DELI DELICIOUS Franchise

Deli DeliciousDeli Delicious is the sandwich franchise chain based in Fresno, CA.  Deli Delicious built a strong regional following and a reputation for fresh ingredients in Central California.  The chain grew to 53 franchise locations but is no longer actively selling franchises.  Around 2015, Iranian born owner Mohammad Hobab and his advisor & EVP Ali Nekumanesh made a series of ill-advised decisions and the once-promising chain became mired in franchisee discontent, lack of focus and bullying lawsuits against former employees (including Hobab’s son, Hadi) and a respected 2-unit franchisee.

Apparently greedy to divert franchisee bread purchases from 20-year fresh bread vendor Basque French Bakery into an affiliate entity they own, Hobab and Nekumanesh opened DD’s Bakery in Fresno.  They became dictatorial in their relationship with franchisees, forcing them to discontinue selling fresh Basque Bread and to purchase and serve fully baked then frozen bread from their fledgling DD’s. They bullied and sued franchisees who refused.

The embattled franchisor DDFI , headed by Hobab and Nekumanesh, has doubled down on its mistakes, and is paying dearly with stalled growth, expensive lawsuits, franchisee dissent and a deteriorating  reputation and brand.  While it should be focused on surviving wildfires and COVID-19, Hobab & Nekumanesh continue to demonstrate that greed and pride are what goeth before the fall.

DELI DELICIOUS Posts are listed below, with most recent first.

Ali NekumaneshALL POSTSDELI DELICIOUS FranchiseFast Food franchiseFOOD FRANCHISESFranchise Disclosure Documents (FDD)Mohammad HobabStephen ColleySub shop franchise

Deli Delicious Franchise Violation Order; Did Attorney Stephen Colley Lie?

Deli Delicious Franchising Inc. has not been approved to sell franchises by the California Department of Financial Protection & Innovation

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Ali NekumaneshALL POSTSDELI DELICIOUS FranchiseDowling AaronSBA SCORE

SBA / SCORE: Attempt to Avoid Ethics Questions Raises More Questions

Our video “Can SCORE Advisors be Trusted?” prompted a very prompt & professional response from SCORE CEO Bridget Weston.  Instead

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Ali NekumaneshALL POSTSDELI DELICIOUS FranchiseDowling AaronMohammad HobabSBA SCORESPOTLIGHT 1Sub shop franchise

SCORE DISCUSSION: “Can SCORE Advisors be Trusted?” Video Presentation

SCORE is a non-profit organization funded by the Small Business Administration (SBA).  SCORE provides FREE business advice and mentoring to

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Ali NekumaneshDELI DELICIOUS FranchiseDowling AaronLiars & Bullies InitiativeMohammad HobabSPOTLIGHT 1

Is an SBA SCORE Advisor Destroying This California Franchise Chain?

The franchisee association of a California sub sandwich chain alleges that SBA SCORE advisor and EECU board member Ali Nekumanesh

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Ali NekumaneshDELI DELICIOUS FranchiseDowling AaronLiars & Bullies Initiative

DELI DELICIOUS Frozen Pride Campaign [Parody]

Deli Delicious Franchising Inc. wants the world to know:  They Love Their Frozen Bread!  They refuse to shamed by the

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Ali NekumaneshALL POSTSDELI DELICIOUS FranchiseFast Food franchiseFOOD FRANCHISESMohammad HobabSub shop franchise

Deli Delicious Spokesperson & Marketing Director Nate Gilbert Jumps Ship Amidst Lawsuits, Controversy

As lawsuits grow, tempers flair, locations close and a consumer lawsuit accuses Deli Delicious of bullying franchisees & deceiving their

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Ali NekumaneshALL POSTSDELI DELICIOUS FranchiseDowling AaronMohammad HobabSPOTLIGHT 1Sub shop franchise

DELI DELICIOUS Franchise Graveyard

Not long ago, Fresno-based Deli Delicious sandwich chain boasted that it had “more than 100 stores open or in development.” 

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Ali NekumaneshALL POSTSDELI DELICIOUS FranchiseFast Food franchiseFOOD FRANCHISESFRANCHISE BULLYINGLiars & Bullies InitiativeMohammad HobabSPOTLIGHT 1Sub shop franchise

Customer Sues Deli Delicious Sandwich Chain for False Advertising

Fresno-based chain accused of illegal bake-and-switch; franchisor allegedly promotes “fresh ingredients” but forces franchisees to keep bread frozen, stacked in

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Ali NekumaneshALL POSTSDELI DELICIOUS FranchiseDowling AaronFast Food franchiseFOOD FRANCHISESMohammad HobabSPOTLIGHT 1Sub shop franchise

DELI DELICIOUS The Final Days: A Hitler Rant Parody

“Deli Delicious: The Final Days” is a parody video in the online genre known a “Hitler Rants.”  It is based

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Ali NekumaneshALL POSTSDELI DELICIOUS FranchiseDowling AaronFast Food franchiseFOOD FRANCHISESMohammad HobabSub shop franchise

DELI DELICIOUS Stockton CA Franchise Closes; Franchisor Takes Over Two More

A week after all three Bakersfield Deli Delicious franchises closed, the owner of the Stockton, CA location announced that yesterday,

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