Sandwich Baron, South Africa’s largest sandwich franchise, wants to make the dreams of one entrepreneur come true with their ‘Win a Sandwich Baron Franchise’ competition. In association with the Franchise Association of Southern Africa (FASA), Sandwich Baron is giving one; hard working, driven and passionate entrepreneur the opportunity of owning and managing their own Sandwich Baron store – yes, the entire store. This lucky winner will win the tasty prize of a brand new, fully constructed and equipped Sandwich Baron franchise outlet fitted with the essential fixtures, fittings and furniture that meet the Sandwich Baron minimum shop specifications. Also included; food stock to the value of R25 000 and one month’s training at the Sandwich Baron outlet in Alberton, Johannesburg. Being the proud owner will prove to be a delicious opportunity, as the business is supported by an enthusiastic head office team, a loyal franchise dynasty, and hungry consumers waiting to support you along th...

Scooters Pizza’s multiple store owner, Glen van Rooyen has taken Port Elizabeth in his stride with the opening of his fifth store in the Eastern Cape province. Since May 2012, van Rooyen has been the proud owner of four of Scooters Pizza’s six stores in the province, namely the Newton Park, Uitenhage, Walker Drive and Fig Tree outlets and has now opened a new store at 527 Cape Road, Linton Grange – and he is still open to expansion. The latest addition to his string of successful stores will, like the others, also sport the new Scooters Pizza branding. Various elements of the Scooters Pizza brand was revamped in 2012 and the food franchise chain is now refreshed and ready to appeal to a wider target market. Elements such as the logo, tagline and store look have undergone a brand overhaul and look tastier than ever. van Rooyen is impressed with the new look of the brand as he feels it is more modern and sophisticated, which better represents where Scooters Pizza is as a brand cur...

I s a comprehensive and up-to-date operations manual an indispensable part of every franchise package, or is it merely a ‘nice to have’?  By Kurt Illetschko In this two-part article we examine the role of the operations manual and its importance in franchise networks. We also explain what an operations manual should contain and provide guidelines for its compilation and ongoing maintenance. The status quo Practically everyone involved with franchising pays lip service to the notion that without an operations manual (manual) there can be no franchise. In my experience, this noble sentiment doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Franchisors who provide their franchisees with a manual that has been professionally compiled and is meticulously kept up-to-date to reflect current operating practices, are in the minority; the vast majority are less diligent. I accept that every franchisor has a manual of sorts but in most cases its usefulness leaves much to be desired. Most of the manual...

The recent acquisition of Scooters Pizza Midrand by Hitesh Nannen and Reshma Khoosal is set to provide the store with a basis for considerably enhanced customer service and business growth. The two new owners are excited to be presented with the opportunity of managing the store and intend to draw on all their knowledge and competencies to enhance positive experiences for both regular and new customers. They will be affecting change through a variety of methods, including hands-on management, enhanced marketing capabilities and improved customer interaction. Nannen, who previously held a position as operational manager in the health care industry, asserts that he and Khoosal plan to manage and motivate staff better by introducing incentive packages. They are currently in the process of carrying out extensive marketing, starting with pamphlets being distributed in the community that announce their new ownership at Scooters Pizza Midrand. He adds that they have always admired the ...

The City of Roses, established in 1846, bears a colourful history and a big reputation; not only is it home to the Supreme Court of Appeal but, also to the Maphikela House (where the ANC was established). J.R.R Tolkien, the famous author of the “Lord of the Rings Trilogy”, was also born in here on the 3rd of January 1892. Today Bloemfontein is also known as Mangaung which means “Place of the cheetahs” (both the animals and the Rugby team) and falls within the Mangaung Local Municipality situated in the heart of South Africa. What makes the city attractive from a property point of view is the large variety in terms of developments as well as the continual demand for accommodation created by the army base, hospital and university. These institutions supply a constant influx of personnel and students, adding to the thriving community that permanently lives in Bloemfontein. “We’re seeing a lot of movement in the local property market. In fact we’re very busy at the moment and haven’t ...

The team at Sandwich Baron Highveld, in Centurion, welcomed new owners Maryna and Jurie Human to the store on 1 February 2013. Apart from being passionate about serving delicious meals, this husband and wife team position integrity as a core principle of their new business. With this view, they aim to provide their customers with only the best service while also providing their staff with an environment from which to excel. After thirty years in the financial sector, the Human’s are ready to build on this opportunity and grow the Sandwich Baron brand even more by starting with the individuals inside the business. Maryna sees their staff as assets. “It is an added advantage to work with employees who have gained experience at the store and built loyalty with the customers in the area. The staff have been devoted to the store and its customers and we will be dedicated to them as our success is dependent on their success,” she shares. Sandwich Baron’s Managing Director, Sally J’Arl...

Scooters Pizza Northriding is open for business, and with  Philani Mfungeni and Zinhle Msimango as the new owners of this popular store, customers can expect  their “slice of the good life” to be enhanced even further. The pair plan to implement several strategies that will enhance customer satisfaction, as well as improve the operational efficiency of the store. Mfungeni believes that with the support of head office they can introduce up-skill programmes for employees, which will assist with the process flow of the store and equip employees with the skills needed to provide excellent service. Taste Holdings Food Division CEO, Christo Calitz, states that he is confident that Mfungeni and Msimango will provide the store with a fresh dose of enthusiasm and strategic value to the franchise network. “The new owners are both highly impressive individuals, and are professional, industrious, and committed in everything they do. Undoubtedly, these defining characteristics will ...

Maxi’s East Rand Galleria has always been renowned for providing customers with a memorable experience, with a friendly welcoming atmosphere and superior, and quality food underpinned by great value. The recent acquiring of the store by new owners Rashal and Sunil Patel, is set to significantly increase this value offering even further. Rashal says that his business experience will help him to effect meaningful operational change at the store. “Having already had great success in running a business, I have the necessary knowledge and skills required to help Maxi’s East Rand Galleria turn over a healthy profit, attract new customers, and maintain the relationship it has with existing clientele. “Through strong management, implementing staff incentives, applying sound business principles, and listening closely to customers’ needs, I am confident that these goals will be accomplished, and  result in the store being defined by first-class service, and delicious, tasty meals.” ...

We show you how to get the most out of your social media networking. By Francois Muscat As a business owner, you’ve probably realised the necessity of publishing blogs and online content. Regardless of whether you’re already blogging or whether you are planning to embark on your digital marketing journey in the New Year, one thing soon becomes clear - you need a plan . Creating an editorial calendar for your social media is vital to the success of your digital marketing campaign. • It keeps the momentum going: Coming up with the first four blog post ideas is easy; coming up with a year’s worth of ideas is challenging, especially if you don’t have a plan. • It forces you to commit to a schedule: Posting the link to your new blog post across all your social media channels should only take a few minutes, so you may not need a full-time social media manager, but remembering to stick to the plan and post the updates is almost impossible without a clear schedule and goals. • ...

Sandwich Baron is the new store on the Middelburg block that is sure to have customers hungry for more – all the time. Since opening in the beginning of February 2013, the local community has embraced the opportunity to tuck into freshly prepared and succulent sandwiches that can be delivered straight to residences or places of business. Managing Director of Sandwich Baron, Sally J’Arlette-Joy, is optimistic about this store opening that is expanding on the ever growing family of franchises. “The new Middelburg store will add great value to residents in the area. They will now have the option of tasty alternatives to fast food in the form of convenient, healthy and delectable meals and platters. This discovered value will keep our customers coming back for more.” The Middelburg store will be owned and managed by Stephan de Villiers. Armed with over 23 years of experience and expertise in the food franchising market, De Villiers, is set to ensure that customers at the store benef...

Is a comprehensive and up-to-date operations manual an indispensable part of every franchise package, or is it merely a ‘nice to have’?  By Kurt Illetschko In this two-part article we examine the role of the operations manual and its importance in franchise networks. We also explain what an operations manual should contain and provide guidelines for its compilation and ongoing maintenance. The status quo Practically everyone involved with franchising pays lip service to the notion that without an operations manual (manual) there can be no franchise. In my experience, this noble sentiment doesn’t stand up to scrutiny. Franchisors who provide their franchisees with a manual that has been professionally compiled and is meticulously kept up-to-date to reflect current operating practices, are in the minority; the vast majority are less diligent. I accept that every franchisor has a manual of sorts but in most cases its usefulness leaves much to be desired. Most of the manuals...

Because the best time to start fixing your business was always sometime in the past, and the second best time is today. By Mike Said So I have been writing about the sorry state of the South African restaurant industry and small businesses in general for the past few years and I am often taken to task for highlighting the problems without offering sufficient solutions and remedies. So to my critics and fellow prisoners to their businesses... This is it, Step One of a Seven Step Business Turnaround Plan. Step One – Reconnect with your purpose They say the two best days of a small business owner’s life are when he opens his first and when he sells his last. Take this week and let your mind drift back to the weeks before you opened your first and the few months thereafter. Try and recall the dreams, plans and moments that inspired you. Write down your thoughts and share them with your spouse, kids, partner(s), suppliers and most importantly your staff. They are an integral part o...

Advice on franchising by Pieter Scholtz, Master Licensee for ActionCOACH SA. ActionCOACH is one of the fastest growing and most successful business coaching franchises in the world today. In the last issue we introduced five ways to double your customer base in a matter of weeks. Here are five more. #1) Improve your lead conversion rate  Keeping tabs on leads or sending mailers can be a costly drain on company resources. To avoid your lead database deteriorating into nothing more than a labour-intensive list of names, it is necessary to move these contacts up the ladder to ‘hot prospect’ and eventually to ‘loyal customer’ as soon as possible. When someone walks into a party where they don’t know anyone, they are inclined to quickly turn around and leave. A good host/hostess, however, knows how to spot such individuals and will help them enjoy themselves by showing them around and introducing them to other partygoers. The same holds true for businesses who convert strangers in...