Over two decades, CP Cambodia has built itself into the Kingdom’s leading animal husbandry and farming enterprise as well as the biggest producer of processed food in the country.
Little that we know, is how its off shoot CP Five Star, the popular fast food chain distinguished by a cheerful red and yellow livery color, has helped transform the lives of thousands of Cambodians through its belt-and-buckle franchise business.
Take Mrs. Lee Norat, for instance.
A few years ago, the 40-year-old was toiling for minimum wage in a garment factory while her husband worked as a freelance jeweler. Every month was a struggle, as they lived hand-to-mouth and did their best to keep their two children smartly dressed and attending school.
Norat had long dreamed of a better life -- particularly owning her own business -- but it seemed more of a pipe dream until the day she saw an advertising promoting CP Five Star’s franchise business. Fascinated, she sought out more information.
For an initial outlay of $1,500 -- admittedly a big sum for a lower-income family -- she could take control of her own destiny. That investment gave her a package containing; fridge, kitchen utensils, uniforms, display case and kiosk to properly represent the tasty CP Five Star fried chicken.
It also came with training, marketing materials and advice to help ensure that they made their business a success.
Norat decided to take the risk, scrimped together the money, and has never looked back.
After just a couple of months, she noticed sales improving from 100 pieces of chicken per day to over 200.
“We were starting to get a steady income, so my husband quit his job to help out at the store instead,” said Norat, who now lives in Borey Piphub Thmey nearby Psar Chouk Meas, Phnom Penh, the commune on the outskirts of Phnom Penh.
“In just our second year of business, our living standards have improved greatly and we are now sending our kids to better schools.”
Mrs. Lav Saron is another CP Five Star success story -- but on an even bigger scale.
Based in Sihanoukville, the 30-year-old and her husband did so well with their first venture that they decided to expand.
“We were pushing out chickens non-stop ... that’s why we need as many as five stoves and four sellers,” she said.
She attributes her success to the quality of the product, training and assistance she received from CP Five Star Team.
“The flavour of the chicken is very suitable for the taste of our customers,” she said.
“Our cooking method is also textbook, and CP’s recommendations were a catalyst in pushing our sales up to around 900 - 1,200 pieces per day”.
Their success brings the family an income of over $2500 a month -- enough for them to buy a small car -- but they are still hungry for more.
In cosmopolitan Sihanoukville, Saron has a keen eye for what different nationalities want from a chicken.
“The local customers and Chinese like to order chicken drumsticks, chicken breasts, and chicken wings, while the Indonesian like thighs with an extra spicy sauce. On the other hand, Europeans mostly only order chicken breasts,” she said.
This leads them to a new business strategy to manage the demand of orders in each kiosk from different locations that match to different nationalities of customers.
“Right now, my husband and I are eyeing a new location for another CP Five Star kiosk,” Saron said, laughing. “We’re going to acquire it very soon. I hope we will succeed once again.”
Both Saron and Narot vouch for the quality of every single piece of chicken from CP Five Star as well as other franchises.
CP Five Star Team is inviting all aspiring entrepreneurs in Cambodia to experience the same success. For more information, please contact 096-66-111-66 or visit CP Five Star Facebook page.
