2011 FASA Awards finalists announced

The 2011 FASA Awards for Excellence finalists are:

Franchisor of the Year

• DoRego's
  
• Fastway Couriers (South Africa)
  
• Scooters Pizza
  
• Spec-Savers

Franchisee of the Year

• Steven Dally of DoRego's, Johannesburg, Gauteng
  
• Retha Veldman of Tina Cowley Reading Centre - Muckleneuk & Alberton, Gauteng
  
• Masurick van der Walt of Tina Cowley Reading Centre - Gezina, Gauteng
  
• Marietjie Taljaard of Tina Cowley Reading Centre - Brackenfell, Western Cape
  
• Rene Theunissen of Tina Cowley Reading Centre - Eversdal, Western Cape

Franchisor: Leading Developer of Emerging Entrepreneurs

• DoRego's
  
• Hot Dog Cafe
  
• Nizams
  
• The Coffee Stop
  
• The Courier Guy

Newcomer Franchisor of the Year

• Fastway Couriers (South Africa)
  
• Rhapsody's
  
• The Coffee Stop

Brand Builder of the Year

• Boost Juice Bars
  
• Maxi's
  
• Roman's Pizza
  
• Sandwich Baron
  
• Scooters Pizza

Despite a record number of entries received in this year's Franchisee of the Year category, Vera Valasis, FASA's Executive Director said that due to tough economic conditions, many franchisors chose not to enter the awards.

According to Rasheed Kathrada, FASA's Chairman, the FASA Awards have over the years, come to represent a thriving business sector that not only contributes 11.8% to GDP but a sector that is continually innovating.

And while funding of new franchise businesses remains an obstacle to growth, Thabiso Ramasike, Head of Franchising at Standard Bank's Business Banking and the sponsor of FASA's Franchisor of the Year category, said this is changing. "With franchising showing more resilience than other business sectors of the economy, their chances of getting funding are that much higher. The relationships we have forged with both FASA and reputable players in the franchise sector is unique in that once accredited, an appropriate banking solution is devised for specific franchise systems which expedites the provision of loan finance and working capital requirements to qualifying franchisees. As a result, over 80% of entrepreneurs who meet the requirements of the franchisors do get funding."