Name : Arjuna G Yoganandan
Nationality : British
Position : General Manager
The Pizza Company and Swensen’s Myanmar Express Food Group (EFG) Myanmar From starting off as a kitchen staff at a chain restaurant, Mr. Arjuna G Yoganandan has made to the General Manager of The Pizza Company and Swensen’s Myanmar after holding management positions through his international journey. Through this interview, Mr. Yoganandan shares our readers with the story behind the existence of The Pizza Company and Sw- ensen’s in Myanmar, its future expansion in the country as well as interesting opinions and remarks on Myanmar and its Food and Beverages (F&B) industry.
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MI : When did you first visit to Myanmar and what was your first impression then?
My first visit to Myanmar was in 2014 December. If I was to remove the malls that are being built around the city, it reminded me of Ceylon (Sri Lanka), the place where I was born. With its majestic pagodas, rich culture and warm people, it’s like coming home.
MI : How did you end up as your current position?
I started off in this business on the best possible position you can be in if you want to learn the ropes of this industry – a kitchen staff at Pizza Hut – Earls Court branch in 1983. From there I worked myself through the system into Management and moved overseas in 1993 to Saudi Arabia as Regional Manager which started my international journey. Many countries and years after, with an extensive knowledge and experience in tow, I was approached by MINOR International, the Franchiser of The Pizza Company and Swensen’s and EFG Myanmar, for this job.
MI : In which ways working in Myanmar different from working in other countries?
Every possible way, as there is no other country except North Korea that has been shut off to the international community for such a long period of time. It is a big challenge for us, yet a unique opportunity to conceive new best practices in the industry that we hope, other incoming international brands follow, which in the long run, will benefit the country and its people.
MI : How did Express Food Group (EFG) Myanmar end up franchising The Pizza Company and Swensen’s in Myanmar?
EFG also owns the Franchise rights of The Pizza Company and Swensen’s to Cambodia and Laos. We have a good relationship with the Parent Company MINOR International, hence when they were looking for a Franchi-
see for this territory, it was a good business decision that was taken by both parties concerned to award it to EFG Myanmar.
MI : How many branches of The Pizza Company and Swensen’s are expected to be opened in the whole country?
We hope to open a total of 50 – 30 branches of The Pizza Company and 20 branches of Swensen’s in Myanmar by the year 2019.
MI : How are you and your team try- ing to meet customers’ expectation here in Myanmar?
(We do that) by following every SOO on Quality, Service and Cleanliness set by our Parent Company MINOR Int. Staff are trained at every aspect of BOH and FOH to ensure full compliance of these standards to meet our customers’ expectations. That said, the rigid standards that we adhere to and implement in Myanmar, are already a benchmark in the food industry worldwide, and we want to elevate the country’s bar to those standards by having them experienced how it is done.
MI : Who do you think are your competitors and how are you planning to compete against them?
Our main competitor would be Pizza Hut when they come. We have an advantage of being here first and to choose the RIGHT sites that are crucial to compete in a new market. Added to this, we have an advantage of building a loyalty base of guests and also being ahead of the game in becoming a preferred employer to the people of Myanmar.
MI : Please tell us more about the quality control system applied in The Pizza Company and Swensen’s Myanmar.
As mentioned earlier, MINOR International has mandatory quality control systems in place that has to be adhered to at all times. For example: Food Quality. Since this market is very new for us until we can source local products that meet the quality standards required, we ship in most of the products from MINOR International from Thailand.
MI : From a business standpoint, what do you feel are the biggest challenges facing you and your team in Myanmar in next 1-3 years?
Human Resources. Acquiring and retaining a skilled workforce due to the incursion of international companies in the country. Even though we provide competitive compensation and benefits package and also support employee’s personal and professional development through various trainings and coaching, at the end of the day, it will always be at the employee’s discretion whether to stay or job hop to the next international company.
MI : Does EFG have any plans to franchise other international F&B brands into Myanmar?
Yes we do and we are in negotiations with other brands that we would like to bring into Myanmar. This is however confidential information.
MI : What is your opinion on country’s current F&B sector?
There are many opportunities to improve on Quality Service and Cleanliness. Service and Cleanliness standards in general are very poor in many eateries/ hotels etc. It is an accepted norm, however with the influx of international brands and hotels coming, this will change to keep up to the expectations of the people of Myanmar and tourists that will visit your country.
MI : What are the critical success factors for a franchising business in Myanmar?
Choose local partners that are strong, choose your brands carefully and choose your opening team locally. These choices will be the foundation of your business to make it a strong one.
MI : If you could make a change to one major government policy in order to ease the way of doing business here, what would it be?
Processing of business visas. Like every body else in Myanmar, we, as expats value our productive time, and having to go in and out of the country every 70 days for renewals becomes an unproductive burden. Hopefully we can have a system in place which can allow us to do this in the country soon.
MI : How are you enjoying your days in Myanmar?
I have found some excellent restaurants with great food and bars that are quiet. When I do find the time, I go to these places to relax and unwind. I also enjoy going to the Shwedagon Pagoda to pray as it gives me an inner sense of peace.
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