Posted:08-August-2023
Piloting the Wingers Concept
Amran Sunner is one of the founders of Wingers – the Chicken Wing company. Amran also manages the Lichfield restaurant with his brother Dylan.
Amran explains: “We set up Wingers during the Pandemic. The Lichfield restaurant was our pilot and we still run this today with the help of our store managers Denise and Eleanor who have been with us since day one.
“At 23, people say I am young to run and grow a franchised business, but I started early! Dad used to run around eight sandwich shops, so we are all well used to this sort of operation. I was in sole charge of one of my dad’s sandwich shops during the school holidays when I was just 16!
“As the whole Wingers business has developed, it has become a family effort. My mum Jes is in charge of food safety and hygiene and audits the stores. She also taught me how to cook! My brother Dylan oversees Lichfield with me, and we also work together with Dad to grow the whole franchise operation. My late grandad used to help out too. We are also supported by Anthony Round a hugely experienced QSR franchise professional of more than 25 years plus other experienced marketing and operations professionals who make up our team.
“To set up our first restaurant in Lichfield, we were lucky enough to attract support from one of our customers. We had been operating a delivery and take away business and one customer – Bal – had and still does, have a great love for our chicken wings. He used to place a big order every week. Our whole team knew him by name and one day he left a note on a ticket just saying: “call me about a franchise.” At the time, expansion was not in our plan, so we said no. However, six months later he asked again, and we were ready. It turned out that Bal is highly experienced in the food industry, so it was a great honour that he loved our food so much he wanted to become a franchisee and help us develop the brand.
“Bal helped us raise the capital to set up the pilot Lichfield restaurant in 2020. He became a partner in the restaurant and now has two of his own Wingers franchised stores about to open.
“It was just a few months from that initial conversation with Bal to opening the first Lichfield Wingers restaurant. Dylan chose the location: he used to pass it every day on the way to school!
“It was incredibly hard work at first. Dylan – who had decided university wasn’t for him – mum and I worked flat out for about a month, but orders flew in. After that we were able to take on and train staff, and start to push Wingers on Uber Eats. Now we have 12 team members in Lichfield, including our store managers who have taken charge of day to day operations. We are in contact every day.
“I now use Lichfield as a test store for everything. It’s laid out how all our franchised stores should be, so we use it for training and even as my menu development kitchen!
“Since the Lichfield opening took off, we now have six franchisees, with Wingers successfully trading in Wolverhampton, Aldridge, Hednesford and Worcester. Leamington Spa, Shrewsbury, Nottingham and Birmingham International Train Station are set to open very soon.
“We are now looking for new franchisees to join us in expanding our proven franchise concept. We offer full turn-key opening of stores, this includes help with site selection, design, fit out, training, marketing and more. We know the model works because we set up in the toughest times during the Pandemic. Because it’s a family business, we are as invested in our franchisees’ success as they are.”
Interested and want to know more about Wingers?
The Wingers profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.
