All it took was one taste of
CHOOKS fresh and tasty chicken to convert new Ellenbrook residents Braam and Alti Le Roux and lead them to pack up and move from South Africa to become the new local CHOOKS franchisees.
Braam said when he came with his family to Australia for a holiday in 2005 he was able to experience CHOOKS chicken first-hand.
“We had never encountered the brand but we loved the taste better than any other
chicken product we’d tasted before and we asked for information about whether it was a franchise,” he said.
“When we got back to South Africa we started researching more via the CHOOKS website and when we came back to WA in 2006 we met up with the previous Ellenbrook franchisees who were also South African. They told us they were planning to sell the store so that’s how we came to own Ellenbrook CHOOKS.”
The move to Australia is not the only change Braam and Alti have encountered – in South Africa Braam was a business consultant and Alti owned and ran a horse riding school for 10 years before they decided it was time for their family to move to Australia for a better future.
“WA is safer and more relaxed than South Africa which is great because we wanted to slow down a bit. We chose to live in Ellenbrook because it’s nice and quiet and also close to our shop – we are a two minute drive away.
“Alti and I are looking forward to becoming a part of the Ellenbrook community through continuing the store’s support of local clubs and associations, providing employment opportunities for locals and more dining choice.”
The couple are new to franchising but Alti said they would draw on their previous business experience and the help of the CHOOKS Encouragement Centre to see through the success of their store.
“The major deciding factor of becoming a CHOOKS franchisee was the culture of the business,” she said. “The CHOOKS culture is like having a big family – if you need help there are lots of people that listen to you and extend a helping hand.
“For instance, one of the other CHOOKS managers helped us find a house! If it wasn’t for his help we would still be looking.
“The Encouragement Centre team always asks us if there is any way they can help which is very encouraging because we know we have someone behind us looking out for us.
“I didn’t expect this kind of culture, I just thought it was going to be hardcore business but it’s quite different – they bowled me over!
“I challenge locals to come by and try the chicken – I’m sure they will be just as convinced as we were of how fantastic it really tastes.”
Ellenbrook barbecue and fried chicken lovers are able to satisfy their tastebuds at Braam and Alti’s CHOOKS fresh & tasty store which is open seven days a week at Shop T6B, The Shops at Ellenbrook, Main street.
10-Sep-2007