Given the owners’ focus on maintaining the traditional, almost artisanal, quality of all Graeter’s products, it was probably a wise step to close the franchise operations, even though they had operated successfully. The company now owns not only all of its retail outlets but all of its manufacturing operations as well, substantially lowering the risk that quality might not remain high and uniform. This protects the brand’s reputation and also ensures that Graeter’s can expand without regard to potentially competing with any franchisees.