Every year 18 million people call in sick with obesity related health problems. With the huge media interest in this issue driving increased demand for healthier eating alternatives, snack franchise ChariSnack has teamed up with health food retailer Julian Graves Ltd to create, package and sell healthy snack products designed for the UK workplace. "The snacks on offer range from quality mixed nuts and fruit to mouth-watering Cranberry Sensation, and from popular cheese baguettes to a very nice selection of delicious flapjacks," says ChariSnack Franchise Director Gordon Blood. "We also supply a full range of confectionery for those customers who want to give themselves a bit of a treat!"

The snacks are delivered to the workplace in self-service display boxes for free and are positioned so that staff can help themselves to a snack at their desk for £1. Bosses are happy to have the snacks in their work environment as it shows that they are endorsing healthier eating habits and helping a charity.

Gordon adds: "The company mission is to provide a successful, profitable and rewarding business for our franchisees, partners and suppliers, while at the same time raising funds for good causes and encouraging people to enjoy a healthier lifestyle."

As well as improving their own diets, ChariSnack customers are also helping the National Blind Children's Society (NBCS), which provides children who are either blind or partially sighted access to specialist equipment and reading materials that would help them with their studies. ChariSnack is helping to rectify the situation by donating 10 per cent net of sales from ChariSnack branded products sold from its self-service boxes to the NBCS.

"The donations do not affect franchisees' profits," says Gordon. "Our head office makes a donation to the charity for every ChariSnack branded product sold from the boxes, and to date we've donated over £250,000!"

Franchisees benefit from incurring minimal overheads as the delivery and placement of products do not require a contract or extra staff. The franchisee works business hours with weekends and evenings free, and is assured that when on holiday the business will continue to operate as the products are left at workplaces and bought on a self-service basis.

Comprehensive initial training is provided, as well as help from a dedicated Franchise Support Manager on a weekly basis. A ChariSnack Field Consultant secures 150 customer organisations to host a box for a new franchisee in his territory in order to start the business making money from day one. Gordon concludes: "ChariSnack recognises the importance of not only providing a comprehensive start-up package to assist franchisees get their businesses up and running quickly, but also an ongoing support package to provide the franchisee with every opportunity to develop a successful business."

Text: Jess Sturman