Becoming A Wiltshire Farm Foods Franchisee

Want to find out more about becoming a Wiltshire Farm Foods Franchisee? Click here to visit www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com/opportunities

There’s no better match than a Wiltshire Farm Foods Franchise. Every once in a while, opportunities arise that are simply too good to miss. When they do, it pays to grasp them in both hands.

As a Wiltshire Farm Foods franchisee you will take part in a business that promises rapid growth, substantial sales potential and proven profitability. However, the rewards are more than just financial. Working with Wiltshire Farm Foods will allow you to fulfil your personal goals, put your customer service skills to work and bring your business acumen to the table.

Naturally when selecting a franchise you need to know the company has the strength, prospects and support necessary to offer lasting success. That’s exactly where Wiltshire Farm Foods delivers. Established in 1992 we are the country’s foremost frozen meals delivery service. With a dedicated national network of over sixty franchises and more than 200,000 customers, sales have grown yearly at rates exceeding 20%.

What’s more we are backed by the strength of apetito. A global organisation with over 6000 staff, apetito’s success comes as a result of its quality frozen meals an innovative catering solutions, earning us a Queen’s Award for Innovation in 2005. Our continuing investments have also established a technologically advanced factory, laboratory and product development centre alongside extensive cold storage facilities and a national distribution fleet. The result? A franchise with the products, services and support you require to achieve your business ambitions

“Selecting a franchise with Wiltshire Farm Foods was the best thing we ever did. From day one the money started coming in and we’ve been in profit ever since. At every step, Wiltshire Farm Foods , apetito and our fellow franchisees have helped enormously with their enthusiasm and support. For those considering setting up a franchise there’s simply no better place to be.”

Jim Beaman, Wiltshire Farm Foods franchisee.

There has never been a better time to take a franchise with Wiltshire farm Foods. From a mouth-watering range of meals to an irresistible package of business support the ingredients are all in place, and the rewards are there for the taking.

Bringing food to life.

About apetito –

·€500 million global turnover

·50 years of specialist knowledge

·Over 1300 UK staff

·One million meals and desserts a week

·Sales exceeding £70 million per year.

Take an organisation with a €500 million global turnover, mix with the UK’s leading frozen meals delivery company. It’s a winning combination: apetito, Europe’s foremost frozen food suppliers and Wiltshire Farm Foods, its rapidly growing top 100 food brand. Our franchisees play a big part in this success story, employing over 500 staff and delivering the exceptional service our customers have come to expect.

A healthy approach

At apetito the nutritional content of our products is paramount. Our New product Development team advise on appropriate recipes and we perform full nutritional and laboratory analysis  on each product. Our dedicated nutrition website, www.nutridata.com and our Special Diet Guide help customers select products that match their dietary needs and provide a valuable source of information to dieticians.

Making it happen

Apetito creates all its main meals in three UK factories: two in Trowbridge, Wiltshire and one in Dudley, West Midlands, while approved factories in the Uk and Europe supply a small selection of cold desserts. Our first factory opened in Trowbridge in 1995. Today, featuring the latest technologies and equipment the factory includes comprehensive quality assurance systems, daily taste panels and laboratory testing, achieving the highest food safety standards and product quality.

 The perfect delivery

We operate our own nationwide distribution service. Once frozen and packed in our factory we take the meals to a main cold store in Portbury near Bristol and five other transhipment areas. From there a fleet of commercial vehicles fitted with the latest equipment required for transporting frozen food delivers our products throughout the country.

Staying in touch

The apetito customer services team is always primed and prepared to take orders and deal with enquiries. With over 5,000 orders every week, apetito and our franchisees enjoy the support of a fast and efficient computerised ordering system. Orders are processed immediately issuing delivery notes and picking lists at our cold store. So you can always feel confident your meal orders are never far away.

It’s more than taking orders and deliveries. It’s about providing the best possible service we can. Many of our customers are housebound, disabled or ill and rely on us for everything – whether it’s taking care of problems around the home, reporting back to family members if they are ill or not eating, or simply passing the time with a friendly chat, we make sure we’re always there for our customers.

Susie Cole, Wiltshire Farm Foods franchisee.

Created by experts

Over 200 tempting meals and desserts. Quality ingredients and seasonings. Delicious combinations and flavours to savour. It all adds up to an irresistible menu fo products from people that know food should taste as good as it looks.

There’s something to suit every appetite. From traditional favourites such as roasts and stews, to more adventurous meals like duck in brandy sauce and sweet and sour pork, our customers can also choose from a tempting selection of hot and cold desserts.

Many of our elderly customers have a wide range of medical conditions. So we make sure each dish is nutritionally balanced and satisfies a wide range of dietary needs. For example we provide special products for diabetics, those needing low-salt, low-fat diets, vegetarians and people seeking milk, egg and gluten free products. Whatever the customer’s requirement, Wiltshire Farm Foods has the meal to match.

Sue Baic, Consultant Dietician

Preparing our dishes is a labour of love. Our experienced chefs create each recipe and every meal is expertly prepared from our premises. The we freeze all meals immediately, locking in their vitamins and goodness. At every step an expert team monitors the nutritional content of our products, conducting daily tests and working alongside dietary experts to ensure they’re delicious, healthy and pleasing to the eye. Our special diet menu includes diabetic, low-fat, moderate salt, gluten-free and vegetarian options to match our customer’s every nutritional need.

Our Product Development team is always improving meals, developing dishes and expanding our range to delight current customers and attract new markets. We also feature special seasonal menus throughout the year with each proving exceptionally popular – particularly our Christmas menu – the promotions are a welcome and profitable addition to our franchisees’ offerings.

Our service

Creating delicious, nutritious food is a given, but our offering is about so much more. Our success comes from a commitment to caring for people – from our factories and franchisees to our customers’ homes, we conduct ourselves with kindness and compassion.

That’s because many customers have relied on Wiltshire Farm Foods for over 15 years, we’ve gained their trust over time. They have always been there for us so we make sure we’re always there for them. This means that when they want to order they can talk to our people on the phone, or if they prefer they can order at www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com . And when it comes to receiving meals they know it will be delivered free to their door by a courteous driver they’ve come to regard as a friend.

Our delivery drivers are the public face of Wiltshire Farm Foods. Record checked, uniformed and carrying identity cards, each builds a rapport with our customers, placing food in their freezers and taking  the time to help with any queries or concerns – they genuinely care about their customers.

Satisfying the demand – market potential

Select a franchise with Wiltshire Farm Foods and you choose a partnership that promises a lasting and profitable business. The home delivery industry is growing rapidly and Wiltshire Farm Foods is expanding with it.

Our main market is the elderly, and in the UK people are living longer than ever before. There are currently more than 9 million people over 65 years of age and the figure is rising steadily every year. Tasty and healthy ready meals are also becoming increasingly propular in this market and we’re confident we can continue our high anuual growth for years to come.

Recent years have seen falls in Local Authority funding. With meals on wheels services declining across the UK many are turning to the private sector for their daily meals. As such, Wiltshire Farm Foods is perfectly placed to provide the quality, nutritious meals they seek.

Wiltshire farm Foods enjoys an excellent reputation amongst healthcare professionals. From occupational therapists and social workers to hospitals, doctors and dieticians, each appreciates the convenience and nutritional benefits of the product range, especially the special diet options. Every day I meet professionals who have patients with dietary or mobility needs and i can always offer the solutions they require.

David Barker, Wiltshire Farm Foods franchisee

The potential doesn’t end there. We are also marketing our offering to the offspring of elderly people. In our increasingly mobile society families often live far apart and even overseas. Wiltshire Farm Foods offers families the peace of mind and security of knowing elderly relatives are eating well and visited regularly by our delivery drivers.

Competitive advantage

When choosing the right franchise it makes good business sense to select a company that’s ahead of its competitors. By taking a franchise with Wiltshire Farm Foods you can feel confident you are working with the UK’s leader in the private ready meals delivery market.

Brand awareness– With more than £2 million annual marketing spend, our extensive national and local marketing we have taken brand awareness of Wiltshire Farm Foods to new heights.

Commitment to quality – Thanks to our strict quality controls and superior raw materials and ingredients, as a franchisee you can feel the products you sell are always of the highest quality

Nationwide Network– As part of a nationwide network of Wiltshire Farm Foods franchisees your business will benefit from the company’s reputation for quality food and exceptional customer care.

Product Development– becoming a franchisee will give you direct involvement in our product development and improvements through regular meetings with other franchisees as well as our development and manufacturing teams.

Local government contracts – apetito’s reputation in the public sector provides us with many local government contract opportunities. We then subcontract these to relevant local franchisees, with apetito paying for the deliveries.

Industry insight– Our position within apetito affords access to the latest information on food manufacturing developments, alongside innovative marketing and product development ideas from other countries.  

Business support

Customer lists– For franchisees taking over exisiting businesses we will provide you with an up-to-date customer list to build your client base.

Operations Manual– You will receive a detailed document covering every aspect of running a successful Wiltshire Farm Foods business.

Dedicated Team– Based at our Business Support Centre, the Wiltshire Farm Foods team are on hand to offer advice and answer all your questions.

National Campaigns– An ongoing national and local press and TV campaign with a marketing budget of over £2 million per year will attract new customers to your business.

Marketing Budget– We will provide you with an individual marketing budget allocation to support your own local campaigns.

Promotional Advice– Whatever your plans, we can offer expert advice and support on every aspect of your marketing, advertising and public relations efforts.

Corporate Literature – As a franchisee you will receive a wide range of marketing literature and stationery to help promote your business.

Freephone Number– A dedicated Wiltshire Farm Foods number is available for general customer enquiries and brochure requests.

Online Ordering- With top placings on the internets major search engines www.wiltshirefarmfoods.comaccounts for over 10% of our orders and is the fastest-growing area of our offering with a dedicated team for creative and support.

Management Accounts– Our in-depth management accounts will allow you to quickly and easily monitor the growth of your business.

Privileged Information – As part of apetito, a leading European brand, you will have access to in-depth specialist knowledge, including details on information technology packages, accountancy, logistics, sales and marketing.

Best Practise– Wiltshire Farm Foods, apetito and franchisees attend regular meetings which involve discussing issues, exchanging ideas and sharing best practice.

Guaranteed Deliveries – Every week your business can rely on guaranteed deliveries from our national fleet of refrigerated vehicles and five transhipment areas.

BFA Membership– Our membership of the British Franchise Association guarantees you’re working alongside a business that has been audited and approved to the highest ethical standards.

Assessing Suitability

When you take a franchise with us we consider you a member of the Wiltshire Farm Foods family. This means you can always expect a working arrangement that’s refreshingly fair and rewarding. We’ll never charge you franchisor fees or marketing levies unlike some other franchises. We will make sure everything’s above board, ethical and honest – like you, we wouldn’t want it any other way.

In return we ask that franchisees have the commercial and personal talents required to run and successful business. Why? Because our customers depend on receiving a regular and reliable service, so it’s vital our franchisees can always display the finest customer care, quality standards and ability to increase sales.

A typical franchise employs seven to ten people so ideally you will have managerial experience, entrepreneurial skills and the ability to inspire your team to grow the business. You also need capital or liquid assets of at least 50,000 to £100,000, although we can arrange finance deals for exceptional candidates. Franchises should also live within forty miles of an available territory or consider relocation.

The Next Steps

If you feel you have what it takes the next steps couldn’t be easier. First we require you to fill out an application form and from there we invite applicants for a tour of our offices and factory and a formal introduction to Wiltshire Farm Foods. Should you wish to proceed and we’re satisfied woth your application you will attend a two-week induction at our headquarters gaining experience in every area of the business, from baking and picking products to distribution and delivery rounds. We will then tailor a start-up support plan to your individual requirements. This involves a team attending at your premises for a number of weeks, helping you implement the systems, equipment and processes required to run your business.

If it’s time you satisfied your appetite for success, there’s never been a better time to contact:

Ben Haynes, Director

Wiltshire Farm Foods

apetito ltd, Canal Road

Trowbridge

Wiltshire

BA14 8RJ

Telephone:      01225 756015

Mobile:            07748 328036

Email:              ben.haynes@apetito.co.uk

Or complete our online application at www.wiltshirefarmfoods.com/opportunities