Ben & Jerry's franchisees explain why they opted for the brand:
Albert Thai and Kent Hildred are one of Australia's newest Ben & Jerry's franchaisees- the duo chat about their experiences so far..
Why did you decide to buy a franchise?
Buying into a franchise ensured we didn’t have to start a business from scratch and could start a business with a brand that had a long track record. We had observed the long term success of the Ben & Jerry’s brand overseas and attended the grand opening of the Chatswood store. From thereon in, we felt the brand was a good fit from both a product and social mission perspective.
We also decided to buy a franchise because we knew we would have lots of upfront and continued support from the Australian Ben & Jerry’s team.
How did you come to decide on this brand?
We have been big fans of Ben & Jerry’s after seeing the brand whilst travelling overseas. When it launched in Australia, we realised there were many factors that set Ben & Jerry’s apart from competitors, both in terms of product and the business.
The Ben and Jerry’s mission is to make the best possible ice cream in the nicest possible way. We believe in, and support, this mission. In addition to this, the ice cream is denser than other competitors making it a super-premium ice cream and it has chunks and swirls which differentiates itself from competitors. Another great thing about the brand is that the raw materials are sourced from suppliers in a social and environmentally responsible way. For example, cage free eggs are used and the company works closely with dairy farmers to continue improving farming practices to help protect the environment and animal welfare.
How has the franchisor training helped you in business?
The franchisor training we received from Ben & Jerry’s was great for our business – having others to learn from ensured we got to start up quickly and with ease. The good thing is, the system is developing in Australia, so we can always go to the franchisor with ideas for improvement to the model, and they are open to that.
How has franchising changed your life?
Being a franchisee and part of a much-loved international brand has been an amazing experience. It’s meant that we’ve become part of a bigger herd and have connections all over the world. We’re looking forward to developing our local presence and building on our fan base even more by spreading the signature Ben & Jerry’s peace, love and ice cream!
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