Franchise Focus
They’re flying
Southern Fried Chicken offer a mouth-watering package for franchisees
INVESTMENT LEVEL: FROM £120,000 A
fter being established for almost 40 years, the Southern Fried Chicken (SFC) franchise continues to expand globally and this year has enjoyed a
flying start – with the planned expansion into the Middle East and Africa and new master franchisees secured for Kuwait and Lebanon. SFC offer a simple but effective system that doesn’t result in excessive set-up costs and high royalties, instead offering a partnership so that franchisor and franchisee can share the benefits of, and encourage, rapid development. This system was implemented by CEO Andrew Withers almost two decades ago and quickly attracted interest from countries such as Russia, which now has over 70 stores. It isn’t just Russia that has seen exceptional development, though. There are many other partners in Africa, South America and Europe that operate cash-rich businesses under the SFC system and new stores are planned for France, Italy, Spain, Poland and Germany in the near future. Vice-president international Chris Gibson is now travelling all over the world securing new partners in the Middle East, North Africa and South Africa, with another six countries set to come on board by the end of the year and plans to double the
franchise network by 2017. Chris says: “It is really exciting to share our plans with people in those targeted territories that we know will replicate the dramatic growth experienced elsewhere.” Last year, SFC restructured the franchise
offering, making it even more accessible for applicants. The equipment package was redefined, with the initial cost reduced and – with the essential start-up pack, graphics and initial fees – the net result is tailored to allow someone to set up for around £125,000. This has positioned SFC favourably amongst other quick-service resturant franchises. SFC also made the decision to fix royalties at £350 per month, instead of charging percentage royalties, in order to encourage multi- store development from profits generated. So, instead of penalising a franchisee’s success, this low, fixed royalty equates to approximately less than two per cent for a trading store in its first year and less than one per cent for an established location. The new model includes full training and support with unlimited access to marketing design from the in-house team and increased discounts for franchisees on the seasonings and packaging supplied from the Reading-based head office distribution hub. Every restaurant opens with a five-star hygiene rating and programmes in place to maintain this high standard.
Every store is designed to specification with floor plans and internal graphics created in 3D so that the franchisee can see how their store will look. This approach includes an essential feature that is often missed by other companies – the provision for growth and additional equipment to cater for increased demand. The in-house design team plan for additional items that will likely be needed as turnover increases, which allows the franchisee to reduce capital outlay. Over the years, the brand has evolved while maintaining the standards that millions of customers all over the globe expect when they visit the restaurants. With a great-looking brand, exceptional
fresh chicken and a system that ranks alongside the best in the industry, it is clear why SFC have experienced such a dramatic surge in interest. The future is bright for the UK-owned brand and they are looking to secure even more franchise partners over the coming years. n
SOUTHERN FRIED CHICKEN
WEBSITE:
www.southernfriedchicken.com EMAIL:
sales@southernfriedchicken.com PHONE: 0118 944 1100 CLASSIFICATION: Fast food
October 2014 |
Businessfranchise.com | 87
Investment: £100k-£200k
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