Franchise New Zealand | Summer 2026 | Year 34 Issue 04
18
Anchor Franchise
Recruitment Team
www.anchordairy.com/nz
Contact
Shannon Davidson
anchorfranchise@fonterra.com
Advertiser Info
ANCHORANCHORFRANCHISE@FONTERRA.COMLORE
Anchorfranchise@fonterra.com
“I love being a franchisee, and I love being a part of this brand,” says Hamilton
based Anchor Franchisee of the Year Olly Te Ua. “If you open most fridges
in New Zealand, you’ll find our products there. We have been trusted by the
nation since 1886 as our products are of the highest quality – my only regret
is I wish I’d started ten years earlier,” he laughs.
Olly used to be a general manager within Hamilton District Council. “I’d
reached a senior level, but I gradually realised it wasn’t what I wanted to do
long term. Then my position was disestablished so all the decisions became
much easier.”
Olly had a head start on his future career as he explains. “I had a very good
friend who had been with Anchor for a long time. Then my sister-in-law and
husband also bought into the franchise. I’d been really curious about their
progress and increase in wealth ever since and became very familiar with
the brand and its operations. With redundancy looming I got approval from
Anchor to purchase a small round in advance – which made the transition
from salaried staff into full time business ownership much easier.”
Simple and transparent
Olly has found the Anchor Milk franchise model to be as simple and
transparent as it is advertised. From a Fonterra-owned depot, franchisees
generate income by selling and distributing Anchor products. “As franchisees
we buy the refrigerated trucks,” Olly explains, “and we are responsible for
paying drivers and other staff. Income comes not only from Anchor products,”
he explains. “The franchise is quite flexible enough to allow us to distribute
other product lines that we have found a market for, with company approval
of course.”
Olly started modestly in September 2016, by buying a single truck territory
from a franchisee who was retiring. “Training with the company was
comprehensive, and I spent a great deal of time with the business vendor
getting to grips with best practice and learning all I could. Anchor have
mentors in the business who are wonderfully supportive and remain in touch
ten years on. The original owner spent extra time with me until he was quite
sure I was off my training wheels – something we much appreciated.”
Community importance
In Hamilton, where Olly’s family has strong connections, he is hot on
community and likes the fact that Anchor also encourages their franchisees
to give back. “The local Westpac chopper does an outstanding job for the
area and keeping the crew’s fridge topped up with free milk is the least
we can do for them. Every Thursday we supply free milk to all the hospice
shops for the volunteers to enjoy with their tea and coffee. We supply free
milk to Te Whakaruruhau – Waikato Women’s Refuge, the local RSA, and we
also support a range of local schools and sporting clubs, either financially or
with chocolate milk – the best recovery drink.”
Olly expanded his business by buying a neighbouring franchise area in 2021,
and now has a small team of delivery specialists, trucks, and administrative staff.
“The business has been everything I wanted for my family,” he says. “We
wanted a life with the benefits and advantages that a business entailed, and
that would give as a decent work/life balance over time. It has more than met
those hopes and expectations. If I were to offer advice to a new franchisee, I’d
say do your due diligence, and be prepared to get your head down and work
extremely hard for at least the first 12 months while focusing on giving a great
level of service to all your customers.
“You don’t need a degree to run this business, but you do need an element
of commercial acumen, and to keep
your eye on the strategic horizon.
We’ve been successful because we’ve
made continuous improvements – in
short, we challenge the status quo and
‘sharpen the axe’ every day and it’s
paid off. If you think you have what it
takes to be an Anchor Milk franchisee,
call our franchise recruitment
team today.”
Continuous improvements have been key
to Anchor franchisee’s success
ACT
Opportunity: Food & Beverage
SHARP
Olly Te Ua (left) celebrates his
Anchor Franchisee of the Year award
with David Breckenridge, Managing
Director - Fonterra Oceania