How to Choose the Food Takeaway Franchise That's Right For You

Takeaway franchises are some of the UK’s most popular franchise businesses. Pandemic or not, Brits have continued ordering plenty of takeaways, meaning that this sector has been seeing dramatic growth of late. If you’ve been considering starting your own food takeaway franchise, but aren’t sure which way to turn, here’s our key tips on how to find the right food takeaway franchise for you.

There are many advantages to running your own takeaway franchise. It’s a million pound industry and one that is set to grow continuously into the future. If you’ve been considering starting your own takeaway franchise, but aren’t quite sure how to find the right one, this is the article for you.

1. Bricks and mortar takeaway franchises

Bricks and mortar franchises are by far and away the most common kinds of franchise businesses to find. From small takeaway franchises to larger ones, every high street in the UK will have a selection of these kinds of takeaway franchises. So popular are bricks and mortar takeaway businesses now, UK takeaway sales topped 7.5 billion in 2020 - marking a 39% increase in three years [Hospitality and Catering News].

Partly because of this growth, the majority of big businesses in the takeaway industry are now franchises. This means that if you’re looking for an in demand and busy sector that is already making big profits and looks set to make many more, this could be the right opportunity for you.

How to choose the right bricks and mortar takeaway franchise 

There are some key characteristics that make up a traditional bricks and mortar takeaway but, thankfully, your franchisor is on hand to help you get many of them in place. One of the biggest benefits of starting your own franchise is the amount of support that you will receive from your franchisor. As a franchisee, you could benefit from:

• A pre-existing customer base
• Brand recognition and identity
• Dedicated mentors and tutors
• Help with finding the right premises
• Beneficial financial rates
• The chance to be your own boss

2. Virtual takeaway franchises

Driven by falling footfall and high rents, many takeaway franchises are starting to operate without fixed locations at all. So-called ‘ghost’ or ‘dark’ kitchens are quickly becoming a fast-growing trend within takeaway franchise culture in the UK, with many new and existing franchises starting to operate in this way.

US fast-food giant Wendy’s is the latest in a string of international fast-food chains to enter the UK market, with ambitious expansion plans for the future. Wendy’s is also planning to utilise the ‘dark kitchen’ concept, which has grown in popularity in recent years.
- Market Line

The idea behind it is simple. Rather than having a fixed base of operations, takeaway businesses operate simply out of a kitchen, delivering food to customers via specific drivers or through delivery platforms. This helps many businesses operate on fewer members of staff and certainly helps cut costs. 

How to choose the right ghost kitchen takeaway franchise

There are a growing number of franchises looking to operate through ghost kitchens, or are looking to use technology to work in new and challenging ways altogether. The best way to go about finding these franchises is by doing extensive research on potential franchising opportunities in this sector.

You could look at a franchise such as Camile Thai for inspiration. Looking to combine healthy, fast food with a commitment to technological innovation and sustainability, Camile Thai is a unique opportunity for an ambitious franchisee. As well as using ghost kitchens, this franchise uses environmentally-friendly packaging and is rolling out drone delivery to many franchises in the US. 

3. Mobile takeaway franchises 

Mobile franchises are another response to concerns over high street costs. But, rather than operating out of a kitchen alone, mobile franchises take their kitchens with them. As a result, mobile-based franchises are able to access not just their customer directly, but entire events as well.

Mobile franchises can operate in very small teams, have little to pay in the way of maintenance costs, and have total flexibility and independence over where they choose to work. As a result, mobile franchisees are well-placed to serve some of the following events:

• Festivals 
• Village fetes
• Outdoor gigs
• Shopping centres

Without many of the existing costs that brick and mortar stores face, mobile franchising can be a very profitable opportunity.

How to choose the right mobile takeaway franchise

There are a number of van-based and mobile franchises operating within this sector, and you can expect this number to keep growing. You could choose any number of the mobile franchises in this sector, but how do you choose the right one for you? The best way to filter down which franchises are the right and wrong options for you is by asking yourself some the following questions:

• What are the start-up and ongoing costs to running this franchise?
• How much training and support is on offer?
• Do you share the ethos of the franchise?
• What are your options when it comes to working to flexible working patterns?

You should make sure you ask your own questions and, by the end of this process, you will be in a good position to choose which takeaway franchise is the best option for you.

Choose the perfect food takeaway franchise and start a profitable business

There’s a lot to like about running a food takeaway franchise: It’s profitable, competitive and rewarding. If it isn’t right for you though, there are plenty more franchising opportunities besides. If you’re looking to make a career change with a restaurant franchise and become a restaurant manager, you can find plenty of opportunities in the restaurant sector - as well as many other industries - on the UK franchise directory.