Franchise Archives

March 21, 2023

DSI, Sri Lanka’s premier footwear brand, opened two new showrooms and a franchise outlet in the month of February to further expand its retail network and take its top of the range footwear closer to more customers.

The showrooms, situated in Kirindiwela and Kandana, were opened to the public on 14^th and 16^th of February while the franchise outlet was declared open in Siyabalanduwa on 22nd of February. Collectively, these new openings offer DSI customers in these locations a novel retail experience that is unmatched by other footwear retailers in Sri Lanka.

The DSI Kirindiwela showroom, which was reopened, had D. Samson & Sons (Pvt.) Ltd Chairman Mr. Nandadasa Rajapaksa as the Chief Guest along with National Sales Manager (Retail Sales) Mr. Naleen Weerawadane. The Kandana showroom re-opening was attended by Senior Manager – Office Administration and Maintenance Mr. Tilak Weerakoon as the Chief Guest. Meanwhile, the Siyabalanduwa franchise outlet was opened under the patronage of National Sales Manager (Retail Sales) Mr. Naleen Weerawadane and Franchise outlet owner Ms. M.V. Shyamali.

Speaking on the openings of these franchise outlets and showrooms, D. Samson & Sons (Pvt.) Ltd Chairman Mr. Nandadasa Rajapaksa said, “The launch of these three outlets amid the turbulence of the past year demonstrates our faith in our consumers and our desire to serve them with added convenience and enhanced choice. This is a part of our efforts to reach out to more existing and potential DSI customers in as many rural, suburban and urban areas of the country.”

“We are motivated to enhance our services by introducing more convenience into the daily lives of our customers, following the opening of our latest showrooms. Our customers who reside in the vicinity of these new showrooms can expect a well-designed and functional space in a convenient central location, along with the assistance of our professional staff who are dedicated to providing an exceptional shopping experience for all,” he added.

DSI has been on aggressive expansion drive over the past few years and these are the latest in a series of new outlets and showrooms established by the company around the island.

The market leader in manufacturing and retailing footwear in Sri Lanka, D. Samson & Sons (Pvt.) Ltd. serves as the sole distributor of a number of local footwear brands including U Softo, Ranpa, Samsons, DSI Supersport, Beat, Beach, Petalz, Fun Souls, Tamik, Waves, Jessica, Melissa, and AVI as well as popular international brands such as Clarks, Redtape, Reebok, Puma, Fila, U.S. Polo, Adidas, Arrow, W, Modare, Inc.5, Aurelia, Asics, and Von Wellx.

December 9, 2022

08, December 2022 – Operating since 2016, ISSO, Sri Lanka’s premier seafood restaurant that serves a niche ‘prawn-crazy’ cuisine has signed a franchise agreement for an outlet in the Galle Fort.

In an absolute first, which is a testament to the popularity of the restaurant, ISSO signed the franchise agreement with Horology Square Restaurants (Private) Limited. Horology Square is located within the Galle Fort overlooking the beach and ramparts, on a property built nearly two centuries ago. It houses multiple home-grown Sri Lankan brands under one roof on Hospital Street.

Altaf Ahamed, Managing Director of Horology Square stated, “Given the tourist-centric location and the historic nature of the property on which it was founded, it is only befitting of a place so rich in culture and heritage to house one of Sri Lanka’s finest homegrown brands like ISSO. We hope this addition will provide our guests with a taste of Sri Lanka’s finest seafood and remarkable hospitality.

The new outlet is situated in a prime location within the Galle Fort, which is a hotspot for both local and international tourists. It is a short stroll to the Dutch hospital, the Lighthouse and Pedlar’s Street, and is among a potpourri of tourist attractions, culture and history.

Apinash Sivagumaaran, CEO and Co-Founder of ISSO Restaurants stated, “ISSO has been on a mission to build a world-class Sri Lankan brand for the local audience. We want to serve delicious Prawn dishes to people from all walks of life. Our Prawn-Crazy patrons from Galle, which is home to a diverse expat, tourist, and local community, have constantly lobbied us to come to this city. ISSO, with its philosophy of crafting authentic flavors for the global audience, is now part of a mosaic of rich experiences within the Galle Fort. We are also excited to be opening doors at our new location for the season.”

Curated to offer the best pairing of foods, ISSO provides a menu that consists of prawn dishes from around Sri Lanka and the world to satisfy all prawn cravings by its followers. Providing truly global flavours, customers can expect to treat their taste buds to Sri Lankan, Asian, Italian, and other international flavours with dishes like the Jaffna Curry, Weligama Curry, Hot Butter Style, Singapore Chili Style, Thai Red Curry, Nasi Goreng, Mee Goreng, Laksa Noodle Soup, ISSO Biriyani, ISSO Kottu and ISSO Burger to name a few.

The new outlet will offer ample parking and will ensure a seating capacity for 100 people.

Ensuring a strong local presence, the restaurant chain currently operates outlets in Colombo 3, Battaramulla and Weligama operating daily from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. for dine-in, delivery and takeaway.

Sri Lankan through and through, ISSO is now available for franchising both locally and internationally, taking the taste of Sri Lankan prawns to new heights – For further inquiries, please contact hello@isso.lk for more information.

July 20, 2022

Colombo, July 19^th 2022: The nation’s most trusted and favoured international restaurant franchise Pizza Hut Sri Lanka, recently launched a powerful new initiative named ‘Hut Cyclist’, in a bid to mitigate the challenges of the fuel crisis in the country while simultaneously enriching the communities in which it operates. The novel ‘Hut Cyclist’ initiative enables any individual with a bicycle to join the Pizza Hut Sri Lanka delivery team to carry out deliveries as paid independent contractors.

All those who join the Pizza Hut delivery force will receive 217 LKR per delivery in addition to the tips they will earn on duty. Riders have the liberty of choosing the hours and outlets they prefer, and are also treated to complimentary meals and drinks from Pizza Hut during their time of service. Additionally, the company also provides each rider with a personal accident cover of one million LKR, to cover any potential accidents during their contract period with Pizza Hut. Each rider will be thoroughly prepped in dispensing exceptional levels of customer service and clad comfortably in the brand’s uniform before being positioned in the field.

“When the going gets tough, the tough get going. This is our war cry. With the deepening fuel crisis in Sri Lanka, our entire operation, similar to many F & B businesses on the island faced numerous operational challenges. However, as a responsible employer and trusted consumer brand that is close to the hearts of many Sri Lankans, we had no choice but to adapt and forge ahead with our operations as creatively and resiliently as possible, while simultaneously uncovering avenues to support and rebuild our communities during this challenging period. Hut Cyclist was birthed at this intersection of innovation and resilience.

“Ultimately, Hut Cyclist will be a novel experience for all, and will give our team and all our new riders the rare opportunity to experience unforgettable, powerful customer moments driven by a sense of community, patriotism and empathy. Our consistent success as a brand is also attributed to the sheer grit, passion and dedication of our powerful workforce of over 3000 employees who took it upon themselves to go the extra mile for both the brand and the customers who have patronized Pizza Hut for over 29 years. Therefore, I welcome each and every Sri Lankan to take advantage of this new challenge and be a part of a world-class workforce of a global brand to not only earn passive income but get fit doing so,” Pizza Hut Sri Lanka Director of People & Culture Kaushal Mendis opined.

So far, Hut Cyclist has seen the participation of a growing number of employees from Pizza Hut’s corporate team, including those from its People and Culture department led by its Director, Kaushal Mendis and the Hut Cyclist Initiative – Project Lead & HR Assistant Shenal Perera. With the announcement of Hut Cyclist on the 8^th of July, 2022, over 700 inquiries have already come through from cycling enthusiasts across the island, while over 100+ riders have already been prepped, educated and deployed out into the field. This zero-carbon footprint project is ultimately expected to open the doors to a sustainable and permanent, alternative delivery channel within the nation.

Commenting on the same, Pizza Hut Sri Lanka HR Assistant and Hut Cyclist Project Lead Shenal Perera stated, “We are extremely delighted to launch the Hut Cyclist initiative, and are ecstatic at how well it has been received by hundreds of interested cyclists. Apart from its generous financial benefits from both our set rate per delivery and tips from customers, it’s a very flexible, rewarding experience that we offer. Cyclists can pick the outlet, time and hours they prefer, and are thereafter fully prepped to tackle any job-related challenge. Right now, we are looking to expand this project beyond its current scope and make way for a number of exciting new initiatives to further inspire cyclists to join the ranks of a global brand.”

For over 29 years, Pizza Hut Sri Lanka has consistently proven its position as superior food delivery partner in the country; offering meals of superior quality in the shortest amount of time, and dispensed by a highly dedicated workforce skilled in providing exceptional levels of customer service. Being the leading and largest restaurant company in Sri Lanka, Pizza Hut is patronized by millions of Sri Lankans across the island. During the global pandemic, both Pizza Hut and its sister company Taco Bell, both franchises owned by Gamma Pizzakraft Sri Lanka, were admired for their commitment to adhere to high standards of products quality, safety, consistency and delivery – earning a reputation as two of the most trusted food and beverage brands in the country.

June 28, 2022

June 21, 2022: Taking a big step in their corporate evolution, premier Sri Lankan digital real estate brokerage firm 73 Avenue Realtors has partnered with globally-renowned real estate agent franchise company, Century 21. Partnering with Century 21 and being the first broker-owners of this global franchise in Sri Lanka will enable 73 Avenue Realtors to elevate their already high standards to a corporate force not yet seen in the local real estate market.

Coming a long way in a short period, 73 Avenue Realtors are all the buzz in the local real estate scene. Over the two years in operation, the team has identified gaps in the market and set new marketing trends to differentiate itself from the rest. 73 Avenue Realtors were the first to introduce video property tours and create the most prominent luxury property YouTube channel in Sri Lanka.

Seeing an opportunity in these dark days is quite rare. Still, despite the times, 73 Avenue aims to get fitted with the right tools, training and partners to take the challenge head-on. Century 21 is more than a real estate giant; it is a brand name associated with industry innovation and a specular reputation of world-class service, aiming to take the real estate industry into the future. Careful selection means picking the cream of the crop of real estate agents to provide each client with an extraordinary experience, helping them make informed market decisions that yield the best opportunity.

“A global partnership will enable us to bring global insights and professionalism to the industry,” Co-Founder/ Director of Operations Akram Mohideen comments. “The service-centric teams are ready to deliver the best insights, expertise and customer-centric experience imaginable 24×7, accomplished with world-class training from the experienced 73A leadership and through Century 21’s invaluable global insight and development programmes.”

“73 Avenue’s key focus areas revolve around customer service satisfaction, media and interactive experiences and technology and digitized services,” states Co-Founder/ Director Growth Arshad Mohideen. “It’s not just about selling a property but selling it through the proper manner, using the most appropriate channels with a focus on the customer, blended with innovative thinking. Creating such interactive experiences and constantly exploring the best use of technology and viral media platforms makes the brand a trailblazer in the industry.”

Believing each sale has the potential to grow their customer’s livelihood and investment value, 73 Avenue’s team of property consultants’ goal is not just to provide adequate information but to advise and show alternative opportunities to invest, diversify and grow wealth.

The 73 Avenue web page – www.73avenuerealtors.com is also a one-stop-shop for exploring market opportunities, searching for selling solutions or browsing around their extensive available properties. Get in touch with their hotline on 0763607373, and work with their property consultants, to support and enable your real estate requirements.

March 4, 2022

Daraz Sri Lanka and Embark entered into a franchise partnership, giving customers an exclusive platform to shop for Embark products. The signing of the partnership took place on 02 March 2022 between Daraz Sri Lanka Managing Director Rakhil Fernando and Embark Founder Otara Gunewardene.

Through this new partnership, both Daraz and Embark customers gain access to a range of Embark merchandise including t-shirts, tops, pet toys, collars, leash, bowls, and beds as well as wristbands and other accessories such as slippers, caps, cloth shopping bags, and much more especially designed for passionate pet owners.

Daraz Sri Lanka Managing Director Rakhil Fernando, commenting on the partnership, said: “We are thrilled about this partnership. Daraz and Embark will be a very powerful, meaningful combination, as both these entities find solidarity in their ambitions to do more to the community. It is equally important to us that we keep growing our pool of well-established local brands on the platform, while also setting the pace for bigger fashion brands to partner with Daraz to reach new markets, more economically, through our online retailing space.”

In addition to accessing the full range of Embark merchandise with the option of islandwide delivery via Daraz’s trusted DEX partners, customers can also avail themselves of a host of credit card discounts, seasonal promotions, and special offers for purchases made exclusively through Daraz.lk.

Commenting on the partnership, Embark Founder Otara Gunewardene shared: “Embark is a conscious brand which promotes a lifestyle of compassion and kindness that caters to an audience with similar sentiments. With every purchase, a customer directly supports the cause of this organization. With our partnership with Daraz, more citizens can now contribute to make the lives of innocent street dogs better, fashionably.”

Founded by Gunewardene in 2007 as an animal welfare and rescue initiative, Embark is dedicated to improving the wellbeing of street dogs and other animals. Importantly, by making available Embark merchandise to a wider audience through this partnership, more people are encouraged to support the rescue efforts of Embark in the long term.

November 28, 2020

Since its launch in February this year, FootBalance Lanka has through it’s innovative concept of comprehensive foot-analysis and individually moulded insoles made directly in-store, resulted in offering a solution to people suffering from foot problems ranging from sports related injuries , diabetic foot issues and those with misaligned feet.

Due to the instant benefit offered through the brand, the product picked up momentum in the market and became the popular choice for prominent sportspeople, coaches, doctors and leading business personalities.

FootBalance has now initiated a sub franchise program to help launch and partner independent foot clinics across the country, with the aim of supporting clients by making the FootBalance brand accessible and available to people in their own communities.

This initiative comes in the wake of an intensive market study that showcased the need of the product in many regions of the country, due to the high prevalence of flatfoot, with males being 47% and females 53% respectively, respectively. In addition, with diabetes in Sri Lanka reported at 10.7% in 2019, leading to diabetic foot issues with people, there is a need for this product.

FootBalance will support the sub franchisees to not only offer treatments to customers but by also making available supporting products to help prevent injuries as well as providing State of the Art Technology – 3D Foot Scan Machine for GAIT Analysis.

This will lead to extra revenue generation for the sub franchisees and give them the opportunity to upgrade their services by introducing FootBalance as well as providing the ability to operate as one stop shop for foot related pains and misalignments

FootBalance is also in the process of having discussions with key private hospitals, clinics and channel centres in expanding their services through offering the benefit of FootBalance treatments to relevant patients.

Director Marketing of FootBalance Lanka Mr.Anjana Gunatillake, stated “We are proud of the brand we have built and this venture was launched with the mission of continuing to enhance our offering in making the product accessible to all everyone across all the regions of the country. Although many presume that custom insoles are meant for medical purposes, I want to stress that anyone – even people with neutral feet – will benefit from using them.”

He added “ we will support and ensure that our franchisees enter the market with a strong foundation and immense knowledge. Our goal is to create a new structure, with the help of passionate franchisees, that offers clients affordability without sacrificing the quality of service. We’re looking to be the leading solution provider in the country to help those with foot misalignments.“

DSI expands network with two showrooms and an outlet in February

ISSO Expands to Galle Fort Under Franchise Agreement

Pizza Hut SL launches the ‘Hut Cyclist’ initiative to strengthen delivery during crisis

73Avenue Scales with Century 21 Global Franchise

Daraz partners with Embark to become exclusive retail platform

FootBalance to drive sub franchises to launch and partner independent foot clinics across the country