Ask any small business owner about the biggest challenges they faced when starting up, and you will more than likely find that setting up a reliable supply chain is at the top of the list.

As the engine of a business, the supply chain can make or break a company, however, it is also a time consuming process which can put additional pressure on, already time-constrained, business owners.

From sourcing suppliers and negotiating prices, to placing orders and coordinating logistics, a successful business owner must have a seamless system in place.

Small business owners too can find themselves at the mercy of suppliers with fluctuating prices and variable lead times.

However, for the majority of franchisees, the supply chain is an onerous challenge which is taken out of their hands. A good franchisor will have a dedicated supply and purchasing team to handle the process, freeing up time for franchisees to be on the ground interacting with customers and assuring quality control.

Domino's Pizza, the leading player in the UK's home delivered food market, manages the supply chain for its franchisees. This not only takes away the burden of supplier negotiation but also gives store owners peace of mind by ensuring that they receive the highest quality ingredients.

With 464 stores in the UK and Ireland, Domino's commands significant buying power and its dedicated supply team makes certain that its franchisees benefit from competitively priced ingredients and materials.

Bill Ewbank, head of franchise sales at Domino's Pizza comments: "With small businesses battling against a sea of red tape, time continues to be a precious commodity. At Domino's everything from ovens and aprons to pepperoni and mozzarella is ordered and dispatched from one central commissary, streamlining the process for each store owner."

Pepperoni People

Wayne Benson is a multi unit franchisee with four stores in the Midlands. He comments: "Running four outlets simultaneously can be a handful at times but taking the supply chain out of the equation makes my job more manageable."

Wayne explains: "At Domino's you can place an order three times a week via their interactive ordering system. It's quick, easy and efficient - I sit down on a weekly basis and look at the sales projections then place my order electronically. If there is any delay in delivery, I receive an alert from the purchasing team so I can plan ahead and avoid any last minute panics.

"Having a centralised ordering system not only saves me the time it would take to build up strong supplier relations but also frees up time for me to focus on ensuring we are providing unbeatable customer service."

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