After 70 years in business family owned food retailer Goldsteins Bakery is on the lookout for its first batch of franchisees.
Goldsteins currently operates 17 company owned stores, and it is looking to franchise some of its already existing sites, as well as open brand new ones.
“We have a really great production facility on the Gold Coast that is at about 50 percent capacity at the moment, so we really want to maximise that production facility and getting it hammering,” says marketing manager Martin Goldstein.
THE PRODUCT
The bakery offers an extensive product range, including both classic and gourmet pie varieties, pastries such as custard tarts and lamingtons and a wide range of cakes and tortes, including speciality cakes.
Goldstein explains the bakery brand values fresh, quality product. “We manufacture all our products fresh and distribute them to our stores, and there has to be a minimum delivery of at least every second day.”
The bakery’s entire product range is manufactured at its Gold Coast production facility by a team of qualified bakers and pastry chefs, a move Goldstein says differentiates the brand from its competitors.
“It sets us apart from others in the industry who might bring in frozen products or products that require finishing on site.
“It also benefits franchisees because they don’t have to worry about the baking or finishing – they can turn up for work half an hour before the shop opens, turn on the coffee machine and the pie warmer, put their fresh stock in the fridge or display cabinets and away they go,” he says.
SUPPORT
Goldstein stresses the brand offers its individual stores a wealth of support, and franchisees can expect the same.
“We are flexible in that we tailor promotions and products to suit our sites based on what they need. If they are selling a lot of coffee and their average sale is therefore quite low we will introduce a new product for that location, which often ends up being taken up by the whole group.”
In a bid to ensure its new franchisees receive the best possible support, the bakery brand is looking to grow at a controlled and steady rate. “We are not in it to open 10 stores a year, we would be happy to sell one or two stores this year and another one or two next year.
“This will give us time to focus on each franchisee and really make sure that they are getting the attention they need so they can be as successful as possible,” says Goldstein.
When it comes to site selection, Goldstein explains the brand only opts for those in prime locations as stores in highly visible locations tend to peform best.
“We put our name on the head lease of all of our sites and we do not take sites that we don’t think will be successful.
“Those sites don’t come around every day and we get offers for new sites all the time, however the ones we want are the ones we are patient for and really target.”
TRAINING
Goldsteins offers a three week training program for its new franchisees, which they undertake prior to opening their store.
“It involves a combination of classroom and practical training in one of our corporate stores, and we then help the franchisee set their store up – our focus is really on ensuring our franchisees are confident in running their store,” says Goldstein.