July the 8th, 2021 - The Croatian Surf n Fries company, which has since expanded to numerous locations across the Republic of Croatia, Europe and the rest of the world, is set to open its doors in more locations across the country and in the United Kingdom.
As Poslovni Dnevnik/Marija Crnjak writes, although a good part of the total of 54 locations in the world where the Croatian Surf n Fries fast food chain franchises operate couldn't even be opened due to the measures put in place owing to the pandemic, Andrija Colak's project has far from gone stagnant.
In the meantime, a mobile facility has been opened on the island of Rab, a fixed store is being opened in Osijek, and a contract has been signed for opening a location in Brighton, UK, and it will be the Croatian Surf n Fries' first fixed location in the UK, Colak revealed on Tuesday.
"Throughout the pandemic, the number of franchises didn't fall, but there was no significant growth, and the biggest challenge is that due to the closures and lockdowns we couldn't realise the contract we had at bars at stadiums in France and the UK, which was signed almost a year ago," said Colak.
As is already known, back in September 2020, a contract was signed with the company Rapid Retail, and Croatian Surf n Fries food was set to be eaten at famous European stadiums, from Old Trafford in Manchester to the Stade de France, the French national stadium in Paris.
As the pandemic has so far banned gatherings in stadiums, the deal sadly hasn't come to fruition. Meanwhile, the Croatian Surf n Fries team is still developing its innovation of a machine that throws fresh french fries out into a cardboard box. So far, the only vending machine of the sort has been installed in Plodine in Rijeka.
"In addition to all of the above, we're working on the transformation of the menu, we're strengthening our chicken segment, which is increasingly popular in the fast food business, with the stagnation of beef. In addition, we're expanding the menu from "snack" to "full menu", introducing breakfast, while our focus is still on quality ingredients and local suppliers. We're also working on the introduction of retail products in the offer such as crisps, which will do well on the back of the already well-known brand of our fries,'' pointed out Andrija Colak.
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March 15, 2018 - It is arguably Croatia's most successful international franchise, and it keeps on growing. Two more Surf'n'Fries international franchises have opened. And that is just today.
After our successful feature on the foreign entrepreneurs trying to make it in Croatia (read their stories here), a new series looking at Croatian businessmen who are making a success of things, despite the difficult business climate. We begin on 18 February, 2018 with Andrija Colak, whose Surf'n'Fries franchise is now all over Croatia and in 50 locations worldwide, including Russia, Iran, Vietnam and South Africa (with India and Kuwait just two of the 2018 confirmed new countries). And if it rains, the clever people are using Andrija's smart umbrella, Kisha.
Andrija Čolak presented Porthop last year at the OMGcommerce conference hosted by Netokracija, and as of today, August 25, this 'Airbnb for boats' is available as iOS application.
Croatian customer service is not noted for its excellence, but there are exceptions, as shown by Surf 'n' Fries supremo Andrija Colak on March 17 2017. After Gary Paul thought he won tickets for a rugby game instead of fries, cthe ompany apologized by giving him and his son a free summer vacation.
One of the most successful and fastest growing franchises in Croatia, Surf'n'Fries, which was launched seven years ago in Rijeka by Andrija Čolak and Denis Polić, was finally welcomed into Russia.
Croatian umbrellas Kisha named as one of the coolest presents this holiday season
McDonalds who? Croatian fries enter the Iranian and Swedish markets.
Meet one of Croatia's most successful entrepreneurs, Andrija Čolak.