DESCRIPTION:
Andrija Čolak, a Croatian entrepreneur and franchisor, is the guest on the Franchise Hot Seat podcast. Known as the new hope of Croatian entrepreneurship, Čolak has been in the franchising business for 15 years. His brand, Surf'n'Fries, which sells French fries, became popular quickly, leading to the decision to franchise the business. Čolak's entrepreneurial journey began when he was 22 years old, after studying marketing in Canada. He started a real estate guide company in Croatia, which was successful and eventually sold in 2008. Despite initial success, Čolak experienced failures and near bankruptcy due to market changes and competition. Surf and Fries started in Rijeka, Croatia, and quickly impacted McDonald's fries sales, leading to a 50% loss. The brand's unique packaging and the concept of walk and eat, repeat led to its popularity. Currently, Surf and Fries has more than 40 locations, with 80% being mobile units. Čolak won the International Franchise Association's next-gen franchisors award in 2015. Despite interest from the US, Čolak explains the challenges of bringing a Croatian based franchise to the US, including heavy regulations and costs. He suggests that international brands looking to enter the US market should first establish directly owned units in the US before franchising.
- With Andrija Čolak
TIMESTAMPS (Use ChatGPT on Transcript):
00:00 - The New Hope of Croatian Entrepreneurship
03:10 - Pioneering Franchising in Croatia
06:20 - From Real Estate to Franchise Success
10:05 - The Birth of Surf’n’Fries
13:40 - An Unexpected Demand for Franchising
17:30 - Entrepreneurial Lessons Learned Along the Way
22:00 - The Rise and Struggles of Surf’n’Fries
25:15 - Unique Packaging: A Marketing Win
28:50 - Going Mobile with the Brand
32:10 - Mobile Units vs. Brick and Mortar
36:00 - International Recognition with Next Gen Franchising
39:20 - Expanding Surf’n’Fries Globally
42:45 - Challenges of Entering the U.S. Market
LINKS:
WEBSITE: http://franchisehotseats.com/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drjohnhayes/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/drjohnhayes
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/c/Howtobuyafranchise
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hayesjph/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@johnphayesfranchise
Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/DrJohnHayes/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/franchisehotseatpodcast
Popular Podcasts
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Special Summer Offer: Exclusively on Apple Podcasts, try our Dateline Premium subscription completely free for one month! With Dateline Premium, you get every episode ad-free plus exclusive bonus content.
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!
Crime Junkie
Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.