Pictured above: Supreme Franchisee, Kelly and Jess Bain, The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa.
Harrisons Flooring and The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa named Supreme Winners at the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards in milestone 30th year.
Tauranga’s entrepreneurial spirit shone brightly at the 30th annual Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards, with two Bay of Plenty businesses taking home top honours at the country’s most prestigious franchising event.
The Supreme Franchisee of the Year was awarded to Kelly and Jess Bain, owners of The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa, with Quest Mount Maunganui adding to the laurels with the Franchisee Excellence in Customer Service Award.
The title of Supreme Franchise System of the Year went to Harrisons Flooring, a Takapuna-headquartered home improvement brand that continues to redefine mobile retailing in New Zealand.
A community café with heart
Since opening in 2023, Kelly and Jess Bain’s The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa has quickly become more than just a café, it’s the beating heart of its growing community. The couple also took home the Franchisee of the Year in Retail & Hospitality and Excellence in Community Contribution awards, recognising their deep local engagement and people-first approach.
From sponsoring school and club events to donating catering and volunteering their own time, the Bains have built their business around genuine community connection. Their staff are equally invested, choosing causes to support, rolling up their sleeves for local initiatives, and fostering a culture of pride and purpose.
Franchise Association of New Zealand (FANZ) CEO Katrina King says the Ōmokoroa team exemplifies what franchising at its best looks like.
“We’re thrilled to see members from some of the smaller cities around New Zealand making such an impact and punching above their weight in our national Awards,” says King. “It has been a challenging year for the economy across the board, but our finalists and winners are demonstrating that time-honoured principles of focusing on the fundamentals of good business deliver dividends, every time.”
The judges note that the Bains’ café has become a hub for connection and giving back, a model that shows how local business can thrive by integrating social impact into daily operations. The judges say that together, these efforts strengthen community connections, support youth and cultural development, and reinforce the café’s role as a trusted and valued part of Ōmokoroa life.
Innovation underfoot
Taking out the Supreme Franchise System of the Year and Franchise System of the Year in Home & Lifestyle, the judges say that Harrisons Flooring continues to prove that adaptability and innovation are the foundation for enduring franchise success.
The company’s unique mobile retail model brings flooring solutions directly into customers’ homes, allowing them to see and select products in their own environment, a concept that has helped the brand build trust and convenience into every sale.
Recent years have seen Harrisons introduce a number of initiatives to stay ahead of market shifts. Its exclusive ‘Invincible by Harrisons’ product range has given franchisees access to high-performing, differentiated flooring options, while expansion into hard flooring, including vinyl, hybrid, laminate, and engineered timber, has broadened its market appeal.
King says the company’s approach reflects the resilience and innovation that define New Zealand’s franchise sector.
“Initiatives such as Harrisons Flooring’s exclusive product range, expansion into hard flooring, and revamped training and tools for franchisees further support success in the harsh economic climate,” she says.
But for Harrisons, success isn’t measured by sales alone. The franchise invests in people, supports local causes, and is a proud partner of Breast Cancer Foundation NZ. Its emphasis on collaboration, with franchisees, suppliers, and customers alike, continues to build both commercial success and community goodwill.
This year marks 30 years of the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards, a milestone that FANZ is using to highlight the enduring strength and loyalty within the franchising community.
“As part of this year’s anniversary, we’re honouring the backbone of the community,” says King.
“We’re specifically recognising franchisees who have dedicated 15 years or more to their systems, celebrating loyalty, resilience, and the people who make franchising thrive.”
With nearly 550 franchise systems and more than 29,000 operating units across the country, franchising remains one of New Zealand’s most robust business models, and, as King notes, one that consistently weathers economic uncertainty.
“We’ve seen that franchised businesses are more resilient against economic shocks thanks to proven support systems,” she says. “And through three decades of success, we’ve seen that the franchise model works just as well for those with a great idea and an extensible business, as it does for franchisees from Invercargill through Tauranga and all the way up north to Cape Reinga.”
Full list of 2025 winners
Westpac Supreme Franchise System of the Year:
Harrisons Flooring
Westpac Supreme Franchisee of the Year:
Kelly and Jess Bain, The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa
Field Manager of the Year:
Bailee Mills, Harrisons Curtains and Blinds
Service Provider of the Year:
Franchise Accountants
Franchisee Special Awards:
- Regional Master Franchisee of the Year: Tim O’Leary, CrestClean Hawke’s Bay
- Excellence in Community Contribution: Kelly and Jess Bain, The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa
- Excellence in Customer Service: Tere and Avelien Strickland, Quest Mt Maunganui
Franchise System Special Awards:
- Excellence in System Innovation: Red LBP
- Marketing Campaign of the Year: Laser Plumbing & Electrical
- Excellence in Community Contribution: Aramex
Category Winners:
- Small Business Franchisee of the Year: Quin Wang, Aramex Mt Wellington & Panmure
- Retail & Hospitality – Franchise System: The Coffee Club
- Retail & Hospitality – Franchisee: Kelly and Jess Bain, The Coffee Club Ōmokoroa
- Home & Lifestyle – Franchise System: Harrisons Flooring
- Home & Lifestyle – Franchisee: Karen & Paul Collins, Kitchen Studio North Shore
- Business to Business – Franchise System: CrestClean
- Business to Business – Franchisee: Navjot Kaur, CrestClean Christchurch & South Canterbury
