SHARP ACT

“I love being a franchisee, and I love being a part of this brand,” says Hamilton based Anchor Franchisee of the Year Olly Te Ua. “If you open most fridges in New Zealand, you’ll find our products there. We have been trusted by the nation since 1886 as our products are of the highest quality – my only regret is I wish I’d started ten years earlier,” he laughs.

Olly used to be a general manager within Hamilton District Council. “I’d reached a senior level, but I gradually realised it wasn’t what I wanted to do long term. Then my position was disestablished so all the decisions became much easier.”

Olly had a head start on his future career as he explains. “I had a very good friend who had been with Anchor for a long time. Then my sister-in-law and husband also bought into the franchise. I’d been really curious about their progress and increase in wealth ever since and became very familiar with the brand and its operations. With redundancy looming I got approval from Anchor to purchase a small round in advance – which made the transition from salaried staff into full time business ownership much easier.”

Simple and transparent

Olly has found the Anchor Milk franchise model to be as simple and transparent as it is advertised. From a Fonterra-owned depot, franchisees generate income by selling and distributing Anchor products. “As franchisees we buy the refrigerated trucks,” Olly explains, “and we are responsible for paying drivers and other staff. Income comes not only from Anchor products,” he explains. “The franchise is quite flexible enough to allow us to distribute other product lines that we have found a market for, with company approval of course.” 

Olly started modestly in September 2016, by buying a single truck territory from a franchisee who was retiring. “Training with the company was comprehensive, and I spent a great deal of time with the business vendor getting to grips with best practice and learning all I could. Anchor have mentors in the business who are wonderfully supportive and remain in touch ten years on. The original owner spent extra time with me until he was quite sure I was off my training wheels – something we much appreciated.”

Community importance

In Hamilton, where Olly’s family has strong connections, he is hot on community and likes the fact that Anchor also encourages their franchisees to give back. “The local Westpac chopper does an outstanding job for the area and keeping the crew’s fridge topped up with free milk is the least we can do for them. Every Thursday we supply free milk to all the hospice shops for the volunteers to enjoy with their tea and coffee. We supply free milk to Te Whakaruruhau – Waikato Women’s Refuge, the local RSA, and we also support a range of local schools and sporting clubs, either financially or with chocolate milk – the best recovery drink.”

Olly expanded his business by buying a neighbouring franchise area in 2021, and now has a small team of delivery specialists, trucks, and administrative staff.

“The business has been everything I wanted for my family,” he says. “We wanted a life with the benefits and advantages that a business entailed, and that would give as a decent work/life balance over time. It has more than met those hopes and expectations. If I were to offer advice to a new franchisee, I’d say do your due diligence, and be prepared to get your head down and work extremely hard for at least the first 12 months while focusing on giving a great level of service to all your customers.

“You don’t need a degree to run this business, but you do need an element of commercial acumen, and to keep your eye on the strategic horizon. We’ve been successful because we’ve made continuous improvements – in short, we challenge the status quo and ‘sharpen the axe’ every day and it’s paid off. If you think you have what it takes to be an Anchor Milk franchisee, call our franchise recruitment team today.”  

See this advertorial on page 18 of Franchise New Zealand magazine Year 34 Issue 04 

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