Food and hospitality businesses barely caught a breath after the pandemic, before rolling straight into a cost-of-living crisis. Since then, many operators have been juggling rising wages, increased national insurance contributions, higher business rates and tighter margins.

So, it’s completely understandable if you’re looking at the current climate and thinking: “Is now really the right time to open a food & drink business?”

It’s a fair question, and it’s one we talk about openly all the time.

However, if you take a look behind the doom and gloom of the headlines at what some brands are doing, you might realise something very significant:

Times like these are when the very best business models prove their worth.

There will never be a time when businesses don’t face daily challenges. However, the businesses who survive these challenges are the ones who have what it takes to ride out whatever changes might come their way. Ones who already have adaptability and flexibility built into their business models.

However, there are a few businesses who don’t just survive, but actually thrive. The difference that sets them apart is not just having the systems in place to handle change, but also having the mindset that sees opportunity where others only see obstacles.

That’s exactly what we’ve seen with Udderlicious.

Don’t get us wrong - Udderlicious is already a brilliant business that serves scoop after scoop of seriously good ice cream every single day - but the franchisors, Raj and Raj, have never believed in standing still. A smart business doesn’t just focus on revenue; it keeps a close eye on efficiency, costs and long-term resilience, too.

Over recent months, they’ve treated the current economic challenges as a chance to really sharpen the business, examining every part of the operation to make sure it’s as robust as possible, not just for today, but for the future.

That’s meant tightening staff rotas to make the best use of everyone’s time (while still making sure teams get the hours and pay they deserve). It’s meant reviewing suppliers - right down to switching ice cream spoons - because when margins matter, every detail matters, and each and every one has been carefully considered and assessed.

That’s what makes the big difference in today’s economic climate, and that’s a big part of what makes the Udderlicious franchise so special. They know what’s happening right across every part of their operation, and they’re always working to make their business and franchise better and stronger than ever before.

And… none of that stops the fun stuff.

Even when they’re rolling up their sleeves behind the scenes, the Udderlicious team never stop creating those incredible flavours that customers keep coming back for.

Just look at their latest inventions above, who wouldn’t want a scoop of one of those?!?

So, if you’ve been thinking “Should I really invest in a F&B franchise right now?” Maybe you should consider changing your mindset and asking “How can I find the F&B franchise which can genuinely help me thrive as a business owner?”

Why don’t we chat some more about exactly how it could work for you? All you need to do is click the button below to get in touch and schedule an initial call.