Abid Hussain
Abid Hussain joined Papa Johns in 2013. Before becoming a franchisee, Abid worked in advertising and marketing in London and was a consultant in a web firm.
Named as Papa Johns UK Franchise Owner of the Year (for five stores or less) in 2018, he now runs 15 Papa Johns with the help of his team, with further plans to expand as the right sites become available.
‘Very different from an office job!’
“After working in an office, Papa Johns was certainly something a bit different!” explains Abid. “I was looking for a new challenge and a friend of mine ran a Papa Johns store. I did some research and thought buying a franchise could be a great move for me – it was! Initially, I became a partner in the Taunton Papa Johns, run by my cousin, where I learned more about the company and how the stores operated. I took over the store in 2013.
“At first, as you can imagine, running any new business is challenging. There is a lot to take in. Fortunately, the team on the ground were really good and this enabled me to find out all I needed to know. With support and training from Papa Johns central team, I was able to improve sales and soon I bought two new franchised Papa Johns in Eastleigh and Fareham.
“I used my marketing know-how for digital campaigns and leafleting and some direct mail too. The staff were well trained and customer service prioritised and soon sales started to grow. I now run 15 Papa Johns and plan to open more as sites become available. Running multiple franchised stores offers economies of scale concerning the ordering and marketing, plus it can make recruitment easier too. Once you’ve hit on a successful formula, why not replicate it many times over?”
‘I am proud of growing my business with my team’
“However, my success wouldn’t be possible without my staff. I have area and store managers who are great and the team behind each of them ensures we deliver fabulous service and top-quality pizza every time.
“Motivating staff and ensuring they have what they need in terms of equipment plus good training is key to keeping the best people. I am proud that all my managers have been with me since I joined Papa Johns and we have grown the business together. I know that if my people are happy then so are our customers: it makes good business sense.”
Winning awards
“In 2018 I was amazed to be named as Papa Johns UK Franchise Owner of the Year (for five stores or less)! The award was announced at Papa Johns biggest ever UK franchise conference held in Birmingham. I wasn’t expecting to win an award at all! However, it is a team effort and I couldn’t do it without my great people.
Being recognised in this way was tremendously motivating for the whole team who ‘make it happen.’
“I have plans to open several more stores in the future so am looking forward to growing my portfolio of outlets with the help of my great team plus the support of Papa Johns right behind us.”
