was the second-oldest drive-thru grocery chain in the U.S. (dating to 1968 in Pennsylvania), and together with Farm Stores (dating to 1957), they represent the oldest and largest drive-thru grocery chains in the country. The merged teams are leading expansion across ten states. Swiss Farms stores in Delaware County launched the Farm Stores in-store bakery program in 2021.
Scale indicators10 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Farm Stores competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- 7-Eleven: The largest convenience store chain globally with ~13,000+ U.S. locations. Directly comparable as a c-store competitor ranked alongside Farm Stores in the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 (2022), with overlapping fresh food, beverage, and grab-and-go offerings.
- Circle K: Couche-Tard's global c-store banner with thousands of U.S. locations. Cited alongside Farm Stores in the 2022 Entrepreneur Franchise 500 ranking, and a direct competitor in convenience/fresh food.
- Wawa: Mid-Atlantic and Florida convenience chain known for fresh food, coffee, and drive-thru-adjacent service. Comparable on the fresh-prepared food, bakery, and drive-thru format axes, especially in markets where both operate.
- QuikTrip: Large privately held c-store chain with strong fresh food, bakery, and coffee programs. Comparable on private ownership, regional concentration, and a quality-focused fresh offering that competes with Farm Stores' bakery/café angle.
- Sheetz: Large privately held c-store chain with made-to-order food, coffee, and an aggressive expansion program. Comparable as a privately held, fresh-focused c-store competitor with a similar innovation/tech-driven playbook.
- Kwik Trip: Privately held Midwest convenience chain known for high-quality fresh food and bakery. Comparable on private ownership, regional focus, and emphasis on in-store fresh-prepared foods.
- Publix: Employee-owned Florida-based supermarket chain that is Farm Stores' most established grocery competitor in its core Florida market. Relevant because Publix Direct's former president (Thomas O'Connor) is now SVP at Farm Stores, signaling operational overlap.
Direct peers
- Cumberland Farms: Northeast convenience store chain founded in 1959 with a strong private-label brand and fresh food program. Most directly comparable to Farm Stores as a privately held, regionally focused c-store chain emphasizing fresh prepared items.
- Royal Farms: Mid-Atlantic convenience/gas chain famous for its fresh fried chicken and prepared foods, with strong drive-thru presence. Comparable on the fresh-prepared, drive-thru execution, and regional private-company dimensions.
Emerging players
- Insomnia Cookies: Specialty bakery brand with a late-night delivery-led model. Comparable on the signature fresh-baked-product positioning and digital/loyalty-driven young consumer engagement that Farm Stores targets with its baguette and eggnog hero SKUs.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Farm Stores social profiles
Digital presenceFarm Stores financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Farm Stores leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles6 records
Farm Stores subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Farm Stores funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Farm Stores M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Farm Stores
What does Farm Stores do?
Farm Stores operates a double drive-thru retail concept that combines a neighborhood grocery store, in-store bakery, and café into one location, allowing customers to purchase fresh-baked bread, dairy, ready-to-eat foods, beverages, snacks, and household essentials without leaving their car. Beyond consumer retail, the company sells franchise rights to single-unit, multi-unit, and area developer operators and supports them with cloud-based POS, mobile ordering, online grocery (iExpress), and a pre-fabricated building program.
Is Farm Stores a public or private company?
Farm Stores is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Farm Stores founded?
Farm Stores was founded in 1957. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Farm Stores based?
Farm Stores is headquartered in Miami, United States, in the North America region.
How does Farm Stores make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Franchise Fees are the primary driver. The others are franchise Royalties and Ongoing Fees, retail Product Sales and delivery Service Commissions.
Who are Farm Stores's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are 7-Eleven, Circle K, Wawa, QuikTrip, Sheetz, Kwik Trip and Publix. Direct peers are Cumberland Farms and Royal Farms. Insomnia Cookies is listed as an emerging player.
Does Farm Stores have an API?
No public API is recorded for Farm Stores.
What industry is Farm Stores in?
Farm Stores's product category is Convenience Stores (Drive-Thru Grocery, Bakery, and Café). Its primary akta.pro industry code is CRAHAGAO, Farmstead & Local Artisan Food Markets (Retail Shops), with a secondary code of CRAHAEAD, Organic Produce & Farm Market Retail. Its SIC code is 5411.