“A McDonald’s franchise is more of a lifestyle than a job – I’d say ‘vocation’ is a better way of putting it!”


of. The hands-on experience also gives you credibility with your team, they know you’ve experienced the day-to-day tasks that they face.


And life hasn’t been the same since? Very much so! The Sam Akbar that began his training two years ago was a very different Sam Akbar to the one that emerged! After running a restaurant for just over a year, I have a completely different outlook on every aspect of my life. A franchise is not just a job, it’s a way of life! I thought I was customer focused as an airline pilot. But McDonald’s takes that to a whole new level. We’re so people and customer-focused that it really feels like we are a family. You know … there’s a saying in the business about having “ketchup running through your veins”. I really feel that and I love it!


What’s the most rewarding element? We’re a lot of things to a lot of different people … that’s one of the big highlights for me on a day-to-day basis, chatting to my customers and being embedded in the community. I’ve been a part of my local community


for nearly 20 years, becoming a franchisee just solidified that. The opportunity to bring people together, create jobs, and contribute positively to the local economy was a driving force behind my desire to be a franchisee. We’re very proud to sponsor local football teams and we have provided kit and equipment for a new boxing club. Our regular litter picks are another great way to engage the community. It’s important to me that we’re giving back.


What values does a McDonald’s franchisee need to be a success? Be a people person, have empathy and be honest and transparent. The word that


I would use is integrity – be committed, willing to learn and hard working. It’s more of a lifestyle than a job, perhaps ‘vocation’ is a better way of putting it.


What’s on the horizon for the business? Growth, but only once we are ready. We’re ambitious, but we want to perfect what we’re doing before moving on to open


more restaurants, this is a marathon, not a sprint – we’re in it for the long haul. I would call myself responsibly ambitious. The larger I grow my organisation, the more opportunities I can give to my people and that’s a motivation for me, being able to develop my team and give them the opportunity to grow within the McDonald’s system.


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