Ola Milky Lane Scoops 2 FASA Awards
Posted on 10. May, 2010 by admin in News-Food
Ola Milky Lane, South Africa’s oldest franchising brand and a market leader in the quick service restaurant and indulgence sector, clinched two awards at the Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) awards dinner last night, Saturday 08 May 2010.
Ola Milky Lane was chosen as the Brand Builder of the Year for 2009 and managing director of the franchise’s management company Java Brands, Claus Kuhl, was admitted into FASA’s prestigious Hall of Fame. Leona Krishna, who owns and manages Ola Milky Lane’s Eastgate and Alberton franchises, was selected as a finalist in FASA’s Female Franchisee of the Year.
Craig MacKenzie & Claus Kuhl
FASA’s annual awards are the franchise industry’s most prestigious means of honouring top performers and recognising individuals who have made exceptional contributions to both their individual brands and franchising as a whole.
Ola Milky Lane’s former general manager (who has since been appointed managing director of holding company Java Brands), Claus Kuhl, was overjoyed when he accepted the Brand Builder of the Year Award. Pointing out that 2009 was one of the brand’s busiest and most exciting years, he said that, instead of resting on a heritage that dated back to 1958, Ola Milky Lane had recognised that it needed to evolve and innovate to stay current.
He said Ola Milky Lane had built on its ice cream credentials to extend the brand into other indulgence product categories with the aim of growing the brand’s footprint and increasing trading densities. This was done through focussing on both the take away and sit-down parts of the business and implementing strategies intended to address economic constraints.
“We re-engineered our look and feel. This included the launch of a new store design that has elevated the brand’s status and moved it into a new era. We introduced a new menu that carried the brand’s new look and feel directly to our customers. We have launched new product lines – donuts and savoury items– and placed significant emphasis on those with huge potential such as our exclusive Java Heights Speciality Coffee.”
Kuhl was unaware that he had been nominated for inclusion in FASA’s Hall of Fame. Craig MacKenzie, head of holding company Java Brands and a franchising guru in his own right, said that the general consensus among franchisees was that, as both general manager of Ola Milky Lane and recently appointed managing director of Java Brands, Claus Kuhl is a forward thinking, positive leader.
“He motives and mentors, always taking time to listen, advise and share his immense knowledge. During the recent recession, franchisees came to respect his tenaciousness and belief that nothing is impossible. He has contagious energy and enthusiasm and a wonderfully positive approach. He is results driven, is exceptionally hard working and sacrifices a great deal to provide the service that he believes his franchisees deserve.”
During a career that has spanned nearly 30 years and included top franchise brands such as Debonairs Pizza and Ola Milky Lane, Kuhl has won numerous awards, including FASA Franchisor of the Year Award 2000 whilst managing director of Debonairs Pizza.
Wessel Ebersohn, editor and publisher of Succeed, said Kuhl had been one of the pillars of franchising in this country, bringing a combination of qualities almost without equal in business to the franchising sector – great energy, deep passion and a spirit that does not understand failure.
Kuhl said that these FASA awards would act as important motivation for Ola Milky Lane’s team to reach its future goals, which included 15 percent growth per annum, increasing outlet trading density, ensuring above average franchisee profitability and return on investment, continuing to build a strong brand and focusing on the needs of the consumer in order to offer a fun experience.
——————————————————————
Need to insure your franchise assets? Click here for a competitive quote.