Having opened their Morris Pasties franchise in Milton Keynes to a fantastic response, Alan and Sharon Lloyd speak to Rachel Spaul OVERVIEW Over 10 years' experience in company-owned shop Tried, tested & proven operating system All pasties are made to the original secret recipe An effective marketing & launch package Ancillary products to maximise profitability Ongoing HQ support Nationally acclaimed product SUMMARY No. of franchisees: 8 Initial investment: £22,900 Franchisee profile: Motivated team players, willing to work hard, committed to providing high quality products and customer service. Year established: 1972 Year franchised: 2004 Priority recruitment territories: Nationwide Quality products and the right premises in a high footfall location is a winning combination for Alan and Sharon Lloyd. Within just 14 days of opening their unit in Milton Keynes shopping centre they had exceeded projections for their first month and currently report being ahead of targets by 50 per cent. "We know retail very well and know what drives public demand," states Alan, formerly a Retail Operations Manager. "We have a good product in the right location with good customer service. The shop opened on the 16th December to a fantastic response that was well above expectations. Security had to cordon off part of the shopping centre because of the queue." Alan attributes their success partly to the Christmas holidays, but also to the fact that customers love the product. In fact, they already have repeat customers including the market stallholders who pop in for breakfast. "Everything we bake, we sell," adds Alan. "After the January Bank Holiday Monday we had sold out of everything leaving nothing for the Sunday so had to order an emergency delivery." Having grown up in Cornwall, Alan says he could see the potential of the Morris Pasties franchise and meeting Directors Chris and Alison Morris confirmed his initial impressions. Sharon, a former Lettings Negotiator, adds: "We were impressed by the product, which is the best on the market, and by Chris and Alison's enthusiasm and commitment to the business. It is a family business that has grown from scratch, which gives us confidence." With a Cornish heritage spanning more than 30 years, a franchise operation developed by a leading franchise consultant, and an offering that combines traditional values with modern dining, Morris Pasties is ideally placed to take advantage of the expanding pasty market. "Our pasties are still made in the traditional way," reveals Chris. "We source the finest Cornish meats and vegetables from local farmers so all ingredients have full traceability and all pasties are hand-layered and hand-crimped." Franchisees are not expected to make the speciality pasties themselves, as experience has shown that pasties cook best from frozen. The baking procedure has been simplified to achieve easy, consistent results. Premium soups, speciality ice creams and sandwiches complement traditional pasties, with Fairtrade organic coffee, various freshly baked goods and pastries included in a range of products designed to give maximum profitability to franchisees. Morris Pasties' philosophy is to support franchisees every step of the way and the franchise package reflects this. Franchisees receive support in gaining premises approval and a combination of in-store and classroom training covering product knowledge, baking techniques, administration procedures, marketing strategies and corporate standards in addition to business management. To help launch the new business a member of the Morris Pasties team will visit franchisees to assist with marketing the business and supporting them on a one-to-one level. Ongoing support is provided in the form of training, development seminars, telephone assistance, email support and an intranet service. "We had two members of the Morris Pasties team with us during our first week and two from the Solihull store for the first four days, which was excellent - we couldn't have done it without them," Alan enthuses. "Our team has learned the ropes really quickly and all staff members have been working to their maximum. "The key has been getting the right product in the right location to support quieter times in the year. One of the main reasons we chose Milton Keynes is because of its busy lunchtimes and good weekend trade. We're now looking to opening two more outlets, also in Milton Keynes." Morris Pasties is looking for motivated and enthusiastic team players like Alan and Sharon, who are willing to work hard and who are committed to providing high quality products and customer service. "You must be prepared to work hard, but the rewards are there for the taking," reassures Alan. "We believe we're onto a winning formula with Morris Pasties."