If you think ‘Mad Group’ sounds like the name of a support network for addicts, fanatics and individuals known for mad impulsive behaviour, then you’d be on the money. Two extremely passionate brands under one shelter.
Any iteration of the mantra ‘mad about food’ sums up what Mad Group is about, be it crazy hungry or seriously committed.
As one of NZ’s fastest growing companies and with a robust business model that has been proven over the past 7 years, Mad Group is now poised for further significant growth both domestically and internationally.
Mad Group is a very promising company that is professionally run by seasoned industry veterans and has a very impressive growth history and trajectory.
The group is armed with mad skills, so here’s what you need to know before approaching:
Mad About Food!
The Habitual Fix story began when James Tucker and Tim Benest, despite being politely informed they would be mad to open during a financial crash, cut the ribbon on their first store in Auckland in 2008. Fed up with other fresh food stores not being what they were claiming to be, and after a 12-month process of selecting only the freshest growers and producers to provide the finest ingredients, the duo made a vow to turn us into a nation of Fresh Food Addicts.
After deciding to franchise in 2010, Habitual Fix is now 15 hook-up-joints strong in the North Island with the addiction ready to spread due south and to many other latitudes and longitudes in the near future with international expansion a very real possibility and a massive opportunity.
Mad Mex has established itself at the forefront of one of the fastest growing segments of the market since appearing on the local scene. This came about when a ‘hangry-for-decent-Mexican’ James Tucker realised that even though the Mexican Revolution was on the rise in NZ, it was the norm in Sydney to expect great Mexican food wherever you were. Even to the point that in Sydney, ‘great Mexican food’ is just referred to as ‘Mexican food’. In 2013, on the verge of going loco from travelling back and forth to Sydney to get a decent burrito, James had an Epifanía - buy the licence for Mad Mex and bring home every Kiwi’s right to decent Mexican fare.
By the end of 2014, Mad Mex NZ had opened 6 stores, Mad Group had scored 8th place in the Deloitte fast 50 and between both brands they’d racked up 723 per cent growth. And 2015 is showing no sign of letting up. While all Habitual Fix stores are franchised, Mad Group own all of the Mad Mex NZ stores.
Mad Mex is a proven model in Australia with over 45 stores operating, something which Mad Group will continue to take a lot of learning from.
Together as Mad Group the aim is to raise between $750,000 and $1,500,000 which represents a maximum stake of 13.3% — an investment which will be used primarily to grow the Mad Mex business.
Mad Group’s vision is to grow into 100+ stores across 3-4 brands, both franchised and company owned, over the next 5 years.
Too mad to fit in, so leading the way
So how do the mad ones fit in the local scene? Mad Mex has answered the nation’s call and is at the forefront of the Mexican revolution. Fast, fresh, authentic and damn tasty! Habitual Fix continues with their vow to create a nation of ‘food junkies, not junk foodies’ with nothing to hide and everything on display. Both passionately provide a healthy, fast, high quality option allowing customers to customise and choose how they roll. Or wrap.
The Mad crew boasts experience across multiple brands being highly skilled in designing and implementing restaurant management systems. This ensures they know all about industry metrics be it franchise sales, franchise systems and management, frontline team member training, management training systems, as well as being masters in real estate selection & negotiation. These are what they refer to as their Critical Success Factors.
The Directors, Advisory Board and executive shareholders all intend to remain in their roles for at least the duration of this 3-year strategic plan. The Advisory Board and Directors endeavour to meet monthly though often communicate on a daily basis. The Remuneration Committee, chaired by Justin, sets senior management and directors salaries/fees at fair and reasonable market rates.
Corina WangIn-House Chartered Accountant
Neat, tidy, uncanny talent with numbers, extremely well organised, softly spoken but displays potential to be a dark horse. Considerate, selfless nature often results in Corina not actually paying herself. Mood and behaviour although steady, could change at any moment – will wait until staff Christmas party before reporting further.
Kelly WybrewConstruction Project Manager
Multiple personalities allow workaholic Kelly to be as comfortable dealing with burly tradesmen as she is with council bureaucrats. Evident as a member of Mad Group one year and already having completed five stores and numerous new projects under management. Her favourite saying “When attacked by a mob of clowns, go for the Juggler” seems beneficial when juggling multiple new projects. And having worked for retail fit-out companies and council, she displays knowledge and understanding from both sides. Or that could just be schizophrenia again.
Leandi Van Der WaltMarketing Co-ordinator
Suffers from a rare condition showing not multiple personalities, but multiple nationalities, being at once South African and German. Beneficial on multiple social media platforms. Also, wears platforms. Suffers from RHS - Random Hashtag Syndrome (#randomhashtagsyndrome)
Jon WinMad Mex National Operations Manager
Insomnia and Chronic OCD. Random outbursts on the phone. Although vertically constrained, Jon often displays the behaviour of a man at least a metre taller when dealing with store managers and staff. An unconfirmed rumour has him as the inspiration behind the popular yet feisty Habitual Fix juice ‘Ginger Ninja’
Bob KerriganMarketing Strategy
Slurred speech and savant-like ability to create puns despite random disappearances from the office. Often rants about ‘the good old days of advertising’ where he claims to have been lead creative for some big brands and campaigns such as ASB’s Goldstein and Play Station, despite constantly being seen at lunch. Described by psychiatrists as “like a web browser with 100 windows open at once”.
Dan HendersonAdvisory Board - Accounting and Finance Strategy
What makes Dan tick is what makes his clients tick, as despite the odd nervous tick, he is often seen to be treating them more like business partnerships than customers. Dan’s past experience working in the Big Four accounting world, has provided a platform of knowledge and expertise. He is currently the co-owner of BHW (not an acronym for a modern disorder but a boutique business advisory and accounting firm). Dan and crew specialise in providing business advisory solutions, such as growth strategies and working capital solutions as well as all the usual crazy accountant stuff like tax and financial reporting.
Dominic SuttonAdvisory Board - Marketing Strategy
Displayed obsessive symptoms from a young age, often caught after school wandering barefoot on Northland gravel roads ‘collecting blackberries’. Possibly contributing to why he now describes his current situation as founder, owner and shareholder in a number of businesses, mostly in the advertising and marketing sector, as an opportunity to appreciate decent footwear. The comfort continues for Dom having recently been added to the boards for both the North Harbour Business Association and the Entrepreneurs Organisation New Zealand. Big shoes to fill. Or boots.
Timothy BenestHabitual Fix General Manager
Outwardly in control with an innate ability to multitask yet displays outbursts of sporadic babbling and random ideas. Hallucinates often and on occasion can be seen wearing a chef’s hat. With 15 years of experience in Restaurant Brands, Hell Pizza and Habitual Fix, he’s been constantly on the verge, straddling both sides of the franchisee/franchisor fence.
James TuckerChairman & Group Managing Director
Signs of impulsive behaviour and delusions of grandeur. Once bought a Naked Burrito with a side of Master Franchise. Crazy enough to have several Sydney to Hobart yacht races under his belt along with a pilot’s license, he was well qualified in naming Mad Group. Involved in the industry for over 15 years, firstly as a manufacturer/supplier to many of the NZ’s leading fast food chains, he then became Hell Pizza’s largest franchisee opening 6 stores before selling out, traveling the world, and finding inspiration to create Habitual Fix.
Justin LemmensNon-Executive Director, Governance & Business Development Strategy
Often caught assisting his expertise in Food Manufacture and Strategic Thinking with large doses of entrepreneurial gusto. Obsessed with great tasting food and quality ingredients, evident with his position as founder and MD of Rosa Real Good Food, a prominent national brand, along with other brands and investments within his stable. Mad on football coaching, netball sideline antics, mountain running, cycling, fishing and classic cars, he somehow happily manages a family-oriented lifestyle which most would refer to as insanity. As a Non Executive Director, Justin chairs the Remuneration Committee that sets executive salaries and has oversight of any related party transactions.Warning statement
It's crucial for you to understand the characteristics and risks of this investment opportunity. New Zealand law normally requires people who offer financial products to provide in-depth information to investors before they invest. The usual rules do not apply to offers by companies through Snowball Effect. As a result, you may not be given all the information you need to make an informed decision. Investing is risky. Some of the key risks include loss of capital, illiquidity, lack of returns, dilution, loss of key people and customers, and lack of control. You should only invest money that you can afford to lose.