Wok’n Noodle selling the sizzle
In Auckland it seems tasty nutritious Asian food, cooked in front of you and served within minutes, is in high demand.
Rafiq Bhamani, of Link Business Broking Ltd Auckland, says this kind of cuisine — which is exemplified at Wok’n Noodle — is an idea whose time has come.
Bhamani is selling the Wok’n Noodle Bar, which runs as a going concern within leased premises at 53 Shortland St.
He is also promoting yet-to-bedeveloped Wok’n Noodle Bar franchise sites elsewhere in Auckland City.
“This is a well-developed, fun brand with a proven track record as a successful hospitality business,” Bhamani explains.
“Offering customers exceptionally tasty and healthy food and serving it fast is not exactly a new concept. But Wok’n Noodle has perfected the idea through through use of top systems, excellent training and superb ingredients — all of which is delivered with plenty of X factor.”
Bhamani says many Asian-based food outlets strive to deliver similar experiences, and a few even have a franchise model but Wok’n Noodle creator Lee Chang Woo has tapped into something quite unique.
“Lee founded the brand in 2005. He just could not find a company serving what he wanted to eat and what his Kiwi friends demanded, so he did it himself. Lee opened his first store in Mt Eden, with an absolute passion for delivering exactly what people wanted — good, honest, and healthy food, with great flavours, freshly prepared and all at a reasonable price. And he’s worked hard from the start to ensure that Wok’n Noodle would not only be popular with customers, but efficient and profitable for franchisees as well.”
Bhamani points out that the cuisine is not particular to any one Asian country.
Rather, it is more a culmination of Lee’s intuitive and deep understanding of what Kiwi diners want. All the favourites are on offer on offer at Wok’n Noodle — Thai, Chinese, curries and vegetarian alternatives (you name it), but in addition Lee offers his own twist on many Asian “classics”.
Bhamani adds that the brand welcomes all nationalities — and Lee’s dream is to see the stores are owned and operated by multi-national teams.
“Can a Scotsman own a Wok’n Noodle franchise? Or someone originally from India, perhaps?
“The answer is very much YES — that is the whole idea,” says Bhamani.
Existing stores
There are two Wok ‘n Noodle stores — the one for sale in Shortland St and another at 61 Normanby Rd, Mt Eden.
The Shortland St store has been operating for six years and is now achieving sales of $19,000 per week. Mt Eden has sales close to $30,000 per week.
Both stores attract a good mix of regular custom from surrounding residential and corporate areas and both have a strong demand for deliveries, while the split between takeaway (including delivery) and dine-in is about 50:50.
Plans exist to establish new stores around Auckland and, indeed, further afield.
“A new Wok’n Noodle store offers reasonable cost entry and a turn-key business opportunity for potential franchisees,” Bhamani says.