This article appeared in Issue 2#2 (Jan/Feb 2008) of Business Franchise Australia & New Zealand
PURE+NATURAL CELEBRATES 25 YEARS
pure+natural is an Australian owned and operated company that has been serving healthy and tasty fast food for 25 years.
The first pure+natural store opened for business in Melbourne in 1982 and since then, pure+natural has grown with 33 stores across Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and Queensland.
As the name suggests, the business itself was founded on the desire to serve only wholesome, fresh and nutritious fast foods. pure+natural is proud that its foods are lower in fat, cholesterol, sugar and calories than other options commonly found in restaurants, cafes and fast food takeaways.
“This is a great milestone for pure+natural and we thank our valued franchisees, employees and customers for their support over the last 25 years and look forward to the next 25 years as the business continues to grow and prosper as the leading healthy food chain in the Australian market,” said CEO Don Gregg.
The franchise is currently rolling out modern store refurbishments across the country.
KAREN MATTHEWS IS FRANCHISE WOMAN OF THE YEAR 2007
Australia’s first skincare franchise Ella Baché was recognised at the PricewaterhouseCoopers awards through the achievements of one of Australia’s youngest CEOs, Karen Matthews, being named Franchise Woman of the Year 2007.
Karen is an articulate and engaging presenter and speaks regularly about issues close to her heart such as franchising, strategic growth, the company vision, triple bottom line reporting, corporate governance and mentoring. Karen has been instrumental in establishing Ella Bache’s prominent position which is attributed to a unique franchise model that nurtures and supports its business owners.
In January 2007, BRW named Ella Baché among its fastest growing franchises of the year. Over the past three years Ella Baché has had a recorded revenue growth of 53.6% and annual store growth of 44.1%. Currently there are 71 franchises in operation and they are forecasting 50 more in three years.
HOWARDS STORAGE WORLD WINS EXPORT AWARD
Howards Storage World® was named Australian Export Franchise of the Year 2007 at the PricewaterhouseCoopers Excellence in Franchising Awards.
Howards Storage World® has experienced significant international growth in the past 12 months with master franchisees now in Singapore, New Zealand, Spain, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Ireland and the Philippines.
“We are delighted to receive the Export Franchise Award recognising our success in the international marketplace,” said Joint CEO, Dirk Spence.
Over 30% of Australian franchise systems are currently franchising overseas and Alex Dobrin, Joint CEO says that Howards Storage World’s success is due to its “tightly structured franchise system, which provides a high level of support including ongoing training, regular franchisee meetings, buying support and strategic marketing programmes.”
A NEW FACE AT CHOOKS
Scott Greenwood has been appointed National Operations Manager at CHOOKS fresh & tasty to support the Perth-based company’s ambition to expand its operations in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.
The role was created in order to ensure the fast food franchise achieves its goal of opening more than 100 stores in the next five years. CHOOKS fresh & tasty Chief Chook Steve Hansen has a strong management team including general manager and WA Franchise Woman of the Year 2007, Linda Steele. He said Scott’s appointment would enable the franchise to expedite its expansion plans.
“In the past we managed our expansion plans at a steady pace, however, we now feel the time is right to actively pursue opportunities for growth in other states and with Scott’s expertise leading this development we will fulfil our goal 100 stores sooner,” he said.
CHOOKS fresh and tasty has been in operation since 1991 and specialises in fried and barbecued chicken.
POSSUM POTTERS START FRANCHISING
Possum Potters have launched into franchising. “Possum Potters is a unique business, they use clay to introduce children to art.
It has been in business for many years, and generates a great deal of referral and repeat business,” said Richard Garraway of The Franchise Shop who has assisted Possum Potters with their franchise development.
“We see franchising as the way of the future,” said managing director Dalene Groom.
“We run our weekly curriculum in kindergartens and childcare centres as extra curriculum activities that are paid for by the participating children’s parents.
We now offer many new products such as hand and foot prints. The prints make great presents for occasions like Mothers or Fathers Day as well as offering our franchise owners an extra income stream.”
A Possum Potters franchise costs around $20,000 to $25,000 exclusive of GST including the franchise fee, training fee, equipment, stationery, uniforms, opening stock and vehicle sign-writing.
Enquiries are welcome for individual franchises in Melbourne and regional Victoria initially, and then throughout Australia.
WORLDWIDE ONLINE PRINTING WINS FRANCHISEE AWARD
Worldwide Online Printing’s Queensland franchisee Andrew Robertson won the PricewaterhouseCoopers Franchisee of the Year 2007.
He purchased the Spring Hill franchise in September 2003 and since then the annual turnover has increased more than four-fold. Under his leadership, staffing has grown from three to 14. Robertson’s employees are paid on a salary plus profit-share basis resulting in a positive work culture and low staff turnover. He attributes this approach to his successful acquisition of an additional Worldwide Online Printing franchise at Rowes Arcade in July 2007.
Other PricewaterhouseCoopers awards included the Franchise Media Campaign of the Year 2007 for Red Rooster and the Franchise Innovation Award 2007 award for John Brennan Hair.
STATE-OF-THE-ART COFFEE TRAINING ACADEMY LAUNCHED
Specialty coffee retailer, wholesaler, roaster and franchisor, Zarraffa’s Coffee has launched a Coffee Training Academy on the Gold Coast.
The centre, which is a replica of a standard Zarraffa’s coffee shop offers technologically advanced equipment, accredited baristas, and is open to the company’s new and existing franchisees.
Zarraffa’s Coffee franchisees are typically experienced small business owners, but not always from the hospitality industry, so the academy was created to enhance the coffee business start-up and ultimately, the service delivered to the consumer. The academy will offer certified Advanced and Master Barista certificates to all Zarraffa’s employees.
“We recognised a need for a customised educational program that gave our franchisees an understanding of the science behind the art of espresso. Our training team have an extensive background in coffee blending, roasting and customer service combined with practical skills which they are happy to share,” said CEO Kenton Campbell.
The first Zarraffa’s Coffee franchise opened in 2001 and there are now 23 stores across Queensland and New South Wales.
SNAP-ON TOOLS AUSTRALIA TURNS 20
Snap-on Tools has been in Australia for 20 years this year.
The company started in the US in 1920 and today Snap-on is a US$2.6 billion business with 5,000 franchisees around the world. Snap-on vans have been described by Fortune Magazine as one of the most productive retail spaces in the world and their reputation for quality is such that they provide tools for armed forces around the world, aircraft manufacturers such as Boeing, Formula One racing and NASA’s space program.
Snap-on franchisees service professional tool users employed in the repair of cars, trucks, earth moving equipment, motor cycles, boats and light aircraft.
Snap-on Tools Australia has been franchising since 1997 and the company is an active member of the Franchise Council of Australia. In 2007, they were one of three finalists in the Franchisor of the Year awards and one of their Victorian franchisees was second runner up in the regional awards.
TRIOS EXPANDS THEIR MENU SELECTION
Trios is rapidly expanding overseas and they have tailored their menu choices to suit, however their traditional Australian customers have not been left out of the process and new menu items and store designs are being introduced.
Two franchises have been established in the Middle East and another 10 to 15 are planned. Market research prior to the move resulted in an increase in the spice levels in some sauces for the Arabic market but the research has resulted in changes for Australia too.
“We have enhanced our signage, invested more money in product development, increased our menu range to include both toasted and grilled wraps, and improved the overall store layout,” said managing director, David Elia.
“There are also plans to change the structure of the business by developing stand alone store formats that offer more opportunities to also target the breakfast and dinner market. We anticipate the changes to lift sales levels in the stores by 15-20 percent.”
Master franchises for China and the US are expected to be announced soon.
PACK & SEND WINS FRANCHISOR OF THE YEAR 2007
Pack & Send was named Franchisor of the Year in the 2007 PricewaterhouseCoopers Excellence in Franchising Awards.
There were three category winners with Pack & Send winning the Retail Franchisor of the Year 2007 category before taking out the overall award. Quest Serviced Apartments was named Service Franchisor of the Year 2007 and Gloria Jean’s Coffees was named Food Franchisor of the Year 2007.
Pack & Send offers convenient and personalised solutions when sending any item, anywhere. Founded by CEO Michael Paul in 1993, the franchised business services consumers, ebay buyers and sellers, tourists and backpackers, small businesses and major organisations including Qantas, Telstra and BHP.
Since its first day of business when their only sale was for a $2.90 cardboard box, Pack & Send has become a national retail network with over 80 franchised retail outlets generating over $24 million and with annual growth rates in excess of 20%.