Issam Soubjaki, Franchisor at Burger Edge
On expanding, learnings and experience.
QSR Media: What makes you excited about your position?
Issam Soubjaki: The fact that I have my hands on the levers of my own business and can direct it in response to the numerous influences and opportunities that impact it every day. It is a truly exciting time to be in QSR. There are as many opportunities as there are hurdles to success.
QSR Media: What 3 goals are you focussed on?
Soubjaki: 1. Expansion – Building resources internally in preparation for the pending store numbers expansion
2. Cost of Occupancy – balancing the potential of new retail opportunities against the high costs of historically strong tenancies is becoming blurred as leading landlords are becoming more negotiable and the number of new opportunities is increasing.
3. Controlling costs – Maintaining high quality products, national distribution and competitive pricing must be a win/win arrangement.
QSR Media: What long-term changes are you planning on?
Soubjaki:
- QSR sector
- Growing awareness of food quality and an appetite for variety
- Simple, fresh and unpretentious food.
- New concepts will rapidly replace older brands swiftly and seamlessly
- Consumers will want
- better value for money
- variety from the brand
- the brand to innovate
- Leases and financing
- Landlords will become more accommodating to the challenges of retail and intense competition amongst QSR’s.
- Banks will eventually become more accommodating to franchises and relax lending criteria again
- Better quality business opportunities will arise outside shopping centres and traditional retail settings.
- Australian Retail Sector
- Will begin to recover from mid 2015
- More international brands will enter
- Will be challenged with labour costs
QSR Media: What are your key business philosophies?
Soubjaki:
- Say what you do, do what you say.
- That which you fear the most, will meet you half way. Face your issues head on.
- Approach anything with everything you have.
- Don’t be afraid to talk about a problem with a peer. They are likely thinking about the same thing.
- Never, Never, Never give up.
QSR Media: What previous positions prepared you for this one and how?
Soubjaki: I have been a franchisee, a multi-unit franchisee, a Master Franchisee and a GM for a franchise. I have seen it from every angle. That helps my judgement.
