FRESH CHOICE FOR FRANCHISEES

A rare chance to own your own supermarket from one of Australasia's biggest retailers

In retail, big names don’t come much bigger than Woolworths – and that’s who you’ll have as a partner if you become a supermarket owner with FreshChoice. There are already 72 franchised SuperValue and FreshChoice (SVFC) stores around the country, and Operations Manager David Callaghan says his personal goal is to increase that to 100 over the next few years.

‘With access to the additional buying power of Woolworths NZ, SVFC franchisees operate community-based supermarkets in smaller towns and suburban centres across New Zealand,’ David says. ‘We are now planning new full-scale FreshChoice stores, and looking for franchisees for both new and existing locations.

‘In addition to individual stores, multi-ownership is an option – several of our existing franchisees have two or more stores, which can provide some economies of scale and potentially an even greater return on investment.’

Investment levels start from around $2 million, with some personal equity required, ‘although this is negotiable on a case-by-case basis,’ says David.

Backed by the best

New franchisees have access to considerable resources through Wholesale Distributors Ltd, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Woolworths New Zealand, says David. ‘There are distribution centres around the country, and the company’s size enables it to purchase stock, provide plant equipment, and source technology efficiently and cost-effectively.

‘There’s a range of support services with regular visits and business advice from an experienced retail team, a dedicated IT department and, of course, a whole range of advertising and marketing support from group-wide and national promotions, point of sale, social media and e-commerce.

‘Merchandising expertise is another key area and, of course, FreshChoice and SuperValue franchisees have access to Woolworths own-brand ranges, WW and Macro – an ever-expanding range of organic health food and cleaning products.’

What do you need?

So what skills do you need to own and run your own supermarket?

‘This is very much a hands-on business which requires a hands-on manager, not a passive investor,’ David says firmly. ‘Small stores are a 7-day operation, 10-14 hours a day, turning over $5-6 million a year.

‘A lot of people like the idea of owning a supermarket, but success doesn’t happen by accident. We’re looking for people who understand the robust requirements of running your own business, day in, day out. You need business acumen, the ability to read and interpret a lot of data, and make good decisions based on that data. You also need the ability to build and lead a team of 10-15 people or more, and to understand the obligations that come from that.

‘While retail experience is valuable, some of our franchisees have come from many different businesses and professions outside the retail industry. They understand the importance of systems, routines and are used to handling pressure and dealing with people and situations. That’s why each new SVFC franchisee goes through an individualised training programme of between 12-24 weeks according to their experience. That way, they learn every aspect of running the business – and, of course, they can then call upon expert advice from our teams on an ongoing basis.’

Share, learn and succeed

SuperValue and FreshChoice franchisees are encouraged to share ideas and experiences with their peers, and to learn from each other. ‘There are a number of full group meetings a year for all franchises and senior members of the franchisor team, and an annual conference to review progress, plan the year ahead, discuss new developments and network,’ David explains.

‘All in all, SVFC is a big opportunity for the right people to build a sizeable business of their own, backed by one of the biggest names in Australasian retail. We want to hear from people with the skills and commitment to take on the challenge and succeed. Contact me to find out more.’

Advertiser Info

SuperValue FreshChoice

www.freshchoice.co.nz www.supervalue.co.nz

Contact David Callaghan

P 027 494 8361

david.callaghan@ woolworthsnz.co.nz