The Interview :: Questions & Answers

1. How much does your franchise gross per year?
5% royalty fee on the gross revenue derived from monthly sales, and 3% advertising and promotion fees of the gross revenue derived from monthly sales.

2. Will the business generate enough profit to suit you?

My answer is yes. The business can generate the enough profit to suit me. Although there will be have a risk, there might have a chance to gain double or even triple times of income. 

3.How much money are you making on your investment?

-

4. Are you qualified to operate a franchise successfully? Do you have adequate drive, skill, experience, education, patience, and financial capacity? Are you prepared to work hard?

Erm.. I think I am not qualified to operate a franchise successfully because I am lack of experiences and still fresh in operating  business.

5. Can you tolerate the financial risk?

I can tolerate it if I do have financial capacity.

6. Does the franchise provide training?

Definitely yes.

7. Describe how you train and mentor your franchisees.

Define your operating model such as How do you do things? How do you go to market? How do you cost, price, market, sell, serve, manufacture? Get clear on all these points. After that, find entrepreneurial employees who will learn, execute, teach, challenge, and improve your operating model. Engaged employees whose personal success is aligned with their organization's success are key to successful Internal Franchises. Build a culture of ownership. Create and nurture the cultural attributes and beliefs where everyone acts as a steward and even an owner of the business.

8. How many hours, on average, do yo work a week?

Normally I working around 10 hours per day, which means I spend around 60 hours on average.

9. Do you enjoy working with and managing people? Are you a "team player"?

Yes I'm enjoy sharing with them.

10. What are your biggest challenges and problems?

The biggest challenges I think is time management.

11. Knowing what you know now, would you buy this franchise again?

yes.

12. What are the main reason some of the franchisees leaving the system?

The main reason that some of the franchisees leaving the system is they lack of experience on operating a business and weak on management. 

13. How many franchises have failed? Why?

Seriously I am not sure about accurate numbers.

14.What facilities and equipment are required for the franchise?

The basic facilities and equipment that are required for the franchise is furniture, chefs, waiter, and waitress.

15. Is the product or service safe and reputable?

Ya, Old Town’s food is definitely safe and reputable. 

It is a historical café that famous with “Old Town White Coffee”.

16. Are you allowed to sell you franchise to third party? Does the franchiser reserve the right to approve the buyer?

No, franchisee is not allowed to sell franchise to third party. 

Everything is under the contract. Everything refers to the franchisor.

17.What is the company’s current financial status?

-

18.How often do you get a vacation?

This I’m also not sure.

19. Is the franchise international, national, regional or local in scope? Does it involve full or part time involvement?

Old town is a local café which come from Ipoh.

20.What can this franchiser do for you that you cannot do for yourself?

Their decoration, tableware and we can’t add in new dishes into the menu and prices can’t be changed.

21. Are you willing to sacrifice some autonomy in operating a business to own a franchise?

I will answer Yes if for a stable franchise like Oldtown. I am willing to sacrifice and put all my effort in my business.

OldTown's Product

White Coffee Legacy
Our simple, humble beginnings


OldTown’s special brew was created in 1958, in Ipoh Town, Malaysia. It all started at the White Café – a classic coffee shop. The owner, inspired with a vision and the passion to make and serve fine coffee, created a secret White Coffee blend.

He began serving this unique White Coffee to the residents of Ipoh and OldTown. This aromatic White Coffee soon gained popularity within the two townships and news of its unique taste spread to other flourishing towns.

His simple dream and venture to serve a good cup of White Coffee was met with good reviews. White Café was just not popular, the  White Coffee was widely accepted and together, White Café, the coffee shop, the White Coffee became recognized as one entity with its creator renowned as a pioneer and entrepreneur.

His White Coffee Legacy continues to this day. His customers are able to savour the original White Coffee in our Old Town White Coffee F&B outlets, served fresh and true. In 1999, the launch of OldTown White Coffee Classic 3-in-1 Instant, fulfilled the dream of allowing ordinary folk bring OldTown’s special brew back into their homes.


The 3-in-1Classic, which serves up the original blend—with the real flavour, taste and aroma intact--propelled OldTown White Coffee to its current status as a market leader. Since then, we have not looked back. Instead, we move forward to deliver the best cup that you can enjoy sip by sip.


The Products

More Franchisee needed :)

They are looking for franchisee, for make that proactive step and move towards breaking new grounds in their global franchise movement!

REQUIREMENTS& APPLICATION PROCEDURE

1. Minimum Nett Worth of RM 1 Million
2. Minimum Liquidity of RM 500,000 (cash or cash equivalents)
3. Oldtown White Coffee will accept individual and corporate applications from qualified prospective Franchisees.
4. Individual Applications must be submitted for each person who will have an ownership interest in the Oldtown White Coffee Franchise.
5. Corporate Applications must include a current bank letter of reference/certificate and certified financial statements. Individual Applications are also required of corporate applicants for each owner with an interest of 10% or more. Additional materials supporting creditworthiness, annual reports, etc. should also be attached.

Oldtown Malaysia Menu

Oldtown provides affordable breakfast, lunch, and dinner to all stage of customers. There is hundred kind of selection show in front of your eyes. The price is affordable, it is the best choice and best conditions for you to have a meal with your friends & family.

OldTown Halal Certificates

All Oldtown White Coffee Central Kitchens, beverage manufacturing facilities and distribution centers have been certified halal by JAKIM. They adhere to the strictest enforcement regarding their halal-certification – non-halal food cannot even be brought onto any of they premises.

To-date, more than 60% of their franchise outlets have already received JAKIM recognized halal-certification. Halal-certification for the remaining outlets is already well in progress and pending final confirmation. They expect halal-certification for all outlets in Peninsular Malaysia to be complete by the end of 2012.


They strive to ensure the strictest guidelines are enforced when it comes to providing halal-certified food and beverages to our Muslim patrons – and would like to assure the customers that there is no question regarding the halal-certification of any of Oldtown products. Their priority has always been and will continue to be the quality of their products and the service they provide our customers.

Halal Certificates of KL outlets

Halal Certificate of Penang outlet

Halal Certificate of Perak outlets

Halal Certificate of Selangor outlets

Halal Certificate of Sembilan outlets

Oldtown Outlets

Came to this OldTown White Office advertising lately on franchising with them. Started from the first outlet in 2005, grown up to over 160 outlets in Malaysia and overseas, in mere time span of 5 years.

From their very first outlet to their current 225th store, OldTown are the earliest to bring that legendary cup of white coffee from 1958 out of Ipoh to people all over Malaysia. Serving nothing less than the best – the same White Coffee, the same recipe with the best ingredients.

Here is the latest updates of the number of their outlets:

Oldtown currently have 225 outlets in Malaysia.

Product Export

OldTown White Coffee are currently exported to over 13 countries.

How about their laurels?

OldTown won a lot of awards, I will list down some of their awards here.

Asia Excellence Brand Award 2012

OLDTOWN White Coffee was proud recipient of Asia Excellence Brand Award 2012 in Hong Kong, by Yazhou Zhoukan, on 15th Nov 2012. This is the 2nd time for OLDTOWN to receive this honour. Asia Excellent Brand Award selection is based on a survey among consumers and business elites, in the regions of China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore and Malaysia. The recognition of this award is based on the concept and practice of the brand.

Malaysia Franchise Award 2012- Franchisor of the year

The Malaysian Franchise Association (MFA) is proud to present the Malaysia Franchise Awards 2012. This prestigious award offers a valuable opportunity for franchise entrepreneurs to be recognized as the year's best franchise players. Malaysia Franchise Awards program was first introduced in 1997 with the aim to give recognition and encouragement to the success and contribution to those involved in the development of national franchise.

International Franchisor of the Year 2011

OLDTOWN has been awarded as International Franchisor of The Year 2011, by The Franchising & Licensing Association of Singapore. The Award provides a platform to showcase successful franchise concepts, thus facilitating further developments of the franchise companies in international markets. FLA Singapore’s mission is to assist its members to gain greater exposure locally and internationally through networking events, exhibitions and trade missions. At the same time, it aims to upgrade its members’ skills and knowledge in franchising, branding and licensing through its various educational programs.

OldTown :: Vision & Mission

To be Asia Pacific’s Leading White Coffee Producer providing high quality products to customers globally.

To promote their Unique Malaysian Taste – the authentic Ipoh White Coffee and continue White Coffee Legacy through continuous improvement and innovation that exceeds customer expectations

Market Leader take pride in distinguishing to be ahead of the pack. By setting precedence, they have made a standard that equals excellence, pushing other brands to do the same.

In this vein, oldtown group embrace diversity, accept challenges, adopt international standards and good business practices and at the same time, hope to inspire the rest to follow suit.

They strive for continuous improvement, incorporate innovations and technology in their commitment to create customer value in both products and services.

Aligned with transparent policies and achievable targets, together with their core values, they are able to move forward as one responsive team and deliver their best.

These continuing efforts maintain and reinforce market leader status and move them forward to become a leading white coffee producer In Asia Pacific.

Here, the history about OldTown..

Old Town’s history can be traced back to the incorporation of White Cafe in 1999, with the intention to provide quality white coffee to Malaysian households and the food services industry, the co-founders and Executive Directors, Mr Goh Ching Mun and Mr Tan Say Yap formulated their own blend of 3-in-1 instant white coffee and commenced manufacturing in 1999.

With more than 10 years of experience in the coffee beverage industry, both their co-founders were instrumental in the growth of the Oldtown Group of companies. They are supported by Mr Lee Siew Heng, our Group Managing Director who played a significant role in implementing the overall vision, strategy and development of the Oldtown Group.

In 1999, Oldtown Group successfully commercialised their instant 3-in-1 coffee mix under the ‘OLDTOWN’ brand name for the retail sector. As at 31 October 2009, our ‘OLDTOWN’ 3-in-1 instant coffee mix was sold in approximately 1,348 retail outlets nationwide in Malaysia, approximately 550 retail outlets in Singapore and approximately 2,100 retail outlets in Hong Kong.

In 2000, they commenced their first export of the ‘OLDTOWN’ brand of 3-in-1 instant coffee mix to Singapore.

In 2001, their subsidiary, White Cafe Marketing commenced operations as the marketing arm for their Group’s beverage products. During the same year, they also expanded their product line to include different variations of the instant coffee mix and have also expanded our export markets to Hong Kong for their instant coffee mix.

In year 2002, White Cafe obtained a HALAL certification from the Islamic Religious Department of Perak for the Group’s beverages. This is part of their Group’s intentions, which is to produce their beverages in accordance with the Islamic law. In the same year, they successfully expanded our nationwide retail distribution of our 3-in-1 instant coffee mix to cover East and West Malaysia through major hypermarkets and supermarkets.

In 2003, they also successfully commercialised their own formulated blend of 3-in-1 instant milk tea for the retail market under the ‘OLDTOWN’ brand name.

In view of expanding our manufacturing activities, they incorporated Gongga Food in 2003 and commenced operations in 2004 manufacturing roasted coffee powder for the food services sector using the Group’s proprietary bean roasting process. they distributed their roasted coffee powder to traditional coffee shops in Ipoh and other states in Malaysia. In addition to the food services sector, their roasted coffee powder is also marketed to the retail sector under the ‘NANYANG’ brand. In 2004, they further penetrated the export markets for their 3-in-1 instant coffee to cover the United States, Canada and United Kingdom and subsequently in 2005, Taiwan and Indonesia.

In 2005, they expanded vertically into the food services sector by opening a chain of cafe outlets based on the traditional Ipoh coffee shop setting and ambience under the ‘OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE’ brand name. This is part of the Group’s strategy of capitalising and reinforcing on the ‘OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE’ brand in the food services industry. In the same year, Kopitiam Asia Pacific commenced operations in the licensing, supply of food, beverages and other items, and provision of management services to ‘OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE’ cafe outlets.

Since the opening of their first ‘OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE’ cafe outlet in Ipoh in 2005, their chain of cafe outlets have expanded to reach 137 cafe outlets in Malaysia and Singapore as at 31 October 2009. This includes fully and partially owned, and franchised cafe outlets. In 2005 and 2006, they established our subsidiaries namely Old Town Kopitiam, Old Town Kopitiam Butterworth, Old Town Kopitiam Kuala Lumpur, Old Town Kopitiam Cheras, Conneczone to focus on operating cafe outlets in different areas and states within Malaysia.

To support their cafe outlet business operations, they established the following subsidiaries as central food processing centres between 2005 and 2007: -Emperor’s Kitchen commenced operations in 2005; -Esquire Chef commenced operations in 2007; -Dynasty Confectionery commenced operations in 2007.

In 2005, Gongga Food’s business activities also expanded to cater to the procurement of food items for ‘OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE’ cafe outlets. In the same year, Gongga Food also obtained a HALAL certification from the Islamic Religious Department of Perak for the production of its roasted coffee powder. In the same year, their subsidiary, White Cafe obtained a HACCP certification from BM TRADA Certification Ltd for the processing and manufacturing of beverage products.

In 2006, they expanded their export markets to Japan and China. In the same year, they incorporated Dynasty Kitchen as a distribution centre, which commenced operations in 2007. During this year, they also incorporated Oldtown Berhad, which will focus on investment holding and provision of management services pursuant to its listing on the Main Market of Bursa Securities. Subsequently they also started exporting to Thailand and the Philippines.

In view of their plans to expand their cafe outlet business operations to Singapore, they incorporated Oldtown Singapore in 2007 to provide management services, supply of food and beverage items to cafe outlets in Singapore. OTK Singapore commenced operations in 2008 with the launch of their first ‘OLDTOWN WHITE COFFEE’ cafe outlet in Singapore.

In 2008, their subsidiaries, Dynasty Confectionery and Esquire Chef obtained HALAL certifications from the Islamic Religious Department of Perak for the processing of various food. their other food processing subsidiary, Emperor’s Kitchen obtained HALAL certification from the IFRC ASIA. To further affirm their adherence to international food safety standards, their subsidiary, White Cafe achieved ISO 22000:2005 certification and ISO 9001:2000 from BM TRADA Certification in 2008 in addition to GMP certification by the Department of Public Health, Ministry of Health Malaysia in the same year. Within 2008, they also expanded their product line to include 3-in-1 instant coffee mix with cane sugar.

In 2009, Gongga Food obtained a HACCP certification from BM TRADA Certification Ltd for the production of roasted coffee powder.

Welcome :)

Hi, I am Lew Xin Ying and a multimedia design student of Tunku Abdul Rahman University College. This blog is created for assignment purpose under the subject of ABDM 4223 Entrepreneurship which is tutor by Mr. Stephen Ong.

Straight to the point, the franchise that I choose is Old Town.

Old Town White Coffee is the cafe that provided authentic Malaysian Ipoh White Coffee. Customers can enjoy the local Ipoh White Coffee in Old Town. Came to this OldTown White Office advertising lately on franchising with them. Started from the first outlet in 2005, grown up to over 160 outlets in Malaysia and overseas, in mere time span of 5 years.