This award, sponsored this year by ABSA,  honours the franchisee’s success in running his own business and contributing to the overall success of their franchisor.  With close to 30 000 franchisees in South Africa, they form the backbone of the franchising sector.

CAPTAIN DOREGO’S, BLOEMFONTEIN IS CROWNED FRANCHISEE OF THE YEAR
Johnny da Silva and Carlos Nunes have successfully developed a total of eight outlets in the Bloemfontein area serving around 102 000 people per month.  Key to their success are strict control systems and cost effective buying on the one hand with effective marketing combined with extensive service to the community on the other.

According to co-owner Johnny da Silva, adhering to the franchise methods of operation is crucial to success.  “Adding value through training,” says da Silva “is also important. We realise that our staff are crucial to the business and therefore equip them with the skills necessary to not only add value to the brand, but for their own personal growth.  After all, if a person feels successful, they will have the confidence to excel in life.”

All the eight Captain DoRego outlets in Bloemfontein get involved in numerous community projects and events, from sponsoring charity events to getting involved in cleaning their city, from school and university sports events to feeding the hungry.  This gives diverse meaning to their motto of ‘When people are hungry they need to think of Captain DoRego’s.

The runners-up in the Franchisee of the Year category were:

WESTERN AND NORTHERN CAPE

CAPTAIN DOREGO’S, KIMBERLEY, NORTHERN CAPE
The two franchise partners, Robin Brown and Tony Barra have made Captain DoRego’s a household name in Kimberley with not one but four successful stores.   They have been solely responsible for developing the brand and have become respected businessmen in the region.  Their motto and secret to success is “DON’T WORK HARDER, WORK SMARTER” and they’ve put in place rules and regulations that result in more efficient and consistent productivity. 

EASTERN & SOUTHERN CAPE

CAREN MOSTERT OF VODACARE, GEORGE. 
Caren was one of the first entrepreneurs who took up a franchise opportunity when the cellular boom started in 1996 by opening a Vodashop in Mossel Bay and she has never looked back!  Today Caren runs several Vodacom and Vodacare outlets throughout the region through a combination of entrepreneurial flair and a commitment to following the franchise system.

GAUTENG & OTHER PROVINCES

GARY JACKSON OF WOOLWORTHS, SUMMIT ROAD, BRYANSTON. 
Gary Jackson is living proof that once a franchisee takes over a former corporate store, there is no stopping the growth.  Since buying the corporate store four years ago, his Woolworths store in Bryanston has shown over four times the sales that the store did as a corporate.  This represents a 330% increase over the 4 years and has outperformed all other food stores in the group on sales, waste and control and customer complaint minimization.