How Franchisees Are Using Cooperative Buying Groups

Episode 61 of Franchise Conversations with Fexingo dives into cooperative buying groups — a strategy where franchisees pool purchasing power to negotiate better prices on supplies, equipment, and services. Lucas and Luna explore the mechanics, benefits, and risks of this approach, using a real-world case: the Independent Franchisee Cooperative (IFC), a group of 22 Subway franchisees in the Midwest that formed a buying group in 2024 and saved an average of 8% on food costs in their first year. The hosts discuss how co-ops work, the legal considerations under antitrust law, and why some franchise systems resist them. They also touch on the role of technology platforms like Unite and GroupPurchasing.io that help franchisees organize and track savings. The conversation is anchored in the current inflationary environment of mid-2026, where input costs remain a top concern for operators. A brief, organic listener-support segment near the end reminds listeners that the show is ad-free and funded by contributions at buy me a coffee dot com slash fexingo. #Franchise #CooperativeBuying #Subway #IndependentFranchiseeCooperative #PurchasingPower #CostSaving #SupplyChain #Inflation #Antitrust #GroupPurchase #FranchiseeRights #UnitePlatform #GroupPurchasingIO #FoodCosts #Business #FranchiseConversations #FexingoBusiness #BusinessPodcast Keep every episode free: buymeacoffee.com/fexingo