Eagle Boys franchise plans for expansion

Eagle Boys Pizza franchise , one of Australia’s top pizza companies, will unveil the next phase of its business strategy over coming months with the introduction of ‘solution stores’ – a new business model that can operate in a space as small as six square meters and will eventually represent 30 percent of the company’s business.

“Within the pizza industry, the barrier has always been speed of service, and we have developed the technology to prepare and bake pizzas in a very short time,” says pizza franchise managing director, Tom Potter. “Solution stores make use of new technology allowing pizzas to be prepared in-store in a third of the time as traditional pizzas.”

Once baked, pizzas are placed into a fast food franchise innovation called Eaglexpress units and held at optimum temperature and quality, thereby enabling ‘no-wait’ pizza.

“Financially, solution stores are very sound investments,” Potter adds. “The costs associated with a traditional pizza store do not apply in the solution store model because bases are prepared off-site and therefore no equipment or labour is involved in the dough production.

“Also, because solution stores operate in such small spaces, rent and labour costs are significantly reduced. Outlets can even be established within existing businesses.”

Potter claims that due to low start-up costs and high-traffic locations, solution stores provide a strong return on investment for franchisees.

“The start-up cost to operate a solution store is between $40,000 and $125,000, which includes all kitchen equipment, signage, construction and a one-off franchise fee,” he says.

Eagle Boys already operates a handful of solution stores in Brisbane at locations such as the RE Hotel in Toowong, Suncorp Stadium and the Brisbane domestic and international airports. It will soon open a further five stores in Queensland, including one at QUT Gardens Point and the Surfers Paradise Tavern.

“Other options being investigated include service stations on main highways, theme parks and military canteens, just to name a few,” Potter explains. “In fact, the possibilities are endless and we see potential to establish another 300 outlets in a very short time. My goal is for solution stores to eventually represent about 30 percent of the company’s total business, which will include launching the concept in our offshore ventures over the next few years.”