Domino's Pizza
Description:
Domino's Pizza UK & IRL plc is the UK and Ireland’s leading pizza delivery company.
Opportunities:
Franchise opportunities available in selected areas of the UK and Ireland.
Business Type:
Franchise.
Minimum Investment:
£240,000.
Financing Assistance:
Yes, through a third party.
Training Provided:
Yes.
Why Franchising Works
September 2, 2008
We examine how investing in a franchised business, rather than setting up on your own, can provide a ready-made network of business support.
Starting a business can be extremely daunting, even in times of economic growth. Opting for a franchise can help entrepreneurs by giving them the best of both worlds: the chance to run their own business, while being able to draw on a wealth of knowledge and support.
This is particularly important for new immigrants who may have little knowledge of business culture or the legal system in the UK, as well as lacking a network of contacts. The support of an established brand like Domino's can be invaluable in providing useful business and HR advice, as well as a world-class training programme - not to mention the ingredients to ensure that all franchisees are providing the finest quality, freshly prepared, hot pizzas.
In addition, Domino's franchisees benefit from a central marketing fund which drives high-profile communications such as the sponsorship of Britain's Got Talent and The Simpsons as well as national newspaper and radio promotions. Such marketing power would be almost impossible to achieve for a start-up business.
Andy Hirst, Head of Franchise Development at Domino's Pizza, says: "The comprehensive support provided by Domino's means that, with the right natural talent and skill base, franchisees from every country and walk of life have the opportunity to run a successful business using a tried and tested method. We are extremely proud of the fact that some of our most successful franchisees emigrated to the UK relatively recently and that we have been able to support them in building a business in this country."
Pizza People
Thirty-three year old Slawomir Szulc is an inspiring example of someone able to prosper in the UK business community thanks to a combination of his innate talent and the support of Domino's. Arriving in Britain from Poland as a lone student 11 years ago, he has gone on to establish himself as a successful Domino's franchisee with experience well beyond his years in the country.
Slawomir puts his success down to a strong work ethic and - crucial for an immigrant operating in an unfamiliar business environment - a supporting network of store owners. He says: "Starting your own business is always hard, especially in a foreign country where you don't know the market and the way things work. That's why Domino's has been so important for me - as a Pole in Britain the world-class training and mentoring the company has given me throughout my career has been vital to my success."
Having joined Domino's when he was still studying, Slawomir quickly rose up the ranks, moving from pizza delivery driver to store manager in two years. By 1999, when the opportunity to become a franchisee presented itself, the lure of opening his own business saw him leave his studies partway through. The decision was a fruitful one, and Slawomir now enjoys the kind of success which many of his peers only dream of, with 11 stores nationwide.
"When I first arrived in England I had no idea I would still be here now, let alone running my own business," he says. "Coming to a foreign country as a first generation immigrant, you do not expect to have the opportunity to get so far so quickly. However, Domino's provided me with the chance to do so and I haven't looked back since."
