Lenard’s Chicken founder, Lenard Poulter is back and, in keeping with the innovation that made the retailer a nationwide success, he has developed new ideas to support future growth.
Poulter’s vision includes a range of fresh opportunities for current and new franchisees, including Hub and Spoke (Ready To Go) Stores.
Available to both current and new franchisees, the model allows franchisees to invest in a particular territory or area and set up a Hub store, instead of buying an outlet.
The Hub store may either be a small manufacturing facility, or a Lenard’s serve over outlet with production area. The Hub produces and supplies pre-packaged products to the Ready To Go stores located within the territory.
The new Ready To Go stores feature self-service fridges and a modern design, offering Lenard’s traditional range and new ready-to-heat frozen meals.
Lenard has already set up four Ready To Go stores across Brisbane located in Capalaba, Fairfield, Lutwyche and Mitchelton, and the Townsville franchisee has opened the first Ready to Go Store outside Brisbane at Fairfield Central.
The Lenard’s Rotisserie store at Fortitude Valley in Brisbane, which opened in late 2019, provided customers with rotisserie chicken with salad, vegetables or chips, as well as other meals including meatballs, chicken rolls and curries, with the option to take away or dine in. There was also a small selection of products from the Ready to Go range which customers could take home to cook themselves.
The rotisserie concept has proved valuable, as It has allowed the business to gain valuable insights and feedback from customers, according to Poulter.
“The frozen products in our Ready to Go stores have also been a win-win as they introduced more flexibility into the business and have been very popular with customers. We now plan to put more focus on oven-ready meals, to build this new business concept nationally and enhance it with home delivery in the near future,” he said.
“We’re currently seeking leasing opportunities for the Ready To Go concept. We’re also aiming to replicate the rotisserie concept in different locations throughout the country and seeking expressions of interest from potential franchisees who wish to consider the ‘Hub’ territory model.”
Over more than three decades, Poulter built a chain of more than 200 stores across Australia. Then, in 2010, personal circumstances forced him to sell part of his shareholding and move away from the daily operations. In 2018, he acquired the shareholding from investors, Blue Sky, to take 100% ownership in the business and now with the backing of new shareholders, he’s determined to facilitate further growth.
“This is an exciting opportunity for our 30 current franchisees and anyone wanting to avail themselves of our proven track record and the well-established, much-loved Lenard’s Chicken brand,” he said.