Esquires wins at the 2006 Franchise Awards!

Franchise System of the Year

Smart ideas and progressive strategies have seen Esquires Coffee Houses return to the winner’s circle for the second year running to take the Franchise System of the Year title in the Food & Beverage category.

Introduced from Canada to New Zealand in 2001 by Stuart and Lewis Deeks, the company started franchising here in 2004. There are now 19 cafés with another six planned for opening before Christmas 2006 and a minimum of 18 new outlets planned in 2006. That growth makes Esquires New Zealand’s fastest-growing franchised coffee brand. The Deeks brothers also have international aspirations, having recently being granted the international master licence rights for the Asia Pacific region, the Middle East and Africa.

The judges commented that excellent systems and well-managed reporting are at the heart of the organisation’s business success, and that business and support processes are particularly well-developed and continually improved upon through practical experience.

‘Of particular note is the strong focus that is placed on participation in local communities. New initiatives in this respect are about to be unveiled, but the company has already made a mark in this respect by using 100% Fair Trade organic coffee beans and proudly supports the rules that govern Fair Trade.’ Judges said this focus on Corporate Social Responsibility matched well with the company’s best practice management and value creation processes.

Esquires wins at the 2005 Franchise Awards!

Food and Beverage category Franchise System Award

First time entrants to the Franchise Awards, Esquires claimed the Food and Beverage category Franchise System Award. The gourmet coffee franchise was praised by judges for having "Smart ideas and progressive strategies."

Stuart Deeks returned from his overseas travels in 2002 and teamed up with his brother Lewis Deeks to begin the Esquires Coffee House franchise in New Zealand. With help from their partners Valerie Deeks and Wendy Stanley, and a small Auckland based team, the Esquires franchise has rapidly grown to a total of 19 franchisees. Future plans include 35 total outlets by the end of 2006 which includes the beginning of Esquires expansion into Australia.

Judge Sarah Trotman commended the Esquires franchise system.

"Stuart Deeks of Esquires New Zealand has developed an excellent business model which is continuously followed by all the Esquires staff. I was also impressed by the meticulous rewriting of their detailed business manuals. Stuart displays excellent leadership skills, and his decision to implement Fair Trade coffee into all outlets was also commended as a socially conscientious and progressive move" she says.

Esquires Director Stuart Deeks was thrilled with the win at this year's Franchise Awards.

"Esquires operates with only a small team. We are all extremely committed to the dream and as a result we all work very hard. This award is really a big reinforcement of the vision that we all share," he says. Announcing the winners of the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards, Franchise Association of New Zealand (FANZ) Chairman, Mike Henderson, says the Awards are the premier franchising event of the year.

"The Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards celebrate excellence in franchising, an industry worth well over $10 billion from 14,000 franchised outlets and employing around 70,000 people" he says.

For further information on the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards email contact@franchise.org.nz or go to www.franchiseassociation.co.nz