After 10 years of owning and operating their Snack-in-the-Box (SITB) franchise husband and wife team, Ruth and Philip Sutcliffe (pictured top), have re-signed for a third term of their Franchise Agreement.

Mrs Sutcliffe said: "Snack-in-the-Box is the perfect business for us, and I can't see us doing anything else. There's nothing out there that could make us this sort of money for the time spent in the business. And there will always be a demand for SITB's 'honesty boxes'. For me, the best part of this business is its flexibility. I look after the paperwork, which I can easily fit around our family commitments. My husband, Philip, does all the rest.

"I was a nurse and Philip worked in farming before we did this. But we both wanted to be self-employed. And we definitely wanted to take on something that was proven. At that time, Snack-in-the-Box had been franchising for a few years, so we could see that the business definitely worked, and we immediately felt at ease with all of the management team. They are a really friendly bunch and, although we don't need their help as much as now, it's nice to know that they are there if you need them. This isn't a complicated business anyway, and it really is easy to understand. So long as you follow the methods that SITB has set up, this can be built into a very successful, and long-standing business."