Franchise Focus
Bright Days Ahead
In the last 12 months, Riverford Organic has won a number of ethical awards, beaten the major supermarkets on the price of fresh organic veg and continues to grow as a franchise
Investment level: from £9,000 Adds Laura: “We give a lot of support to
our franchisees and do a lot of national marketing for them, providing them with essential materials and business-critical information. All franchisees benefit from having a well-known brand name that they can promote in their local area. In other words, a lot of the hard work of starting a business has already been done. And, of course, franchisees don’t need to grow any of their own food! In addition, we work with external suppliers to get great deals for our franchisees on things such as vans, van livery and printed material. And newcomers always have existing and experienced franchisees to turn to for advice and support when they need it, which I feel is one of the best things about being part of a franchise network.”
About Riverford Business visionary and dedicated farmer, Guy Watson, began delivering his organically grown vegetables to just 30 local homes in Devon in 1987. Ten years ago, the Watsons then decided to expand nationally by offering the Riverford Organic franchise opportunity to
Laura Cottee
be better still, both in terms of food sales and network growth. In autumn 2011, the UK’s leading organic food-delivery franchise beat the major supermarkets price-wise by 20 per cent on a wide range of fresh organic produce. The company also reduced the cost of its franchise opportunity to just £9,000. Laura Cottee believes that working on price at both ends of the business spectrum has helped boost the company’s profile, and encouraged a growing number of individuals and couples to enquire about its franchise opportunity. Says Laura: “Being competitive on price,
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with consumer products at one end of the scale and our franchise opportunity at the other, has helped drive the growth of the network. Competitive prices, combined with good marketing, helps to increase sales volumes and therefore franchisees’ profits.
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or Riverford Organic, the UK’s leading organic food delivery franchise, 2011 was a year of success. Laura Cottee, the company’s territory services manager, believes that 2012 will
The ongoing success of our existing territories has helped attract prospective franchisees, which is great for the expansion of the network.” She adds: “Since reducing the cost of
our franchise, there’s been a noticeable increase in the number of enquiries we’ve been getting. I think, ultimately, it’s because we’re dispelling the myths that organic food delivered by an independent supplier needs to be expensive, and that investing in a premium franchise of Riverford Organic’s calibre comes at a premium price. – these things simply aren’t true.”
A fresh start New franchisees taking on a Riverford territory can expect a change in lifestyle once they begin operating. There’s a lot to learn about organic food, recipes, local marketing and the logistics of delivery. Throughout the initial learning process, the company’s head office and experienced team of marketing, web, and food experts will be on hand to ensure a smooth transition for new franchisees.
“All franchisees benefit from having a well-known brand name that they can promote in their local area – a lot of the hard work of starting a business has already been done”
individuals and couples who wanted to work for themselves in the organic food industry. Today, there are more than 70 franchisees delivering over 50,000 boxes of organic produce each week. Adherence to sustainable food-production
processes, recycling, fewer food miles, care for livestock, and a strong commitment to supporting local farmers and local employment have all helped make Riverford the leading organic food franchise in the UK, and a multi award-winning brand. If you’re passionate about organic food,
produced and delivered ethically, and interested in running your own business backed by a national brand, contact Riverford to see if your nearest territory is available. n
rIverford
Website:
www.riverford.co.uk/franchise email:
franchise@riverford.co.uk Phone: 01803 762 015 classification: Organic veg delivery
Investment:Under £10k
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