Global franchise brands offered to NZ entrepreneurs

Stewart Germann, the Auckland lawyer and businessman who recently bought long-established consulting company The Franchise Coach, has announced an agreement with World Franchise Associates to introduce a portfolio of global franchising heavyweights to the New Zealand market.

The deal includes nine international franchise brands, including seven restaurant and two non-food brands, which will be looking for local partners to launch the concepts here. Together, they represent total global revenues exceeding NZ$5 billion and employ tens of thousands of staff around the world.

The portfolio includes the highly successful Earl of Sandwich chain – developed by the 11th Earl of Sandwich, whose ancestor gave his name to the food staple in 1762 – and relative newcomer Teriyaki Madness, which was labelled by Restaurant Business as the number one fastest-growing big restaurant chain.

Another well-known restaurant brand is TGI Fridays, which was founded in the US in 1965 and now boasts almost 700 restaurants in more than 50 countries. TGI Fridays operated a restaurant in Christchurch in the 1990s but the concept did not expand here at that time.

Stewart Germann says the deal represents a significant opportunity for Kiwis who would like to leverage the power of global brands with proven successful models for New Zealand customers.

‘Having access to this portfolio of global opportunities means that when Kiwi clients approach me, we can be very strategic about marrying them with the right sort of opportunity. We can look at any relevant expertise, location, financial and lifestyle considerations they might have, and set prospective franchisees up with a recipe for success that’s been tested in the most competitive global markets.’

An obvious choice

Troy Franklin, Managing Partner at World Franchise Associates, which is a London-headquartered global franchise marketing and advisory company, says the partnership was an obvious choice.

‘Stewart is a globally-regarded expert in franchise law and his law firm, SGL, has for many years been involved in helping broker significant franchise deals, and facilitating and simplifying complex structural arrangements in the New Zealand market.

‘Since taking the reins as The Franchise Coach, a consultancy with an impeccable 40-year pedigree, Stewart has further bolstered his reputation as a master at connecting the right people with the right opportunity at the right time. We’re excited to have Stewart on board, finding the right partners to bring some truly iconic brands to Kiwi shores.’

Stewart is encouraging enquiries from any New Zealand residents considering their next business venture, and says due diligence and franchise application processes can begin immediately with the right candidates.

With 590 franchised brands and 32,357 franchise units throughout the country, New Zealand is the most franchised country in the world on a per capita basis, according to the 2021 Massey University Survey of Franchising. 71 percent of franchises operating here are home-grown, while a further 21 percent are operated by a master franchisee or licensee of an international brand.

Read more about current trends and opportunities in food franchising in New Zealand in the cover story of our latest issue.

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