Taste The Future

Serving food that’s fast, fresh and healthy, Katsubi delivers a winning formula

It was a burning desire to run his own successful business that led Zack Gai to the Katsubi franchise in 2018. The 32-year-old had experience in the finance industry, but had also had a disappointing taste of café ownership with a friend before discovering Katsubi.

After talking to the franchisor and doing his own research, Zack realised Katsubi was a much better proposition. He knew little about franchising, but quickly discovered that there would be plenty of support and advice on hand through the Katsubi support team whenever it was required. This was a far cry from the days he’d spent struggling alone in the café business. When the Manukau franchise became available, he was ready to invest.

‘One thing that surprised me about Katsubi is how easy it was to get started,’ he recalls. ‘The Manukau site was an established one, which helped of course, but every time I had a question, they were always happy to provide the answers and encouragement. The franchise team really do help you every step of the way.’ He continued to be impressed by the assistance and advice that’s constantly on tap, and says the whole experience has more than lived up to his expectations.

Four years on, Zack’s store is doing well and he is pleased to see that the brand has become even more popular – despite the challenging trading conditions brought on by Covid. Put simply, it’s all about the food.

‘Katsubi’s salad concept, unique Red Bowls and the delicious sauce definitely make our food offering stand out,’ he says. ‘And we also have a range of udon and ramen noodle options as well as a variety of tasty snacks.’ The combination is right on trend as people look for quick and healthy alternatives to conventional fast food.

Winning the popularity stakes

With almost 20 stores now, and 10 more opening soon, Katsubi is riding the crest of this wave. Zoe Park from Katsubi HQ explains how the brand is attracting an ever-increasing number of Kiwi customers.

‘Katsubi is a long-established 100 percent Kiwi-owned family business. We’re best-known for our famous Red Bowls, which combine freshlycooked meat and healthy vegetables flavoured with our unique Katsubi Sauce. People select their own mix of salads and sauces, then add freshly-cooked hot meats or plant-based options to create their perfect combination. It’s slow food designed to be served fast.’

Zoe also describes Katsubi’s famous Chicken DAK, a crunchy fried 100 percent New Zealand chicken marinated in a special sauce to give it a delicious tangy, spicy flavour.

‘The recipe is a closely-guarded secret,’ she says, ‘with the chicken prepared in our own kitchens in Auckland and Christchurch, then cooked on the spot in each store. That keeps things simple for the franchisee while retaining consistently high quality for our customers.’

Strong profits and support

For a long time, Katsubi grew its franchise base through word-of-mouth only but, as the brand’s popularity grew along with its expertise, the opportunity has been opened up to others with an interest in the hospitality industry, a passion for business and a desire to succeed.

‘Katsubi is a very successful, well-established and profitable business model which has stood the test of time and the turmoil of the pandemic,’ says Zoe. ‘You don’t need a food background or a specific skill set as long as you have lots of energy and are willing to learn. With our training and by working in the business yourself, you gain experience and become more independent as the business grows.

And it’s not just about cooking: franchisees quickly benefit from well-tried management systems for everything: food preparation and ordering; new systems such as contactless pick-up; HR, scheduling and business management.

‘Initial training takes place in Auckland and Christchurch, and there are regular visits to stores and contact with highly-experienced specialists in operations, marketing and planning to ensure that franchisees are comfortable with every facet of the business, and are able to make the most of the opportunities it offers.’

No better time than now

Total investment levels for a Katsubi franchise vary according to the location and size of the business, ranging from $350,000 to $500,000. ‘With Katsubi’s track record as one of the most successful local franchised eateries in New Zealand, banks are supportive towards supplying finance for the right candidates,’ says Zoe. ‘They’ve seen how successful the business has been over the past 20 years, and how much focus we put on sustainability and profitability to deliver excellent returns for our franchisees.

‘If you are looking for a business with wide appeal and a long history of success, then contact me today.’

Zack Gai is certainly glad he decided to invest in the franchise. ‘I am totally confident about my future – people are going crazy about the great taste of Katsubi!’

Advertiser Info

Katsubi

Contact Zoe Park

M 021 880 278

franchise@katsubi.co.nz

www.katsubi.co.nz www.katsubi.com

KATSUBI STORES

Auckland: Albany, Browns Bay, DressSmart - Onehunga, Glenfield, Greenlane, Manukau, NorthWest, Orewa, Ormiston, Rosedale, Silverdale, St Lukes, Sylvia Park, Takapuna, WestCity.

Hamilton: Dinsdale, The Base

Tauranga: Bayfair

Christchurch: Northlands, Riccarton

Contact Katsubi for more options

Places of Interest

Auckland City, Birkenhead, Christchurch Airport, Christchurch City, Dunedin, Hornby, Newmarket, Tauranga, Taupō, Queenstown, Whangarei