My franchise story: One business becomes two for pet food franchisee

Wayne McLanaghan’s OSCAR business is doing so well, he’s taken on an additional territory

Wayne McLanaghan first came across the OSCAR Pet Foods home delivery franchise when he was browsing the internet in search of a new business venture to take him into retirement and away from the physically demanding construction industry.

Wayne explains: “On my web travels, I landed on the British Franchise Association’s website and saw the OSCAR logo. I’d been buying OSCAR’s food for my dog for six years, knew my franchisee well and understood the lifestyle he had, so I purchased a greenfield franchise area.

“As an experienced business owner, I started gradually - scaling down one business, while building up the other - and concentrated on producing a business plan.”

Welcome support

According to Wayne, having a fellow franchisee in a neighbouring territory turned out to be a big benefit.

“We were able to work closely together, helping each other out, sharing pallets and generating new leads and customers for both our areas and it was great to support each other while improving our own business prospects,” he says. “It’s fair to say there’s a lot more to selling pet food than you would first imagine.

“Even so, I’d only had my boots on the ground for a year before I could see results ahead. When my fellow franchisee at OSCAR Pet Foods Coventry reached retirement, the opportunity to purchase his franchise became a reality and I’m now the proud owner of a ‘double site’ OSCAR franchise in spite of COVID-19.

“Thankfully, my area covers three local market towns, which out of lockdown provide opportunities to pitch stalls and connect with the local community.”

Getting creative

Wayne says he’s definitely had to put his thinking cap on during the pandemic.

“There’s no doubt that having previous experience in setting up and running my own business has helped me to stay on my feet and navigate new ways to generate sales, not to mention the step-change in marketing opportunities,” he says.

“It helps to be adaptable and to embrace the, dare I say, a necessary evil of social media. It really makes a difference because visibility is vital.

“When it comes to customer sales, what matters most is care and support. Helping customers choose pet food wisely means their pets benefit the most and it’s a joy to be part of that outcome.”

Tailored to suit

OSCAR franchise opportunities are flexible and tailored to suit individual backgrounds and/or experience, whether you wish to develop a full-time business, earn a second income or add to an existing operation.

Starting from £8,995 (plus VAT), the package can be adapted to your own level of expertise and skill set.

Included is an educational qualification in pet nutrition and the offer of additional business development options that are designed exclusively for you and your preferred investment level.

At a glance OSCAR Pet Foods

Established:

1994

Number of franchised outlets:

80-plus

Location of units:

nationwide

Investment range:

from £8,995 (plus VAT)

Minimum required capital:

£8,995 (plus VAT)

Contact:

Janet Walmsley. 0800 068 1106