Eric Ta, Theobroma Chocolate Lounge franchisee at Northland Shopping Centre, Preston, Victoria talks about what it’s like to be part of this group.

When did you open this franchise and where is it?
The franchise opened in early December 2008. The store is located in Northland Shopping Centre, Preston, Victoria, in the new fresh food section.

What was the biggest factor in your choice of franchise?
My wife and I were attracted by the concept which was a fairly new idea. Theobroma offers the perfect atmosphere and ambience where you can relax in leather tub chairs or high-back leather chairs while sipping away at our great blend of coffee or else enjoying a delicious mug of our famous Belgium hot chocolate and indulging in a wide range of hand-crafted sumptuous Belgium Chocolates.

What investment have you put into the business so far?
Apart from money, I’ve invested a lot of time, particularly in training the staff. You can’t grow a business without good staff. Also, creating a happy working culture is important. We go out as a team once every quarter to reinforce team bonding. I feel very fortunate to have excellent staff in this business.

When you leave the franchise, what will you want to have achieved?
Like all things I do, I strive to make a mark, to be the best. I want to be able to look back proudly and say that I had some influence in the way Theobroma runs.

Describe your typical day.
We start at 8.00 setting up tables and chairs, then fire up the coffee machines, get the kitchen area going, then organise new stock for purchase. During the day, I relieve staff when they have their breaks and this can include running drink orders, making coffees, washing dishes, cooking and cleaning tables. After the staff packs up, I can concentrate on getting the stock orders organised for the next day.