New Zealand Entrepreneur Thinks Big for Small Business

New Zealand entrepreneur Don Saunders has done some big thinking and is offering prospective small business owners a unique and affordable proposition – the opportunity to run their own business by becoming a sole operator – under a business model that he plans to take global.

Saunders has established CaterCart Limited, (CCL) a new manufacturing company operating out of a small base in the Waikato, designing and hand making state of the art Tuckerupper vending carts for sole operators and organisations. The carts are cost-effective and offer the operator maximum flexibility and manoeuvrability, and year-round use.

CCL’s vending carts are manufactured in New Zealand under the trademark Tuckerupper and have been attractively designed with mobility and a multiplicity of hot and cold catering options in mind – from ice cream to hot dogs – utilising sophisticated heating and cooling technology. The freezer component of Tuckupper carts provides up to eight hours of freezing time when battery operated.

CCL aims to make Tuckerupper the world’s most successful vending cart manufacturer in qualitative terms and has worked with engineers and catering professionals to design visually appealing and enduring, food vending carts that accommodate a range of food service units and options. The units drop into a stylish Tuckerupper plastic shell, with options to suit almost any vending business or purpose, including bespoke branding and colours.

Saunders says “we may not crank out the highest volume of carts, but we will make the most sophisticated –
both in appearance and technology – and have the best build quality and technical backup service capability, coupled to committed customer support systems. These qualities will ensure CCL machines are the most coveted by operators where a premium is able to be charged that ensures good profitability for our joint venture partners’ and us.”

CCL’s philosophy is to pursue Joint Venture agreements as the best way to develop their export market and while their sights are firmly set on partnerships overseas, in the short-term CCL’s primary objective is to work with New Zealand business owners. ‘Hot housing’ CCL’s business model in New Zealand first also means that they can perfect it before exporting the model overseas.

Initial enquiries from the New Zealand market suggests that would-be cater cart operators will need a lot of business and financial support. Therefore, CCL are offering a turnkey franchise type operation, whereby they supply not only the cater cart(s), but other collateral like foodstuffs, uniforms, licensing and branding. CCL will also provide a business plan, audited costings and projections for genuine customers, to assist with their business planning.

The entry level cost for a Tuckerupper base cart and canopy is less than $6,000 (+ GST), with inserts costed on top. Tuckerupper is branded on every cater cart, accessories and packaging; operators wanting the franchise option will do so under the Tuckerupper brand. CCL’s financial backing means that they can assist would-be operators with financing arrangements and offer options for both outright purchase and leasing/rental of Tuckerupper cater carts.

Over the next few months a full range of specially designed Tuckerupper vending carts will be built along with a portable Kitchen Pack (with hot and cold running water, to satisfy mobile shop regulations); dedicated cart transporter trailers; and mobile kitchen trailers. Running in tandem with this development programme, CCL’s Tuckerupper vending carts will be manufactured and sold enabling vendors to commence operations around the country. Operators can choose to run their operations’ independently or to operate under the CCL umbrella.

Inspired by the culture of street vending overseas, Don Saunders’s vision is to give small businesses in New Zealand a rare opportunity; to get out there and get involved in selling food in a variety of urban and rural locations. He believes that street vending offers a city more vibrancy and enhances the visual experience, as evidenced in Auckland newest waterfront development, the Wynyard Quarter.

TUCKERUPPER by CATER CART LTD

Designed and manufactured in Hamilton, New Zealand, the Tuckerupper is a high quality, long lasting, visually appealing food vending cart. Tuckerupper accommodates a range of food service possibilities.

With an eye for detail and a perfectionist streak, our engineers worked alongside experienced catering professionals to design a suite of efficient, interchangeable food service units (Inserts), each of which drops into the attractive Tuckerupper shell. All you need to do is select the option(s) to suit your vending business/purpose.

All prices are exclusive of GST

Available Now: Base Cart $3450.00

Canopy $2350.00

General Display Insert $950.00

Freezer Insert $9850.00

- to suit scooped or prepackaged ice-cream. (Mains or battery operated; battery option provides 8 hours freezer time.)

Chiller Insert $4950.00

– to suit cold drinks, deli foods, sushi, sandwiches etc. Also suitable for pre-packaged ice creams when used in conjunction with dry ice.

Pie Insert $3950.00

(and other hot food) warmer

Available 2011: Crepes

BBQ

Kitchen Insert (with hot and cold running water)

Available 2012: Soup

Pizza

Hot dogs

Hot chips

Candyfloss

Juice

Popcorn

Coffee

Contact us for a full specification sheet providing more information and detail regarding Tuckerupper’s construction and the technical detail for the Tuckerupper canopy and for each specialist insert.

FLEXIBILITY

The interchangeability of Tuckerupper’s specialist inserts enables maximum flexibility. For instance you might create a summer icecream/winter warmer combo using the freezer insert and the soup insert, or a combo to cater to both adult and child targeted events eg coffee/candyfloss.

Your Tuckerupper will be manufactured in the colours of your choice; go to www.catercart.co.nz to ‘paint’ Tuckerupper in your colours and visualise your new venture coming to life.

MARVELLOUSLY MOBILE

Steady and stable, Tuckerupper’s wheels allow you to get right into the thick of the action, where your customers are.

Large enough to make a stunning impression, but small enough to fit on a domestic single-axle trailer, Tuckerupper is easily towed with a 2 litre car or Tuckerupper fits in the back of most standard vans.

CaterCart Limited is currently developing customised trailer options that will carry two and four Tuckerupper.

OPERATIONAL OPTIONS

You may have an existing ‘bricks and mortar’ food or beverage business and be looking for a way to take it mobile, or perhaps you are already mobile and looking for an eye-catching unit to freshen up your look.

You may have developed your own unique food or beverage idea and be looking for the ideal vending hardware.

You may have some ideas around food service and be looking to supplement your income with a lifestyle, weekend or seasonal small business option that is flexible, portable and with realistic startup costs.

You may be looking for a ‘turnkey’ or franchise business opportunity that supplies branding, all food products, utensils, licences, uniforms, advertising and point of sale materials.

You may even be a corporate or agency looking for an attractive mobile option for dispensing new product samples, disseminating information or to create brand buzz. (And it might not even be a food product! Tuckerupper’s base unit functions beautifully as a mobile promotional tool for any purpose.)

The answer to each and every one of these scenarios, and the solution you’ve been searching for, is Tuckerupper.

DOLLARS AND SENSE

Setting up a mobile food service unit can be an expensive exercise. A kitchen trailer can set you back $50,000 or more. A caravan kitchen costs anything up to $120,000 And both of these options also require vehicles with significant towing power. Entry into a mobile softserve ice-cream franchise is from $100,000 while a mobile coffee van franchise starts at approximately $60,000

Tuckerupper provides an affordable option for both startup and expanding catering businesses.

A Tuckerupper base and canopy is yours for under NZ$6000 (+ gst).

A variety of specialist inserts is available at additional costs per unit.

CaterCart Limited offers options for both outright purchase and leasing/rental.

CaterCart can supply audited costings/projections to genuine customers to assist with your business planning.

Additionally, CaterCart Limited can assist with financing arrangements.

Contact CaterCart Limited for more detail about specialist Tuckerupper insert unit costs, leasing, renting, purchase and financing options.

CONTACT CATERCART

Don Saunders
PO Box 12439
Hamilton 3248
New Zealand
021 543885
www.catercart.co.nz