Life-changing decision

A FiltaFry Plus franchise was my answer to redundancy two years ago, says Norwich franchisee Dean Martin

In September 2006 33-year-old Dean Martin from Norwich was shocked and unprepared when he found out that his employer, local printing firm New Jarrold Printing, was closing down. This was the second time that Dean had faced redundancy in the printing industry - and was the point that he decided that it was time to take control of his own destiny and never be in the same position again.

At this point Dean started to look at franchising as an alternative to paid employment, and discovered FiltaFry Plus through a friend. Says Dean: “Franchising was something that I had heard other people talking about, but had never really looked into it and never imagined that I might be able to afford my own business.”

EXTENSIVE TRAINING COURSE

Dean remembers that he was a little nervous about running his own business at first, but The Filta Group made it very easy for him with an extensive training course that covered all aspects of the business, and specifically the areas he knew little or nothing about. He says: “The development team was always available when I needed their help, however big or small the problem might be. They assured me that I would be fine running my own business as long as I followed their methodology and stuck to my goals, which has proved to be correct. They also arranged financing for me through a bank, and with their proven track record of success I only needed a minimum deposit to secure the finance required.

“The thing that really attracted me to this franchise was the fact that anyone with focus and commitment could take it on, providing you were prepared to work hard and was able to speak with your customers, plus it was plainly obvious that there is a need for this type of service in the catering industry."

“The majority of my work has turned out to be repeat business on a weekly basis, which is great. My customers are like friends now as I see them so often and they know that I will take care of the fryers for them. This means that key staff in the kitchen are able to be more productive in more direct cash-generating areas and they also keep their oil costs to a minimum.”

THRIVING

Over two years on, Dean is thriving and doing very well as a businessman, something he never dreamed of being in the past. He now has a customer base of over 37 and an average monthly turnover of £4,300.

Dean says that he has not scratched the surface of his ‘NR ’ postcodes yet and will continue to build his business in 2009. He also comments that buying the business has been a life-changing decision that now allows him to spend more quality time with his family and two children - and he is able to afford to.

Dean finishes by saying: “Working for myself is wonderful and, in hindsight, being made redundant was the best thing that could have happened to me. I am now running my business successfully on a day-to-day basis and know that if I need anything then The Filta Group team is only a phone call away.”

FOR MORE INFORMATION

For more information call 01788 513080, email franchise@filtafryplus.co.uk or visit www.filtafryplus.co.uk

FiltaFry Plus gets off to a flying start in 2009

This year has started well for the everdeveloping and growing FiltaFry Plus network in the UK. In January the company recruited and trained three sets of new franchisees around the country.

Father and son team, Paul and Maurice Brown, have taken over the Milton Keynes territory. Paul is concentrating on the service provision side of the business, while Maurice is concentrating on developing and promoting the service locally.

Paul Mountford from Stoke-On-Trent was so keen to join the FiltaFry network that he has relocated to Broadstairs in Kent as there were no available territories local to him at the time. He has chosen to take two full postcode territories, with the intention of developing a multi-van business.

Darren Penfold from Bournemouth also came on board in January and bought the ‘BH’ and ‘SO’ postcodes. Darren has employed a family friend to service the customers while he splits his time between promoting the service and studying.

All of the new franchisees are doing well and are on course with their personal business development plans.