Franchising Builds Community — And This Is the Proof

When people think about franchising, they often focus on the business side — the proven systems, the strong brands, the scalability. But franchising is so much more than just a model for business success. It’s a model for building community. It’s about connection, shared purpose, and collective impact.

That spirit was on full display as Nathan Bonney from Iridium Partners and Matt Woodley, CEO of Donovan Group (operators of the KiwiSpan and Coresteel franchise networks), took part in the Pork Pie Charity Run — a six-day, 2,500km journey from Paihia in the far north of New Zealand, all the way down to Invercargill, behind the wheel of a 1999 classic Mini Cooper they affectionately named “Minty.”

The goal? To raise much-needed funds for KidsCan, a charity committed to helping Kiwi kids affected by poverty.

The experience wasn’t just about the drive — though navigating a tiny, 25-year-old car down the full length of the country is an adventure in itself. It was about community spirit: the support that poured in from across the franchising sector, and the reminder that when people come together, remarkable things happen.

Franchising Is About People First

Over the weeks leading up to the Pork Pie Run, Nathan and Matt were blown away by the response from their networks. Franchisees, franchisors, suppliers, service providers, and even competitors reached out to support the cause. Some donated directly. Others rallied their teams to get behind the fundraising. Many shared words of encouragement and cheered the Bonodleys (as Nathan and Matt came to be known) on from afar.

This is the magic of franchising: it naturally builds close-knit communities where people genuinely care about each other’s success — not just in business, but in life.

In total, the 2025 Pork Pie Charity Run raised over $460,000 for KidsCan, a figure that will have a direct impact on thousands of young lives across New Zealand. And the franchising community played a key role in making that possible.

Building More Than Businesses

Franchising at its best isn’t just about operating successful businesses; it’s about building something bigger.

• It’s about franchisees giving back to their local schools and charities.
• It’s about franchisors creating platforms for collective impact.
• It’s about service providers and sector partners stepping up to back great causes, not because they have to, but because they believe in making a difference.

Through events like the Pork Pie Charity Run — and through countless smaller acts of generosity happening every day across franchise networks — we see franchising’s true power to enrich communities and bring people together.

As Meredith Taylor from Iridium Partners puts it, franchising succeeds because it is rooted in relationships. “When you bring together entrepreneurial people under a shared brand and purpose, incredible things happen — not just in financial terms, but in terms of connection, resilience, and community impact.”

Meredith herself has been an important part of supporting initiatives like this, providing insight, guidance, and oversight to ensure franchising continues to not only grow, but also give back.

Proof That Community Is the Real Competitive Advantage

At Iridium Partners, Donovan Group, and across so many franchise networks, there’s a growing recognition that being part of franchising means being part of something bigger than yourself. It’s about knowing that when you need a hand — whether it’s for a fundraiser, a community project, or a bigger cause — your network is right there with you.

That’s the real value of franchising: not just successful businesses, but thriving, connected communities.

And thanks to Minty’s big adventure, we’ve all been reminded just how powerful that can be.

To everyone who supported the Pork Pie Charity Run: thank you. You’ve shown that franchising doesn’t just build businesses. It builds hope. It builds change. It builds community.