The Eastbourne outlet opens as the sandwich and coffee bar franchise completes its investment in a new concept store design and menu, offering customers more choice than ever before. As part of the new O’Briens offering, Phil and Helen are introducing the first juice bar to the area featuring real fruit juices and smoothies, which complement the brand’s healthy Guilt Free Food and Low Fat Five options.

With seating for up to 36, the outlet also provides a takeaway service plus a comprehensive office and outside catering service that operates from a preparation unit within the Terminus Road shop. This will provide a wide variety of platter options geared towards corporate business and private family occasions for five people upwards. Free refrigerated delivery will take the outside catering to the heart of the Eastbourne community and many surrounding towns.

Looking for a complete change in direction, Phil gave up his career as a software engineer to open the O’Briens franchise. Phil had worked for 22 years with global human resources outsourcing firm, Hewitt Associates, based at its UK headquarters in Orpington, Kent. Helen will continue to operate her own accountancy business, while providing administrative and accounting backup for the O’Briens business. The couple live in nearby Heathfield with five-year-old son, Thomas.

“I decided that I really needed a career change and turned to franchising in search of something totally different,” said Phil. “We liked how franchising offered a ready mix of different types of businesses across many sectors that were already well known. Then there is all the support you receive to help you get up and running, instead of having to start from scratch.

“We looked into a number of different options, especially food as we really enjoy cooking and entertaining. O’Briens was already well known to us and the more we looked at it as a viable business opportunity, the more excited we became. We also have a friend who is an O’Briens franchisee and know he would not have taken on the business if it was not a sound venture.

“To top it all, the O’Briens proposition could not be stronger at this time, as the new concept sees specials and seasonal variations added to core menus, guaranteeing our customers an abundant and flexible food offering. While the brand’s focus has always been on healthier choices, it is now introducing a more ethical way of doing business with organic deli dishes and snacks and a coffee blend that includes Fair Trade beans.”

Phil and Helen were immediately attracted to the Eastbourne location and have their sights set on operating a multiple franchise business, developing the outside catering business and new retail outlet in the first instance before taking on further stores in the East Sussex area.

“This is a vibrant business community with a healthy tourism trade, rightly recognised just recently by the travel industry as Best UK Resort,” said Helen. “We believe this is a great place to be doing business.”

The Eastbourne opening comes at an exciting time for O’Briens. Although a brand leader and one of the fastest growing retail franchise chains in many regions, it has now moved away from an understated presence of quality and character to make a bigger, bolder statement. The new concept is the result of much innovative work on food concept development, while building on the many positive perceptions of the brand, such as one of its main point of difference, a made to order offer with food prepared fresh in front of the customer.

As reflected in UK expansion plans which will see four new outlets open in the next few weeks, the new concept is making the O’Briens offer a much more appealing proposition for customers while proving a big hit with existing and new franchisees. UK sales are already up 12% ahead of forecast.

Commenting on the Eastbourne opening, Nick Young, managing director of O’Briens Sandwich Bar UK said: “Just like Phil, with the backing of Helen, we often see people seeking a complete change of direction when taking on an O’Briens franchise. We give them comprehensive, hands on training and often place them within an existing outlet to get a real feel for the business before committing to the brand. We are delighted to welcome Phil and Helen to the team.”

The latest edition to the O’Briens portfolio in Eastbourne is open from 7.30am to 5pm Mondays to Saturdays, and 10am to 4pm on Sundays. Advance orders and outside catering orders can be taken by telephone/fax 01323 416958. Special discount vouchers are being distributed to shoppers and businesses in the area during the first few weeks of business to give customers the chance to sample the O’Briens offering.