Mind your business: New franchise models are expanding business ownership in South Africa and beyond
From digital pizza stores to independent coffee bikes and micro-franchises, entrepreneurs are reshaping franchise models to widen access and reflect local markets.
New franchise models are creating opportunities for business ownership in South Africa and beyond. About one-fifth of the R1-trillion in annual turnover generated by the franchising sector comes from food service, accounting for roughly 3% of South Africa's GDP. Col'Cacchio, a popular pizza chain, has introduced a small-format, click-to-collect model called the Col'Cacchio Go, which reduces capital expenditure requirements significantly.
This model allows for easier expansion into smaller regional markets and integrates with digital click-to-collect ordering and multichannel retail systems. Col'Cacchio's CEO, Etienne Pieterse, prefers the term "partner" over "franchisee" and emphasizes the importance of maintaining strict national quality standards while allowing for local autonomy in sourcing produce and wood.
Coffee Bike World founder Vladislav Priadko advocates for an independent ownership model, providing equipment and knowledge without adding franchise fees or mandatory supply constraints. This model has been successful in Canada, the US, and Peru, with 36 mobile units operating independently. Flexible franchising also plays a crucial role in international expansion, allowing each owner to build a business that reflects their local market without rigid corporate standardization.
Written by urgent.news from Daily Maverick's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
