Hunting Through History

Which is New Zealand’s oldest home-grown franchise?

A recent question from a client has us searching our archives. The question was, ‘Which is New Zealand’s oldest home-grown franchise that’s still going today?’ And we’re not quite sure of the answer – can you help?

You see, while there are buying groups and co-operatives in New Zealand that date back many years, they weren’t actual franchises. Toyworld, for example, was founded in 1976 as a buying group, but didn’t become a full franchise till much later. The same is true of Paper Plus (originally Nationwide Stationers), founded in 1983.

Companies such as supermarket chain Four Square (founded in Auckland in 1924), which became the foundation stone of the Foodstuffs empire, did not regard themselves as franchises until much later. That’s not uncommon: many operations have resisted the term ‘franchise’ over the years, despite meeting all the criteria (including the legal definitions used in countries such as Australia). Perhaps that reflects the suspicion with which the f-word was treated in earlier times. Today, of course, New Zealand is the most franchised country in the world.

International franchises have been here since the 1940s with Coca-Cola and the 1960s with Wimpy, Mr Whippy and Chem-Dry, but big names such as KFC, Pizza Hut and McDonald’s didn’t arrive until the 1970s. Home-grown competitors responded that decade, with the Uncles chain in Auckland, the little-remembered Homestead Chicken, and Georgie Pie opening in the 1980s (although not franchised until the 90s). None of those local food brands survives today.

Who are the candidates?

As far as we can tell, there are a number of candidates from around 1983-1984, when local entrepreneurs recognised the potential of franchising to serve local markets while banding together against the influx of international brands as New Zealand started to embrace free trade and remove tariff protections.

Some of the earliest to franchise were Stirling Sports, Rodney Wayne, Pit Stop, Fastway Couriers, Anchor, Arano Juice and Frank Casey Suit Hire. The last two no longer operate in their original franchised form, and although Cookie Time was created in 1983 and Night’nDay in 1984, neither was franchised until later. The lawnmowing franchises, Green Acres and Crewcut, were founded in the late 80s/early 90s.

We have a winner – or do we?

Of these pioneers, we’re inclined to award the title to Stirling Sports, which was founded in 1964 and first franchised some time in 1983 – we haven’t yet found a precise date. Fastway Couriers (now continuing as Aramex) appointed its first six franchisees in 1984, with Anchor and Arano also commencing franchising later that year. Pit Stop’s first franchisee was in 1986 and Rodney Wayne followed, appointing the first franchisee (his sister Adele) in 1990.

If we’re right, 2023 will mark the 40th anniversary of our longest established home-grown franchise – something to be very proud of. 1983 was the start of something big: today, over 70 percent of the franchises operating in New Zealand are home-grown brands.

Of course, if you think we’re wrong, please let us know – email simon@franchise.co.nz