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Oporto - the taste of ADDICTION
by Oporto, last updated on 19th September 2011
More stores needed to meet Oporto fans’ needs
As multiple Facebook pages attest, once you’ve tasted Oporto you want to come back for more. The fresh-not-frozen, grilled-not-fried chicken burgers come with a range of addictive sauces and the result is a franchise that has already opened over 130 outlets around the world.
Here in New Zealand, nine stores are already open and master franchisee Bhushan Arolkar has plans to double that number in Auckland alone over the next couple of years. He’s also looking to grant regional development licences for Wellington and the South Island.
‘Oporto is a competitively-priced premium product,’ Bhushan explains. ‘We offer a fresh, healthy, high-quality chicken burger and we’ve got a really loyal fan base out there who will drive miles to get their favourite food fix. At the same time, we have to ensure that we can offer franchisees a good return on investment, so we’ve put a lot of effort into both quality and cost management over the last few years. We’ve reduced fit-out and food costs dramatically at a time when stores are seeing year-on-year sales growth, so now is definitely the time for new franchisees to come on board and reap the benefits.’
Bramha Naidoo opened his first Oporto outlet in Botany four years ago, and the former teacher from South Africa now owns three of them. ‘The support from the franchise team is excellent,’ he says. ‘Throughout the recession they did a very good job negotiating with suppliers and keeping food costs under control and we have all benefited from that. Brand awareness is growing and people are now actively looking for the Oporto name. It’s true – our famous chilli sauces must be addictive!’
Bramha says that new franchisees have to be prepared to work hard. ‘You have to do your best and produce food at its best every time. You have to be part of a team and need excellent staff. Above all, you must be hands-on – even though I have three stores with great managers, I spend two days a week in each. If you can do that, Oporto offers a real opportunity.’
Oporto are happy to consider multi-unit franchisees like Bramha but, says Bhushan, you must prove yourself as an owner-operator first. ‘We are very careful about who we appoint as franchisees,’ he warns. ‘This is not a difficult business but you have to deliver quality and consistency every time. We are looking for outgoing people with excellent English who understand retailing, can communicate well with customers and build loyalty. The total investment is around $300,000-350,000 and there’s an extensive selection and training process to ensure we are right for each other. We have some key sites coming up so talk to me now about joining a dynamic brand.’
This advertorial is taken from Franchise New Zealand magazine Volume 20 Issue 2
Contact details for Oporto
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