Hands-On p Rita Sahjpall, right, with husband Chander Meet the makers
Rita shares the day-to-day, hands-on business of running her Auntie Anne's franchises
A
untie Anne’s prides itself on being the biggest (and most delicious!) soft pretzel brand in the world. With over 2,000 stores in more than 25 different countries, there is a wealth of
experience and history to help you succeed as a franchisee. There are now 40 stores in the UK and Ireland, and many more in the pipeline. Auntie Anne’s has opened several stores so far
this year, including Windsor, Coventry Street in Central London, plus two new stores in Dublin. Now, it is searching for some more fantastic franchisees looking to open their own. Rita, who owns the West Orchards and Arena
Park stores in Coventry and will soon open her third location in West Bromwich, talks about what being an Auntie Anne’s franchisee is really like.
Describe a typical working day… Each day is very different. I am a very hands-on franchisee; I enjoy all aspects of the day-to-day running of my stores. My day typically starts at 9am. I arrive at the store and the first member of staff is there, doing the morning prep, and so I would use this time to complete paperwork. Around 11.30am, I like to be in the store ready for
the lunch trade – without a doubt, rolling pretzels is still the most enjoyable aspect of the job! At 4pm, I wind down from this store – it closes at 6pm as it’s within a shopping centre. I then visit
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the second store where I will check how their day has been and help prepare for the evening trade, as this location is open until 8pm.
What’s the most rewarding aspect of running your own franchise business with Auntie Anne's? There are many! I can honestly say that, three years on, I still enjoy what I do – nothing beats the smell of the first batch of freshly baked pretzels in the morning! Although it takes a certain person to work in retail – you have to be friendly and understanding – it’s also very rewarding when you have returning customers who give you great feedback.
Any advice for a prospective franchisee? You have to make sure that it is the right business for you. You have to be prepared to put the time in to learn your business, even when the rewards aren’t always instant. On a final note, it’s a great business model and
the product is unique. It's very rewarding owning your own business, as it can give you great flexibility and independence. In the beginning, it can be tough but, once established, you get a great sense of satisfaction being your own boss.
auntieannesfranchising.co.uk franchising@auntieannes.co.uk
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