Meet Aleeah Smith, a wife, mom of four, and first-generation franchise owner. At just 26 years old, she is the youngest Black woman to own — not just one — but two franchises of The Peach Cobbler Factory. Aleeah acquired her first restaurant franchise in 2022 and her establishments are located in Dalton, Georgia, and her second restaurant will be opening in Fall 2023 in Fayetteville, Georgia.
The Peach Cobbler Factory is a popular dessert destination located mostly on the east coast and in the South. It is known for its 12 flavors of premium cobblers, 12 flavors of banana pudding, and its delicious varieties of cinnamon rolls, cookies, and milkshakes.
Aleeah has had a passion for entrepreneurship since she was 14 years old. Growing up in the south side of Lansing, Michigan, she once ran a dessert catering business for local events. She ran that business until she was 25 years old with clients both in Michigan and Georgia. Along the way, she decided to get married and have children, but yet continued with her entrepreneurial endeavors. She even briefly studied Business Management at Michigan State University.
When the opportunity presented itself to become a franchise owner of The Peach Cobbler Factory in 2022, Aleeah did not hesitate. Even more, she was already financially prepared to self-fund her own restaurants. This involved having to fund the build-outs, pay for the franchise fees, and also pay for the needed equipment and inventory. Her first store has seen a 34% increase in sales which will translate into six figures in revenue by the end of the year. Long term, she is projecting to generate millions of dollars in annual revenue.
Both of Aleeah’s restaurants offer late-night delivery via Uber Eats, GrubHub, and DoorDash. In addition, her restaurants offer gourmet catering for both corporate and home events such as graduations and parties.
Source: blackbusiness.com