10 AUSSIE LEGACY BRANDS
Heritage franchises are popular now.
Heritage brands are popular right now, thanks to their proven ability to survive economic downturns.
There’s always a risk in business, but a franchise with a track record of trading success even in tough times offers a level of security not possible in a young business or an independent operation.
The Covid-19 pandemic has put safety and security top of mind for many Australians, so Inside Franchise Business has put together a list of wellestablished brands that have weathered ups and downs.
Investigating a home-grown heritage brand might be the way forward if you’re looking for a fresh start.
ANDERSENS
FOUNDED 1959 | FR ANCHISED 1980
Could this be more Australian? The flooring firm is still firmly rooted in its country town home of Gatton, west of Brisbane.
Back in the late 1950s the store was founded on principles of honesty, integrity and respect – and those philosophies remain today.
Andersens has been a privately owned business for six decades and has grown organically to 50 stores, predominantly in Queensland.
The average tenure at the floorcoverings chain is 14 years, with some franchisees well over 25 years and some 30 years.
Now it’s taking its customer-first approach along the east coast, expanding into northern New South Wales and looking to move further south along the eastern seaboard.
It might have a country nature but Andersens knows today’s customer is seeking fast and professional service.
The company backs up its promise to deliver top class service with the tools to achieve this – a well-stocked centralised warehouse, for instance, ensures there is stock readily available.
Rowan Hodge, Andersens CEO, tells Inside Franchise Business, “We have a positive growth mindset. We’re in top gear, looking for what’s next.”
And what’s been released in the past few months is Andersens’ augmented reality app. With the app, customers can scan in their room, test different floor coverings, save ideas, get in touch with an Andersens store for advice and make a booking.
Hodge says the business had been working on the app for 12 months before the coronavirus crisis catapulted the project into reality.
“This was a fight or flight moment: do we hibernate and weather the storm? Or do we fight? We chose growth.”
BAKERS DELIGHT
FOUNDED 1980 | FR ANCHISED 1988
It’s an Aussie institution that’s been on our high streets and in shopping centres for 40 years. There are an extraordinary 700+ bakeries across Australia, New Zealand, USA and Canada – in North America the business trades as Cobs.
It’s a family business: three years ago founders Roger and Lesley Gillespie handed over the reins of their business to daughter Elise and her husband David.
Roger Gillespie’s family had baking in their blood, so setting up a bakery in Melbourne’s Hawthorne was an obvious step.
The business took off, and within eight years the Gillespies owned 15 bakeries and saw the best path to growth lay in a new management structure, and in franchising.
Bakers Delight prides itself on good quality – behind the counter it’s good service and great bread; at the back end it’s transparent systems and benchmarking that help franchisees maximise their business opportunities.
Franchisees can learn everything they need to know, from bread baking to business profitability, through training and ongoing support.
Since 1999 Bakers Delight has been a partner of Breast Cancer Network Australia (BCNA) and supported children’s hospitals with its Bundraiser Day. Over the years it has raised millions through its Pink Buns sales for BCNA.
BANJO’S BAKERY CAFE
FOUNDED 1984 | FR ANCHISED 1993
The inspiration behind the brand was to create a welcoming, comfortable cafe environment where customers could enjoy hand-crafted baked goods and lunchtime treats.
Today the bread is still made in a traditional, preservative-free way and more than 6.3 million customers visit a Banjo’s store each year.
What’s on the menu? Well, the everpopular pastries and Danish, of course, and plenty of new dishes.
The latest Banjo’s Bakery Cafe pie combo, Bangers and Mash Pie, is hot out of the oven to tempt Aussie customers into franchise stores over winter.
All 41 Banjo’s Bakery Cafe outlets will have the classic meat and veg combo. Customers can purchase instore, online with click and collect, on Google ordering
CL ARK RUBBER
FOUNDED 1946 | FR ANCHISING 1993
It’s an iconic brand that has made the most of its niche market – selling rubber, foam and pool products. From water toys to mattresses, from modular pools to auto hoses, from matting to custom cut foam, from stoppers to sheeting, Clark Rubber has created a unique retail offer.
There’s more to the business, though, than a reputation for being “everything pools, foam and rubber”.
Trading for more than 70 years requires consistency, a good business system, great customer service and of course innovation to ensure the business meets contemporary needs.
Most recently the retailer unveiled its mobile model. Previously, vans were part of a retail hub. Now there’s the chance for franchisees to come into the chain with a low-cost mobile-only option. and soon on Uber Eats.
The franchise chain’s product development manager Marcel Schnitzer says innovation across age-old favourites could be difficult to pull off, but creating a connection between pastry and its consumer is always worth it.
The brand’s coffee blend is UTZ certified, a strictly controlled certification that requires good agricultural practices, safe and healthy working conditions, abolition of child labour, and environmental protection.
The chain now has stores across five states, a steady growth that it’s looking to continue as it expands the franchise network.
Franchisees can choose a 10-year or seven-year term – each has one option to renew. A minimum investment is $250,000 for a franchise.
The business model for mobile-only franchisees is set up around delivering onsite pool and spa servicing and maintenance.
Clark Rubber introduced an automated replenishment system to help franchisees better manage stock and cash flow at store level.
Franchisees also have access to a sophisticated software system that allows for more accurate pool-water testing, and therefore additional sales opportunities for franchisees.
There are more than 60 franchisees in the national network.
Franchisees get training in three parts: store operations, retail management and sales, and customer service.
FERGUSON PL ARRE BAKEHOUSES
FOUNDED 1980 | FR ANCHISING 1987
Now this is a heritage brand writ large, thanks to a European family baking tradition that spans more than a century.
Eliza Jane Ferguson opened her first bakery in Melbourne in 1901. Otto Plarre opened the doors to his bakery in 1911.
The two family firms merged into a super-bakery in 1980 to become Ferguson Plarre Bakehouses.
The chain is a firm Victorian favourite and it’s still a family-run organisation, headed up by Steve Plarre, great grandson of Otto Plarre and a fourth generation bakery boss.
Known for its Tiddly Oggies (Cornish pasties) and other pastry favourites, most recently Ferguson Plarre has branched out in plant-based foods, launching meat-free pies in June 2020.
Steve Plarre recently made the switch to a plant-based diet himself, making the move to understand more about the flexitarian approach to food.
JIM’S MOWING
FOUNDED 1982 | FRANCHISED 1989
Jim’s Mowing is the original business that spawned an entire empire of home service and mobile franchise opportunities.
Founder Jim Penman started the gardening business while studying for a PhD and he expanded it by building up and selling on territories.
Jim is still key to the business, more than three decades on.
In fact, incoming franchisees all get to hear Jim’s take on the importance of customer service as part of the three-day training session. And they are able to contact him at any time during the franchise term, even though he’s no longer involved in the day-to-day operations of the mowing or any of the other 50+ divisions in the Jim’s Group.
The mowing business offers both lawn care and landscaping services for both residential and commercial customers.
Some franchisees maintain their business as a solo operation while others make the most of expansion opportunities, selling territories or employing staff.
A centralised call centre means leads are fed through to franchisees. The company reports that more than 80 per cent of business is from referrals.
Franchisees can expect a capital investment of between $20,000 and $50,000 to purchase a Jim’s Mowing business.
“These days people are trying to eat less meat but they still want to enjoy pies and sausage rolls. We’re excited to answer the call of the wild for more plant-based options – especially two Aussie family favourites,” he said.
Earlier this year Steve Plarre was named the number one executive in Australian franchising.
So what can franchisees expect from this highly-awarded business entrenched in Victoria’s baking history?
Site selection, business support, four weeks initial training and a 26 week follow-up and support program are part of the franchise deal.
Ferguson Plarre takes the head lease on all sites, so it shares in the risk of each franchise.
It also operates a gross margin model. It’s royalty-free apart from a 3 per cent admin rate and an upfront $40,000 franchise fee. The franchisor makes its money from franchisees purchasing wholesale products.
HYDR AULINK
FOUNDED 194 5 | FR ANCHISING 2013
Just seven years in franchising but a lifetime of experience in the hydraulic hose industry – that’s what you buy into with a Hydraulink mobile franchise.
This heritage firm has profited from its focus on a niche market, repairing hydraulic hose and fittings.
And there’s a demand across a vast number of sectors. Hydraulink franchisees are on the road servicing industries such as road, rail and construction, logistics, warehousing, agriculture and fishing, mining, demolition contractors and the defence force.
More than 70 years after the business first began, Hydraulink has 400+ units operating across the Asia-Pacific region, with 115 in Australia.
Its tagline “Best under pressure” sums up the focus Hydraulink is taking. The 75-year-old firm is expanding its reach, gearing up for a customer-centric future and focusing on top quality service.
QUEST APARTMENT HOTELS
FOUNDED 1988 | FRANCHISED 1988
Paul Constantinou started the Quest accommodation business back in 1988 in Melbourne and he is still leading the charge today as executive chairman of the franchise chain.
The idea for the business was to cater for extended-stay business travellers with home-from-home, serviced accommodation.
The concept took off and now the Quest Apartment Hotels brand can be seen in more than 175 locations across Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, and most recently in the UK.
Along the way it has seen some significant changes, including a rebrand from Quest Serviced Apartments in 2015.
The same year, the accommodation firm signed a $500 million strategic partnership with Singapore-based real estate subsidiary The Ascott Limited, which brought funding and advisory board members into the business.
In 2019 the business was the first in Australia to be awarded a five-star franchise rating.
A Quest franchise is a big investment ($750,000+) depending on the number of apartments, tenure, location and existing conditions.
However, Quest is accredited with major Australian banks, who have helped franchisees fund their way into the business.
SHINGLE INN
FOUNDED 1936 | FRANCHISED 2009
An elegant tea room born in the Great Depression, Shingle Inn has epitomised the English afternoon tea tradition, both in its decor and its menu items.
For a business born in the Great Depression, it was the 1970s that proved the biggest challenge. In the early part of the decade the original Edward Street, Brisbane outlet faced abandonment but by 1975 the Bellchambers family had taken ownership.
The family still runs the business today, although in 2002 the original store closed after almost 70 years, due to redevelopment.
Across the years the menu has stayed traditional while reflecting contemporary times, as co-director Andrew Bellchambers points out.
“Back in the early 1940s, the Shingle Inn cafe introduced lemon meringue pies to its menu to cater for the American World War II soldiers who were visiting the cafe and searching for a piece of home,” says Andrew.
Now the brand’s St Burger range adds a meaty bite to the main meal menu.
Today the cafe’s franchisees get their baked goods delivered from a central kitchen.
The Shingle Inn name represents history, good service, great cakes and celebrating tradition. And for franchisees it’s all backed up with a business system and a family culture.
NARELL AN POOL S
FO U N D E D 1971 | F R A N C H I S I N G 2 0 0 2
Narellan Pools began nearly 50 years ago and has developed from a local operation in a Sydney chicken shed to an international business.
The Narellan Group today encompasses the company’s Australian, New Zealand and Canadian franchise and manufacturing businesses.
Last year Narellan Pools partnered with North America’s largest pool company, Latham Pool Products.
Narellan Pools’ long-time managing director Chris Meyer told Inside Franchise Business at the time,“The goal is to grow our collective businesses through the maximising of the current brands, and to grow the popularity of fibreglass in the pool market.”
Meyer described the partnership as “an incredible opportunity”.
“I am delighted with the opportunities this partnership gives our incredibly passionate people, both in manufacturing and our franchise network.
“It increases our franchisees’ business value and provides new resources. Our decision to take on a partner has not been made lightly; we are acting to not only capitalise on a huge global opportunity, but also protect the long-term interest of all our stakeholders.
“We’re delighted to have found a partner that has the same drive, passion and commitment to building the world’s biggest and best pool brands.”
Named for the semi-rural suburb where the south-western Sydney business was first established, Narellan Pools was bought by the previous Meyer generation in 1988.
Chris has been MD and owner for 17 years, and with his wife Debb has built a collaborative and open culture.