Capital Venture For Food Franchise

Bipendra and Radhika Ram are unanimous in their verdict of their new Katsubi franchise: ‘The projections looked good but, after six months, our position is even better than we expected!’

Now the popular food brand is heading to Wellington. A company-owned store will open first, with five franchised outlets planned by the end of 2024, so if you want to get on board then register your interest now. Like all Katsubi stores, they will be supported by a local meat/salad processing factory and warehouse to ensure fresh product with smooth and flexible distribution – as well as ease of operation for franchisees.

So what makes the 100% Kiwi-owned Katsubi brand, which is celebrating its 20th birthday this year, so successful?

Well, it starts with the product itself. ‘People love our food,’ says Zoe Park of Katsubi HQ. ‘Our big Red Bowls combine exquisitely cooked meat and healthy vegetables flavoured with our unique Katsubi sauce, all served absolutely fresh. Customers select their own mix of salads and sauces, then add hot meats or plant-based options to create their perfect combination. And with 21 stores already established around the country, Katsubi’s version of ‘slow food served fast’ is accelerating rapidly.’

Plain sailing for new franchisees

Katsubi’s success is also about the streamlined system behind the brand, as Bipendra and Radhika’s story shows. The couple, who opened their Katsubi in Silverdale, North Auckland, in February 2023, had never been involved in the food business before. Bipendra owns a transport company, and his wife spent 13 years in the travel industry. ‘But she wanted a change, so we started to look at well-established franchises in the café/restaurant sector.

‘We had eaten many times at Katsubi in Albany and always loved it, so we got in touch. Banks can be a bit reluctant to lend against non-tangible assets, but the reputation of the franchise, coupled with our savings convinced them. After that, it was plain sailing – we were consulted every step of the way when our site was being built, but it genuinely is a turn-key operation.

‘Six months into our new business, we can say the Katsubi franchise team are as good as their food. Everything has been clear and simple, from finding the site through fit-out to opening. We have found it is incredibly simple to operate and the franchise is totally supportive if we ever need them.’

Every aspect covered

Bipendra also speaks highly of the preparation the whole family received as new franchisees. ‘Radhika had a month’s solid management training and the rest of us – including our two teenage sons who are learning about work and good food – had a full week. On opening, we then had two weeks on-the-spot support in our own outlet as we learned the routines.

‘The whole Katsubi franchise is awesome, and has every aspect covered – if you follow the system, it would be very hard to go wrong. For example, Katsubi provides very robust data that allows us to do an order once a week without fear of over-ordering and wastage. In fact, we’re so pleased we plan to open another store soon – Katsubi, of course.

‘So if anyone is interested in becoming a franchisee, drop in and see us at work. If it appeals, you might find that Katsubi is the perfect opportunity for you, too.’

Very profitable

Katsubi is keen to find franchisees for key sites around New Zealand, especially in the Lower North Island as the Wellington facilities come on stream. The investment required is between $350,000 and $500,000, depending on location. Most stores are open 9am-9pm or mall hours, depending on location, and franchisees learn to do the cooking themselves initially, then teach others as the business grows.

‘As Radhika and Bipendra have found, Katsubi offers a very successful, very well-established and very profitable business model,’ Zoe says. ‘We have franchisees who have been with us for over 10 years, and Covid showed what a stable, secure business this is.

‘If you share our passion for bringing good food to malls and streetside locations around New Zealand, contact me today to find out more.’  

 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: Airport (Spitfire), Northlands, Riccarton

Places of Interest: Wellington, Auckland City, Birkenhead, Newmarket, Christchurch City, Hornby, Dunedin, Whangarei, Tauranga, Napier, Nelson, Taupo, Queenstown

 

See this advertorial on page 9 of Franchise New Zealand magazine Year 32 Issue 3

Contact details for Katsubi

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