Posted:06-December-2022
Day in the Life of a Burger & Sauce Multi-Unit Franchisee
Subhan Munir was Burger & Sauce’s first franchisee. He set up his Alum Rock Burger & Sauce in Birmingham in the height of the Pandemic and it turned over £1.5 million in its first year. He now runs Alum Rock, Nottingham and a new outlet in Derby is set to open at the start of December 2022.
The Burger & Sauce brand is built upon two fundamental foundations: Fresh and Simple. Burger & Sauce offers fresh burgers, handmade in store and accompanied by signature sauces. The company already has six franchised restaurants in the West Midlands, all of which have exceeded trading expectations and Burger & Sauce was also named regional winner of Uber Eats Restaurant of the Year for the Midlands in 2022.
Subhan has a background in the QSR industry starting out working on the tills at Pepe’s at weekends aged just 15! Subhan went on to work for another food franchise where he was responsible for opening new stores. He explains: Burger & Sauce at the Derbion shopping centre will technically be my 49th store opening! However, it’s pretty different being in charge of operations at a company compared with actually owning a franchise licence. Now the buck really stops with me!
Subhan starts his day early with a trip to the gym or goes for a swim. He’s then on the road by 8.30am heading to Alum Rock, which is where his office is based too. He confirms: “I check my emails and see what needs to be done during the day. I like to be hands-on in each of my stores to ensure everything is running smoothly so spend a couple of hours in each one. It’s motivating for staff and keeps everyone engaged. After working with my team at Allum Rock for a few hours, I drive to Nottingham and then Derby on the way back.”
One of the unique features of a Burger & Sauce franchise is the company’s investment in technology with iPads at every station in each kitchen and this is linked to a bespoke ordering system. It means as orders come in, they are split out to the appropriate person to fulfil. There are no physical tickets to get lost and the status of every order is clear. “This makes for a simple, efficient and pleasant working environment which our staff really like,” confirms Subhan. “The tech really takes the headache out of the process for our staff. It means there is calm in the kitchens and the team can just get on with their jobs. It makes overseeing the operation much easier too.
“We also use technology for all the due diligence too, to record temperature checks for fresh ingredients for example. Reminders are set so any member of staff knows what to do. Full traceability is monitored, so whenever a task is completed and by who, we know. We can also check back if needed.”
Subhan visits Derbion shopping centre each day. He explains: “We are currently mid-build, so my role is to make sure the contractors have everything they need. It’s pretty full on! There is a huge hype around the Derbion opening. We have hoardings up and the excitement for opening day is already building.
“I’m then back to Alum Rock before heading home for the day. I rely on my teams to manage the stores, but I need to oversee their work. They do the stock ordering for example, but I need to make sure we’ve ordered the correct amounts. It’s the same with staff rotas. I’m checking the work of my team. Thankfully, they are all well trained and all the technology really helps.
“I think the main difference between opening stores for another company and running the franchised restaurants myself is the financial aspect. Previously, I just ordered equipment and made sure staff were trained. Now, running my own franchised Burger & Sauce outlets, I need to balance the books. There is an inclination to want the best of everything, but it all comes at a price. Therefore, I need to make sure everything that is spent adds value for the business. This is even more important with the increased cost of supplies etc.”
Opening three Burger & Sauce restaurants in quick succession means Subhan is busy looking after day-to-day operations. He has acquired further licences to open two more Burger & Sauce restaurants but for 2023 he will be focusing on developing his current stores. He confirms: “It’s important to have strong foundations and this will ensure successful expansion in the future. My teams are great but relatively new, so they need to consolidate their skills as we aim to grow the business in each store further. As the brand becomes even more well-known and we have secured the very best sites, we will be ready for demand!
“It’s an exciting time and I’ve been fortunate to work at other well-known food franchise brands in the early stages of their development. It was hard work and hands-on! Therefore, I know this is what’s required as I build my portfolio of franchised stores with Burger & Sauce. Getting involved early has enabled me to select some fantastic development areas where I know success is waiting.”
Interested and want to know more about Burger and Sauce?
The Burger and Sauce basic profile outlines aspects of their franchise opportunity
