Posted:13-December-2022
Career Change to Franchising is Awesome Choice
Shayan Zafaryab ran his own successful clothing business for several years. However, he missed managing his own family’s fast-food restaurant and so started to look around for a business opportunity which would re-ignite his passion for offering quality food and great customer service. He came across the Awesome Chips franchise opportunity and was introduced by a friend to the founder Roni Dalal.
Awesome Chips was originally set up by Roni in 2015 and serves-up fresh hand cut chips, complimented with a range of sauces, rubs and spices and nothing else. The chips, double fried and served up in quirky yellow paper cones and boxes with a choice of signature spices, rubs and sauces have rapidly became popular and the business has grown quickly.
Following training at the Leicester store at the end of 2019, Shayan opened his Awesome Chips shop near the Bullring, Birmingham. He says: “I was excited to start a new venture, but it wasn’t long before the Pandemic hit. The Government helped the hospitality sector, but I’ll be honest, it was a tough start. I soon learned how to manage costs very closely. As a take-away service, unlike eat-in restaurants, fortunately we were not affected quite as badly as we could have been. With everyone stuck at home, we used social media to generate brand awareness and to direct new customers to our shop. As soon as shoppers became confident enough to return to the high streets, that’s when sales really took off and we haven’t looked back.”
Shayan is hands-on managing the shop himself with the help of eight team members. He explains: “The first staff arrive at 9.30am to prepare for opening. This means heating the oil and checking fridge temperatures, getting food ready. I’m helping out plus completing any paperwork. We are open for trading at 10am and customers gradually build to peak at lunch time. More of the team arrive throughout the morning so we are always fully staffed to take advantage of the lunchtime rush.”
Shayan’s Awesome Chips shop is open from 10am to 9pm seven days per week. He says: “Sundays tend to be quieter, so we do close earlier on that day. But for the rest of the week we are super busy.”
Awesome Chips sources potatoes from Holland. Shayan explains: “These potatoes are extraordinary. They have the best taste, they are consistent and when double fried, uniquely, maintain their crispiness even when mixed with our favourite sauces, rubs and spices. We just don’t do soggy chips! The potatoes themselves make the chips taste amazing then we simply add our own sauces and spices!
“Our top selling sauce is Chipotle which is a Southwest Sauce we make in house. Garlic Chili is popular too and Onion rub and Kajun spice always go down well! We have around 35 sauces, rubs and spices plus cheese toppings so there is a choice for everyone, and the result is so delicious, we like to present chips as a main meal. They are also incredibly inclusive and a great choice for people of any age, gender, background or for those who are gluten free, vegan or Halal.”
The Awesome Chips concept has a further benefit in that it is so simple. Shayan confirms: “It makes staff training simple and so easy compared with other fast food takeaway offerings. For my own training, I was ready to operate my own store in less than a month. Roni was great at ensuring I understood every aspect of the business and makes sure we are on point with continued planned support visits too.
“My career change from clothing to chips has been an awesome choice! I enjoy the work; the product is amazing, and it means I can build and potentially expand my business to open new shops in the future too!”
Interested and want to know more about Awesome Chips?
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