No matter how challenging the economy, entrepreneurs will continue to look for exciting new opportunities and viable businesses to invest in. The franchising industry offers plenty of these, making up 13% of the GDP according to the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) . “The industry is still growing and entrepreneurs see the value in franchise opportunities,” says Jan De Beer, Managing Executive for Zebro’s Chicken , The Fish & Chip Co. and Maxi’s at Taste Holdings . If you are in the market for a successful franchise here are three important considerations: A.      Select the right business It may seem obvious but you need to do your research and also consider what the best fit is for you personally.  The franchise industry offers everything from van rentals and tool hire to clothing and restaurant opportunities so choices abound. The fast food and restaurant category makes up the biggest piece of the pie with 25% followed by ret...

The new logo on the left The Fish & Chip Co ., South Africa’s leading fish and chip brand, unveiled a new corporate identity, a fresh new menu design and a new store look. The new look is a big departure from the original Fish & Chip Co. creative showing a clean, modern and simple design reinforcing the brand promise of “fresh, hot and a lot.” “The creative process required us to revisit our brand promise, working with our franchisees and asking our customers for their thoughts. What was evident is that our customers and franchisees were looking for something modern yet inviting, that conveys the quality and freshness of our offering. We needed to find a way of keeping relevant and modernizing our look while staying true to the brand and its values,” says Currie. The redesign comes with a new menu design that emphasizes the range of value-for-money meals that are on offer. “It’s important for our valued customers to know that the new look does not equate to higher p...

Effective marketing is a balance between pro-active and re-active thinking Pertunia Tsotetsi Key to the success of The Fish & Chip Co.’s marketing activities is creating a working strategy that meets customers’ needs, grows profits, strengthens brand loyalty and creates solutions within the communities in which the franchises operate. These activities can only be achieved if the communications team works together to continuously evolve the ways in which they communicate to customers. So says Pertunia Tsotetsi, newly appointed Marketing Manager at The Fish & Chip Co, a successful local brand that brings old England's national food of batter-fried fish and fries to South African consumers. She shares more insights. As a starting point to securing success in the marketing sphere, marketers need to hone their skills on a continuous basis, all while exploring different ways of communicating with their target markets. The traditional way of marketing is becoming obsolete...

Franchisee life hacks to optimise your productivity Productivity is something that rises and falls like the ebb and flow of the ocean. Some days you might find yourself taking the day in your stride, then on others it seems like you’re just not ticking anything off your to-do list. Fortunately there are tips and tricks which you can employee to ensure you make the most of your day – no matter what your job entails. Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co, Jan de Beer shares some ‘life hacks’ to enhance your productivity on a daily basis. The term ‘life hack’ refers to any tool or activity that you can use to optimise areas of your life that need some improvement. It certainly does not refer to hacking computers, if that was what you were thinking. When it comes to increasing productivity, whether you own a business, work for a company or even if you are a student, here are some hacks that you can use to maximise your productivity every day. Get a good start Have a hearty b...

Setting the standards in franchising For many entrepreneurs, the concept of franchising is a lucrative one. With its foundations set in place and a proven track record to affirm its credibility, this business model is ideal for those who want to start a business that affords added support while still allowing them to make it their own. It is, however, important to note that with the support extended to new business owners, standards are also set in place that need to be met – allowing only so much room for originality. National Operations Executive of The Fish & Chip Co, Werner Hedder, shares more on these standards and why it is important for franchisees to meet these within the group. In order to understand the importance of enforcing standards in a franchise, a franchisee needs to go back to the very definition of what a franchise involves. Franchising is a business concept that it used to distribute products or services. There are two main parties involved in a franch...

There is never a dull moment for taste buds when enjoying a meal at The Fish & Chip Co. The fast food extraordinaire of traditional English style fish and chips overhauled its menu with the addition of scrumptious new dishes that will be served as of the end of May. Lovers of The Fish & Chip Co. will know that the menu is not only limited to standard hake and chips as other mouth-watering options such as russians, viennas and calamari are also firm consumer favourites. As of this month, however, customers will be given even more variety that is sure to keep any food lover hooked. The biggest hit on the updated menu is a speciality dish called the Gatsby. Originating in the Cape flats in the Western Cape, this is a true South African dish that will leave an unforgettable impression and is sure to quiet the hunger pains. This meal combines the best of The Fish & Chip Co.’s menu combined in one long bread roll (similar in the size of a French loaf or baguette) which is cu...

The Fish and Chip Co. is leading the way in securing black empowerment amongst food franchising companies in South Africa, with 76,57% of its 303 nationwide stores, being black owned. Further, 16,50% of these franchise owners are black women, demonstrating the black economic empowerment success behind The Fish & Chip Co. business model. The company has achieved rapid growth since being established in 2009, with 120 outlets having been opened in 2012 alone, and about 3,300 job opportunities having been created to date. Managing Executive of The Fish & Chip Co., Marcel Strauss notes that the company is proud of its achievements in terms of furthering and creating black owned businesses. “The Fish & Chip Co. constantly strives to be an equal-opportunity employer, and enhance business growth for promising entrepreneurs who were previously disadvantaged. The fact that we have ensured that so many black entrepreneurs have become franchisees within our business over the las...

The Fish & Chip Co.’s rapid impact on the fast food franchising industry in South Africa could result in considerable growth in the near future. The company is set to continue to expand at an increasing rate with one new store opening every third day, on average. The company’s intent to expand is supported by its impressive franchisee support since commencing business in 2009. Since its inception, over 300 outlets have been established countrywide. In 2012 alone, an impressive 120 stores were opened. The establishment of these stores have also provided for some great advances in alleviating unemployment as it is estimated that about 3,300 employment opportunities have been created to date, with approximately 250 individual franchisees operating The Fish & Chip Co.’s stores. The Fish & Chip Co.’s Managing Executive, Marcel Strauss, notes that Taste Holding’s decision to purchase the company in November 2011 was based on the sound business proposition that the acquisitio...

Following the recent scandal on the use of undeclared proteins in meat products, especially that of horse, donkey, water buffalo and goat, The Fish & Chip Co. is embarking on a social media campaign: ‘The Right to Say Neigh’ to inform consumers of the contents of their ‘Hot and a lot’ meals. The Fish & Chip Co. feels strongly about the rights of consumers, and aims to demonstrate this through the campaign by taking a stand and professing that consumers have the right to know what they are consuming, and that they have the right to say no (or neigh) to consuming these products by making informed decisions. “We feel that the contaminated meat scandal is unacceptable. Our upset is not so much about the threat to health but rather about how improper food labelling is deceiving, and how retailers and suppliers are failing consumers. By mislabelling products, food suppliers fail to meet the high standards that consumers expect form them,” expresses Marcel Strauss, Managing Executi...