What Franchise Issue 21.1

From local shop to multi-brand success “Retail wasn’t the career I imagined when leaving school, but life had other plans. I was set to go to Manchester University when my dad fell ill. With six siblings, I was the eldest son. I realised my place wasn’t in a lecture theatre – it was behind the counter. The shop at the time was tiny, more of a front room filled with antique furniture. My dad was among the first Asians in the area to deal in antiques, while my uncle ran a grocery store. Watching his success, I thought groceries might be the way forward. He rolled up in his van with some shelving, handed me a few tins of yellow paint, and off we went. Within weeks, I’d saved £50 to buy a battered van of my own, and I was off to farmers’ markets buying eggs, fruit and veg. That’s how it began. In time, I joined the Londis group, but about 10 years ago One Stop came knocking. They were launching a franchise model and asked if I’d consider it. To be honest, it felt like a managed risk. People said I’d lost my independence, but I saw it differently. If it didn’t work, I could always go back. It turned out to be the best move I’ve ever made. Franchising gave me structure. It professionalised the way I worked. The franchisor set standards, provided rebates for sticking to planograms, and helped me focus on overseeing the business rather than being tied to the tills. My staff had clear systems, daily messages about promotions, and support with ordering. We even had a Business Development Manager visiting monthly to review the P&L. Over the past decade, sales have tripled. Customers recognise and trust the brand, the POS is top-notch, and the offers are hard to beat. More than anything, franchising gave me time, enabling me to give back to the community. I’ve served as a magistrate, a governor at two schools, entrepreneurial, customer-focused, and skilled at managing operations – qualities that make them excellent franchise partners.With Karak Chaii, they can extend their offer into food- to-go without having to reinvent their business model.” Chicken Cottage, a UK-based halal fast food chain, adds an extra layer to this flexibility discussion. The brand thrives in non-traditional formats, from compact kiosks to store-in- store models in petrol forecourts and premium retail locations. “Our format is highly adaptable. We offer compact, concession-style units that fit neatly within retail spaces such as forecourts, premium shops, or petrol stations. Even in smaller footprints, our operational systems ensure consistent quality and fast service,” Sadaf Kazi, Brand and Franchise Manager at Chicken Cottage, explains. “Across all these locations, from shop-in-shop formats to kiosks and drive-thrus, our model has consistently delivered strong sales and positive customer feedback, showing that Chicken Cottage is flexible, adaptable, and well-suited to a range of retail environments.” Umayr Asif, who runs a Chicken Cottage franchise within his Premier store in Carnoustie, Dundee, knows the benefits firsthand: “Bringing Chicken Cottage into our Premier store has been a game-changer,” he says. “The brand has been embraced by the local community – especially young families who love it – and we’ve seen that translate into strong sales and repeat visits. The Chicken Cottage app has also been a huge driver of loyalty, making it easier for customers to keep coming back. “For us, it’s not just about running a profitable business; it’s about being part of a brand that people genuinely connect with and trust.” “Not everyWelcome store has a secondary franchise, but interest is growing,” comments Fitton. “A lot of our franchisees are also looking at QSR with home delivery.We’ve launched a same-day delivery service, which integrates with our EPOS system. That means when prices change, they’re updated automatically online, and if stock runs low in-store, it shows as unavailable on the website. It avoids disappointing customers and makes the whole process hassle-free for franchisees. “One of our franchisees, Sandeep Bains in Faversham, won Convenience Store magazine’s Home Delivery Store of theYear for doing Sunder Sandher has spent more than four decades growing his family’s Leamington corner shop into an award-winning One Stop franchise. He’s since diversified hisWest Midlands franchise portfolio with Heavenly Desserts,WingKingz and Karak Chaii. 66 WHAT FRANCHISE Issue 21.1