Summer Series: How Jack Cowin brought KFC and Hungry Jacks to Australia
Dec 31, 2023
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Guest Jack Cowin, the Canadian door-to-door salesman who left for Australia and opened KFC and Hungry Jack’s, shares his extraordinary story of taking on a global giant in a legal bun fight. He also discusses his investments in Domino’s and his latest venture involving plant-based meats.
Jack Cowan successfully established KFC in Australia by recognizing the market potential and capitalizing on the lack of similar franchises in the area.
Cowan's emphasis on delegation, teamwork, and building a cohesive team highlights the importance of these elements in achieving long-term business success.
Deep dives
The Success Stories of Entrepreneurs: From Fast Food to Pizza
This podcast episode features the stories of successful entrepreneurs. It starts with Jack Cowan, the billionaire fast food businessman who migrated to Australia and established the first KFC restaurant in Perth. He later ventured into the hamburger industry and became a major investor in Domino's, a move that turned his $400,000 investment into $2.6 billion. The episode also touches on the importance of growing up with a strong work ethic, the value of delegating without abdicating responsibility, and the significance of building a team of like-minded individuals. Additionally, the episode explores Cowan's latest investment in V2 Foods, a plant-based food company, and the potential benefits of plant-based meat as a solution to increasing protein demand. Cowan shares insights into his approach to investments and highlights the importance of enjoying what you do in order to achieve long-term success.
From Moving to Australia to Starting a KFC Franchise in Perth
After hearing about the opportunities in Australia from his father, Jack Cowan moved from Canada and set up his first KFC franchise in Perth. Recognizing the potential in the fast food industry, Cowan capitalized on the growing popularity of chicken consumption and the lack of such franchises in the area. Despite facing challenges, including a rejected application to build a KFC store in East Fremantle, Cowan's business thrived, leading to further expansion and success in the fast food industry.
Diversifying Business: Hamburger Chains and Pizza Ventures
Jack Cowan expanded his business ventures beyond KFC and ventured into the hamburger industry. With a focus on testing ideas and ensuring reasonable concepts, he established the Hungry Jack's brand and brought Burger King's Whoppers to Australia. Later, Cowan entered the pizza market by acquiring a struggling pizza business and rebranding it as Domino's. Despite initial challenges, his experience in the fast food industry and collaboration with successful franchisees allowed him to transform the business into a global success story.
The Value of Delegation and Teamwork for Success
Jack Cowan emphasizes the importance of delegation and teamwork in achieving business success. He highlights the need for entrepreneurs to delegate responsibilities while maintaining a knowledge of the overall operations. Cowan draws on his experience in team sports to illustrate how building a cohesive team that shares the same goals and targets is crucial for long-term success. By developing people and delegating responsibilities, entrepreneurs can create a formula for continued growth and expansion.
Happy New Year! The How I Made it team is on summer break but for your listening enjoyment they have compiled a collection of some of their favourite episodes from our rich catalogue of interviews with the nation’s Rich Listers.
The first episode in this summer series features Jack Cowin, the Canadian door-to-door salesman who left of Australia and opened fast food chains KFC and Hungry Jack’s. He’d go on to invest and grow pizza group Domino’s. In this episode, he shares the extraordinary story of taking on a global giant in a legal bun fight and all the lessons he’s learnt in becoming the nation’s 22nd richest person.