Posted:28-May-2025
From QSR employee to franchisee
Alex Faz has more than 20 years’ experience working for a house hold name QSR brand. Starting out his career in the kitchen, Alex was quickly promoted to supervisor, then manager then area manager.
Alex explains: “After two decades as an employee, I’d learned an awful lot about how a QSR business should be run from the ground up and I felt like I could take the next step. I looked into different franchise opportunities in the foodservice industry, and first heard about The Sushi Co through word of mouth and my online research. The Sushi Co stood out because of its strong brand, reputation for quality, and proven business model.
“I decided to go for it. Woodford was my first franchised store and I have now also opened in Harringay.
“The franchise application process itself, was quite structured but straightforward. Following my initial enquiry, I had discussions with the franchise team to understand the business model. After that, I submitted my application, went through financial and operational assessments, and finally attended a discovery day to see the business in action. Once everything was approved, I signed the franchise agreement.
“The training program was comprehensive. It covered everything from food preparation and customer service to business operations and marketing strategies. I had both hands-on training at the Canary Wharf restaurant plus classroom-style sessions. By the end, I felt confident in running my restaurant because I had a strong support system and clear guidelines to follow.
“The Sushi Co Woodford opening exceeded my expectations and we hit all our initial revenue targets. With 28 seats we have a full house most nights and have extended our opening hours too. Over the past three years, our reputation for fabulous fresh sushi has grown within the area and the turnover of the business has doubled.
“I have also recently opened a new restaurant in Harringay. Green Lanes offers many takeaways and food outlets, but with no sushi, we saw a gap in the market. The local community have been incredibly welcoming and their feedback particularly positive. Our customers say they enjoy ‘having a different and healthy option’.
“Like most QSR businesses, one of our main challenges is that the delivery platforms take a significant percentage of order takings. Therefore, with The Sushi Co’s support, we have been focused on driving customers through our own platform. Our marketing targets and incentivizes them to order directly through us and this has improved profitability further.
“The Sushi Co’s management team have been great in relation to marketing too, making improvements to the website and being proactive with campaigns on social media. We also manage customer communication through email and text and the whole approach is working successfully. I can’t wait to open my third store!
“I believe the secret to my success is consistency and focus to deliver the best sushi as per the company standards. Our delicious fresh sushi speaks for itself and the customers keep coming back for more.
“I would definitely recommend The Sushi Co to other prospective franchisees. The company provides great support, a strong brand, and a solid business model. It’s a fantastic investment opportunity, and for the right person, a great chance to be part of a growing brand.”
Interested and want to know more about The Sushi Co?
The The Sushi Co profile outlines all aspects of their franchise opportunity and allows you to contact them for further information or to ask a question.
