Awesome Chips launches Chipizza!

The fresh fries franchise, Awesome Chips, invited customers to celebrate National Potato Chip Day (14 March) recently, with the launch of their new Chipizza – added to the menu across its stores in London, Birmingham and Leicester.

“Our Chipizza is an awesome infusion of chips encased in freshly baked pizza dough,” explained Roni Dalal, founder of Awesome Chips. “We love chips and are always looking for new and creative ways to make a meal out of our top-quality crispy potatoes sourced from the Netherlands, with prices starting at just £5.95 for a small Awesome Chipizza.

“The great thing about chips is their wide appeal. Any age, background, glutenfree, Halal or vegan can enjoy our awesome selection as a meal ‘on the go’, mixed or topped with any of our 35 delicious sauces, spices or rubs. As a result, we have seen sales grow year on year since we created the Awesome Chips brand. We are now inviting new franchisees to join us on our mission to bring the very best chips and crispy fries to more customers across the UK.” simply cannot live without,” Nihiser continued. “This means that if you do your research and select a franchise that is considered essential, there’s a market you can tap into. For example, the need for respectable and well-established coding education services for kids has grown exponentially as a result of the pandemic, when parents saw first-hand how screen time can give their children a rewarding and contemporary education. At Code Ninjas, our franchisees are successful because parents continue to value possibilities that benefit their kids’ professional and personal growth.

Awesome Chips, which recently added vegan burgers to its menu following a successful trial, has confirmed five new stores will open in the UK before the end of 2023. The company offers a low-cost franchise opportunity with excellent returns, chips being a low-ticket item which sell well whatever direction the economy takes, they claim.

The company is now inviting applications from potential franchisees with a passion for food and a background in management and business. In return, they are offering a comprehensive franchise package including full training; assistance with site sourcing; store fit-out; national marketing and operational support to supply a full pre- and post-tender turnkey offer to get new shops off to a great start; and for the right franchisees, multi-unit deals are also available in locations across the UK and Europe.

“Investing in a franchise can offer security, stability and support. By choosing a well-established and recognised brand, they can minimise risk and maximise chances of success. The franchisor’s experience, support and resources can help franchisees navigate the ups and downs of the market, providing a solid foundation. It may well be the right choice for you.”

Age No Barrier

The appeal of becoming your own boss has seemingly never been greater. In fact, 30% of UK adults are considering launching their own business, of which 48% were between the ages of 18 and 24 – equating to more than two million budding entrepreneurs. But it is not solely those just beginning their career… as 60% of those aged between 45 and 54 claimed they would launch their own business alongside existing caring responsibilities (Enterprise Nation, 2023, An enterprising nation! A third of UK adults are thinking about starting a business in 2023).

Despite such large numbers having high business ambitions, 43% of aspiring entrepreneurs across all ages do not believe they will set up their own company (SME Loans, 2020, 64% of Britain’s workforce wants to set up their own business), suggesting business failure is still a huge concern. And this is where franchising can offer the ideal solution.

Women Continuing To Excel

Like many industries in the UK, the QSR (quick service restaurant) is a male-dominated sector, but things are changing. Kam Bains and her daughter, Simran (now a ‘second generation’ Papa Johns franchisee), are a prime example.

Kam and husband, Sukhy, joined Papa Johns as franchisees in 2011. “When I started, someone might come into a store looking for work and ‘ask to speak to the boss’. They would be surprised when I said: ‘You already are!’ These days, that rarely happens, so times are certainly changing,” said Kam.

“I’ve been fortunate to be able to bring up our daughter to believe women can do everything men can do. Now, aged 27, she oversees our whole franchised business – including outlets in Nottingham, Derby, Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, to name a few!

“Simran is basically our CEO. She looks after our 15 franchised Papa Johns stores, with four regional managers reporting into her every week, plus she has overall responsibility for our extended team of 300 people. Her economics degree from Nottingham University has helped prepare her for a career in business, but she also has an amazing capacity to handle pressure and thrives on responsibility, taking everything in her stride.”

Simran started to learn the ropes from her parents aged 16. “Working parttime on weekends taught me essential customer service skills, alongside a team, understanding how everyone in the business plays their part to deliver our great pizza,” she explained.

“From a female point of view there is no difference in capability. My mum showed me what’s possible and I’ve been brought up with the confidence to follow in her footsteps. After university, dad had some health issues, so I stepped in to help. I’ve never looked back.

“We ensure there are no barriers or distinctions in our team. It means we promote purely on skills and experience, so there are opportunities for anyone to progress their career across any of our stores, if they are hungry enough.

“Most of our senior team have been with us from the start and we have been pleased to promote from within, rewarding skills, a positive attitude and hard work. This continuity is also great for our customers, as our team really know their jobs and can bake better pizza for everyone to enjoy.

“We often get college students, aged 16-18, plus overseas ones applying for part-time roles. We are positive proof, right at the start of their careers, that women do business well. We also highlight the career opportunities in the QSR industry for anyone who has the appetite to progress.

“The leadership team at Papa Johns, including our franchise business manager, Peter Patel, all promote inclusivity and have been incredibly supportive. This positivity has been key to our success. I might go to a meeting and sometimes be the only woman in the room, but I always feel respected and my ideas are welcomed. The Papa Johns culture judges people on competency –this would not be possible if there was any unconscious bias.”

One challenge Kam did face as a woman was bringing up a young family and building a business at the same time. “It was tough, but we achieved growth through balance. When our children grew up, they helped us. We all do our bit as a family unit. Simran has now taken this to the next level, and I no longer even need to do the payroll!” she revealed.

“One of our stores in the Midlands has recently been named the first centre of excellence and Simran was instrumental in setting this up. In the future, the store will become a hub for training and helping grow new teams for other Papa Johns franchisees across the UK too, which is an incredible achievement.

“We are proud of our daughter and hope her work can inspire other young women to progress and excel in the QSR industry.”