Chick’nCone – Grab your Handheld Cone of Joy

Chick’nCone is a revolutionary fast-food concept that has taken the culinary world by storm. This innovative brand combines the crispy goodness of fried chicken with the convenience of a handheld cone, offering a mouthwatering fusion of flavors that has captured the hearts and taste buds of food enthusiasts everywhere. In this interview we discuss with Ammar Hanifa, Managing Partner – Chick’nCone about his future plans for brand.

1. How did you enter the franchise business?

F&B has always been an industry of great interest and passion, back in 2018 I stumbled across Chick’nCone on social media and that’s when we decided to partner up to get the concept to the UAE.

2. Where and how did the idea of your concept come from?

Chick’nCone was founded in 2014 in the US, the idea was to innovate on the traditional chicken & waffles dish with fast casual / QSR in mind.

3. What inspired the brand name?

“Chicken & Waffle Cone” was the main inspiration for the name of the brand, therefore Chick’nCone came into existence. It is quite self-explanatory as it conveys the brand’s offering, making it easy for the customers to understand what they can expect.

4. What is the story behind the brand’s logo?

A visualization of our main menu item, the Chick’nCone, which resonates with our fun, casual, and friendly brand image.

5. What makes your brand different from your competitors?

Besides fried chicken in a waffle cone? Our pillars at Chick’nCone are Fresh, Fast, and Friendly. We ensure that our food is freshly made, which means our chicken is breaded in-store and the waffles are baked fresh daily. We are continuously investing in our systems to improve our speed of service because no one likes to wait for their food. Lastly, we prioritize our people so that they may prioritize our customers, what goes around comes around.

6. What are the essential qualities that you look for in a franchisee?

Whether or not the franchisee is an individual or company, we value partners who are willing to put down their resources and give it their all for the sake of the brand. We value long-term partnerships where our best interest is to benefit the other partner.

7. How long does it take, on average, for your franchisee to realize their investment?

It may vary on many factors that are store-dependent / country-dependent, however, franchisee’s may expect to realize their return from 2 to 3 years.

8. What was the major challenge you faced in your career and how did you overcome it?

Finding our first and right location. To overcome this hurdle, we dedicated extra time and effort to researching. Along the way we made mistakes, these served as valuable lessons that guided us along the way.

8.1 What is your best achievement?

In my opinion, when one of the early team members got promoted multiple times which allowed them to buy a car, for me, this was a success.

9. How does your business day start?

My business day typically begins by preparing for work and heading to the office, unless I have a market visit planned. As I arrive at the office, my initial priority is enjoying a cup of coffee before diving into any business-related discussions. Once I’ve had my coffee, it’s time to kickstart a productive and enjoyable day.

10. What was your best moment throughout your franchise career?

When we decided to expand Chick’nCone beyond the UAE and set up in Qatar, it was a moment of pride for us. It felt like we were sharing our creations with a whole new crowd, and it was just the beginning of our journey.

11. Where do you see your brand in the next 5 years?

Our ambitious goal is to enter multiple markets in the Middle East, Turkey, Egypt, etc. with a total branch count of 50+. It’s a vision for growth and presence.

12. Any tips you want to impart to our readers who want to be in the franchise industry?

Franchising might sound like a shortcut, but let’s be real – it’s not easy. It’s basically a tool in your shed. Even if you take the franchise route, you still must hard work. You need to roll up your sleeves, tackle challenges, and learn as you go. Franchising offers a framework, but it won’t do the heavy lifting for you.

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