MAKING A DIFFERENCE

Pete Hartley has a positive message for potential franchisees – as well as building successful businesses of their own, they can make a valuable contribution to their local communities and the wider economy. 

After nearly four decades in supermarket retailing, Pete certainly knows business. Before his 2024 appointment as General Manager of Foodco NZ, where he looks after the franchise brands Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue, Pete had a rich career across many supermarket brands in New Zealand and Australia, most recently providing brand, strategic and operational leadership to the New World supermarket brand across the North Island of New Zealand.

“In the spring of 2025,” Pete continues, “New Zealand is bouncing back from the worst non-Covid recessionary period since 1991. Small businesses such as Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue provide locals with employment, support local growers through buying seasonal produce, and contribute to their community’s social development by creating environments where people can meet and interact. It might sound like a cliché, but we call these ‘moments that matter’, and when times are tough each of those moments for people to connect are important contributions to building a resilient community.”

Moments that matter

Pete elaborates upon his theme, “For home office workers, local cafés are ideal for hosting meetings and for getting social contact in their daily lives. For tradies they are a convenient coffee and snack drop-in hub, providing a chance to stop, recharge the batteries and connect with others. And, also importantly, Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue menus and cabinet food are carefully tailored to the different tastes of their local communities, meaning they reflect the communities they serve. 

“We are definitely not a cookie cutter franchise, although there are proven operational and business procedures to be followed. After all, Foodco’s aim for Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue is to have a continuity of the customer experience through service and branding, whatever you are eating and drinking and wherever your community is based.”  

Building brands that people love

A privately owned company established in 1989, Foodco is one of Australasia’s leading food and coffee franchise business retailers with over 500 outlets in seven countries. Since its first New Zealand franchise opened in 1994, Muffin Break has become one of the country’s most-loved bakery cafés. Jamaica Blue is also making significant inroads as the café brand of choice for Auckland’s major hospitals with high volume sites at Auckland City and Greenlane Hospitals; and plans to open its newest store at North Shore Hospital later this year.

With Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue stores located all across New Zealand from Silverdale down as far as Invercargill, there are franchise opportunities currently available for both brands in a number of communities including Auckland, Rotorua, Nelson, Wellington and Hamilton. Foodco’s typical expansion strategy is to find sites that connect their brands to communities and then find the right franchisee to fit the business.

Any potential franchisee is encouraged by Pete not to feel limited by where they live or by lacking hospitality or business ownership experience. “We’re experiencing a big jump in New Zealand investor interest, but regardless, you should contact us. There just might be plans to build a Jamaica Blue or Muffin Break in your community.”

There to help in any way possible

Pete went on to say, “Another benefit of joining the Foodco family as a Muffin Break or Jamaica Blue franchisee is all of the support provided by our support office team. Every franchisee has their own operational specialist whose job it is to support our business owners to deliver the very best customer experiences possible. This person holds the primary relationship with the franchisee and is there to help in any way possible. 

“There’s also a dedicated marketing manager who manages the national marketing campaigns along with site-specific ‘Local Area Marketing’ activations. We also have our own New Zealand finance manager and accountant to support with anything finance related. Finally, the whole team and franchise network is supported by our franchise and leasing coordinator.

Centre of Excellence

The franchise investment of $300,000 + gst for Muffin Break and $400,000 + gst for Jamaica Blue includes comprehensive training for every new franchisee, which is particularly beneficial for those with no hospitality or business ownership experience.

Training is very much part of the Foodco ethos, with new franchisees spending two weeks at the Sydney-based Foodco Centre of Excellence. The purpose-built facility has a commercial kitchen and is staffed by highly qualified trainers. Coffee-making to a qualified barista level, financial management, recruitment and hiring, and coaching and leadership are all part of the programme. 

The initial training is backed up with on-going online and on-premises support from the experienced team in New Zealand and Australia. “Call me,” urges Pete, “this could be your moment to create a business that makes a difference in your community.”  

See this advertorial on page 15 of Franchise New Zealand magazine Year 34 Issue 03

Contact details for Muffin Break and Jamaica Blue

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