The sustainable business' next target is 100 franchised areas by 2025
Co-directors of Oltco, Tom Stringer and Johnny Pearce, have grown from a small family business in Cornwall to a successful national enterprise with 50 franchises across the UK and Channel Islands.
“Hitting the 50-franchise mark is something we are incredibly proud of, it marks how far we have come since starting out as two friends in Cornwall. We aren’t stopping here as we look to continue our expansion across the UK and internationally,” said Johnny.
Oltco launched its franchise scheme in 2019 so that it could support other people with launching their own businesses and in its first year, the franchise offering grew by 450 per cent. Its next target is 100 franchised areas by 2025. Tom and Johnny’s shared ethos to feel good about the work that they do and the decisions that they make is echoed in all that they do.
The sustainable franchise business’ rapid growth and national recognition have disrupted the industry and proved its franchise model to be incredibly successful. The company won the Sustainability Warrior award at the 2021 bfa HSBC British Franchising Awards.
Nick Carnes, franchise director, said: “I am so impressed with the growth Oltco has seen in such a short period of time. I have been in the franchise industry for eight years and I rarely see growth like this from any other franchise business. I’m incredibly proud to be a part of this amazing network and I cannot wait to see it continue to grow and disrupt the industry.”
Due to the rapid growth of the franchise, Oltco had to look for a new space for its HQ and Tom and Johnny created a headquarters at the old Jewson building in Newquay. Aptly named The Feel Good Building, the duo wanted to create a collaborative hub for local businesses where work and social lives come together. This new space is also a shared working space, with a yoga studio, coffee shop and a barber’s being just a few of the businesses residing there.
Oltco now has 16 employees from the local area and has created multiple job opportunities throughout the UK and Channel Islands.
Tom said: “Since launching our first franchise in 2019 we have achieved so many things as a business and launching our 50th franchised area is definitely one that we will remember. We are so proud to have so many passionate franchisees in our network and we are so excited to see them continue to grow with us.”