Success Stories: JR Lester & Associates, Ltd.
Owner: Njambi Mungai
In 1996, Njambi Mungai was part of a select group chosen to participate in a special program designed to assist women and minority-operated small companies in securing Oakland International Airport contracts as concessionaires.
Her company, JR Lester & Associates, Ltd. opened a Travelex, an AT&T prepaid calling-card concession and a kiosk of See's Candies, a world-famous chocolate industry leader with over 80 years history. The See's Candies kiosk has proven to be a highly profitable venture.
Comfortable with the franchise-owning experience of See's Candies, Ms. Mungai opened her first Auntie Annie's Soft Pretzel store in San Francisco in 2004. Her business is strengthened by the unsurpassed level of support she has received from corporate headquarters of both companies. She looks forward to expanding by two more franchises.
With the See's Candies kiosk and the Auntie Anne's kiosk, Ms. Mungai was granted over $150,000 in funds that was guaranteed by Nor-Cal FDC.