In this episode of Smart Franchising, Dan Rowe sits down with Sameer Malhotra, founder of Cafe Spice, to unpack one of the most powerful—and overlooked—growth levers in franchising: co-packing. What began as a family-run Indian restaurant business evolved into a national operation supplying sauces, grains, entrées, and ready-to-eat meals to Whole Foods, Aramark, Sodexo, and emerging restaurant brands across the country.

Dan and Sameer break down how centralized production lowers labor, prep, cleaning, equipment, and real estate costs while improving consistency, food safety, and unit economics. They discuss what makes a brand “co-packer ready,” why many chef-driven concepts struggle to scale, and how simplifying menus and processes unlocks faster, more profitable expansion—without sacrificing flavor or authenticity.

The conversation also dives into minimum order quantities, distributor relationships, tariffs, sourcing challenges, and where founders should start when outsourcing production.

Drawing on Dan’s experience scaling brands like Five Guys, Qdoba, and The Halal Guys, this episode delivers practical guidance for founders, franchisees, and operators looking to scale smarter, protect their brand, and grow with confidence.