In this interview find out about the story of how Khan Zaid became a top spot for Jordanian Sharwarma. The Founder and General Manager of Khan Zaid restaurant – Zaid Nabil shares with us on how he built his restaurant franchise over the last decade from Jordan.
1. How did you enter the franchise business?
Khan Zaid, a great tasting Shawarma place, was founded in Irbid, Jordan in the year 2009 by an entrepreneur called Zaid Nabil. Its booming success is due to its differentiation in the market by the quality of chicken they use and the good value for money.
Khan Zaid targets all segments of society as they sell at affordable prices. Its booming success has resulted in an expansion in Jordan with 4 stores, 3 stores in Irbid and 1 in Amman
In 2021 due to the high demand for the brand outside Jordan, they decided to expand Khan Zeid through their franchising program.
2. Where and how did the idea of your concept come from?
The idea of the concept came from Zaid’s inspiration for food and the need for quality shawarma in the Irbid market in Jordan.
3. What inspired the brand name?
It is well known that originally Shawarma came from Turkey and the word khan is a Turkish word that means shop (Dokkan). Thus, the idea to open a Dokkan Zaid for Shawarma, which is now known as Khan Zaid.
4. What is the story behind the brand’s logo?
The two layers of green and yellow represent fresh ingredients and the red line represents cleanliness and the quality of service.
5. What makes your brand different from your competitors?
What differentiates Khan Zaid from competitors is the following:
- A limited number of items which gives ease of control
- Smart sourcing that results in affordability for the mass
- A limited number of employees
- Reasonable investment
The above points help us function smoothly during both the booming times and during the recession.
6. What are the essential qualities that you look for in a franchisee?
Our ideal franchisee must have the following qualities
- Hard working with a desire to succeed
- Business minded or own other businesses
- Must have the ability to work within a system
- Financially stable
- must have a full time leader to run the business
- He/She has no legal issues in any local or global court regarding any business case
7. How long does it take, on average, for your franchisee to realize their investment?
The ROI ( return on investment ) is usually 24 to 36 months.
8. What was the major challenge you faced in your career, and how did you overcome it?
The major challenge we faced is sourcing and keeping our prices affordable.
We were able to overcome this challenge with our smart sourcing team.
8.1.What is your best achievement?
Khan Zaid became a role model in the industry with high quality food and operation optimization standards.
9. How does your business day start?
We first make sure that all stores have enough stock of products. Then we make sure that the staff and management are in place. And finally, we ensure that operations are running smoothly.
10. What was your best moment throughout your franchise career?
The best moment was when we announced our readiness for the franchise program.
11. Where do you see your brand in the next 5 years?
Franchising in the MENA region.
12. Any tips you want to impart to our readers who want to be in the franchise industry?
- Data is your best friend.
- Be ready for franchising by documenting every single step of the operations.
- Make sure to give guidance and support to the franchisee.
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