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“My family has owned a restaurant for as long as I
can remember and I started up my own in my twenties,
before setting up a business supplying major
supermarkets with own label products,” he said. “It
was clear to me that there was a substantial
difference in quality between the food served at
restaurants and that supplied by takeaways. “So I
used my experience in the food trade to create
Wok2Go, a Chinese takeaway which uses fresh
ingredients, prepared in an open kitchen, to offer
the customer an MSG-free, low sodium, healthy meal.”
George had already successfully launched three
branches of Wok2Go when he started to develop the
franchise offer, working with Tony Urwin, director
of FDS North. “I knew there was a real
opportunity to grow Wok2Go through franchising,
because the brand and the product were strong enough
to sell anywhere in the UK,” said George. “But the
challenge was always going to be taking more than
thirty years of cooking experience from out of my
head and getting it on paper so a potential
franchisee could understand it.”
George worked with Tony to create a franchising
manual, with details of every aspect of the running
of the outlet, including all the recipes, before
developing an eight week intensive training package
for all new franchisees. Franchisees will also
receive ongoing training to support them, in
addition to new recipes and marketing support.
“Working with Tony helped to clarify exactly what
the offer was and how it would work for new
franchisees,” said George. “And going through the
process of putting the franchise together with Tony
helped us to improve our core business offer as we
refined and defined the processes. “Wok2Go is a
great opportunity for anyone who is passionate about
food and you don’t have to be Chinese or have any
experience of cooking. “Two franchises have already
opened in Ilford and Rochdale since the franchise
offer launched and I am confident we can open a
further six to eight franchises this year.”
The success of the offer comes from recognising a
consumer need, according to Tony Urwin. “George and
his team have recognised not only the changing face
of restaurants and takeaways, but have also tapped
into the movement in consumer trends towards healthy
eating and minimising additives,” he said.
“This, combined with a distinctive brand, has
created a powerful franchise offer which I am
confident will succeed.”
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