A Leap of Faith at 21
While most 21-year-olds are focused on university or early career steps, Akankssha was opening the doors to her very first Oporto restaurant.“I was nervous,” she admits. “Taking the leap from being an employee to running a business is such a huge financial and emotional decision. I questioned whether I would succeed, I had a big responsibility on my shoulders.”
She bought the business with her father, but it was Akankssha and her mother who took on the day-to-day challenge of operating the store. “We were working 10-hour days side by side,” she recalls. “That’s where I learned what it truly means to run a franchise, it’s not just ownership, it’s leadership.”Grounded in Brand Experience
Her Oporto story began long before ownership. At just 16, Akankssha joined the brand as a front-of-house employee while still in Year 10. She continued working shifts through her commerce and accounting degree, and by graduation, she’d already been promoted to store manager.After completing her degree, she briefly stepped into auditing, but the corporate world couldn’t compete with the thrill of running a business. When her former franchisee called to ask if she wanted to buy his store, she didn’t hesitate.
“Entrepreneurship is in my blood,” she says. “My dad ran his own timber and construction business in India. When the opportunity came up, I saw so much flexibility and potential, I knew this was my path.”Scaling with Systems
In 2015, Akankssha took over her first Oporto in Westfield Penrith, quickly establishing a reputation for operational excellence. Two years later, she added Glenmore Park to her portfolio, before venturing into the brand’s high-volume drive-thru model in 2019 with a store in Penrith, followed by Plumpton.The results speak for themselves: her stores consistently rank among Oporto’s top five in sales volume.
“Once I experienced the drive-thru model, I knew that was the direction I wanted to grow in,” she says. “The throughput, the customer interaction, the speed - it’s an exciting environment. You can see the impact of every operational improvement almost instantly.”Franchise Support That Fuels Growth
Akankssha is quick to credit Oporto’s franchising structure and its parent company, Craveable Brands, for providing the strong foundation she needed to succeed.“Oporto has robust systems that allow franchisees to focus on running the business efficiently,” she says. “From the Craveable CEO to our business consultant, everyone is just a call away. The franchise support is exceptional, it’s what sets this network apart.”
Craveable Brands, which also operates Red Rooster, Chargrill Charlie's and Chicken Treat, offers an end-to-end franchise support system covering training, operations, marketing, menu innovation, and digital technology.
For Akankssha, the back-office and operational support have been instrumental in managing growth. “When I was just starting out, head office guided me through everything from recruitment to compliance,” she says. “Now, as I run multiple stores, that support allows me to focus on my people and on strategic decisions rather than getting bogged down in admin.”The People Behind the Business
Managing a team of 100 comes with its challenges, but Akankssha has developed a strong focus on culture and empowerment.“I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about doing everything yourself, it’s about building a team that believes in the brand as much as you do,” she says. “Oporto’s training systems make it easy to bring new staff up to standard, so we can focus on developing their confidence and skills.”
Her approach has fostered loyalty among staff, many of whom started as casual crew and have grown into management roles. “That’s one of the most rewarding parts of this journey, watching people grow,” she adds.Family at the Core
Oporto has truly become a family affair for the Taneja Sandhu clan. Her father and brother co-own restaurants in Dubbo and Orange, while her husband, Naavneet, is her business partner in Plumpton. “We actually met through Oporto,” she says with a smile. “We got married after I bought my first drive-thru. Now, with two small children, the flexibility of running our own stores means we can balance business and family life, that’s something we’re both grateful for.”Evolving with the Brand
Oporto’s franchise model continues to evolve alongside its franchise partners. The brand’s current focus on technology-driven efficiencies, menu innovation, and customer experience aligns perfectly with Akankssha’s forward-thinking mindset.“The systems are constantly improving,” she says. “From digital ordering to supply chain management, Oporto is always ahead of the curve. It’s exciting to be part of a network that listens to its franchisees and evolves with the market.”
That ongoing innovation gives her confidence to keep expanding. “I want to grow my portfolio further, either through acquiring more stores or developing new sites. There’s so much potential within this brand.”Reflecting on the Journey
Looking back, Akankssha says her greatest reward isn’t just financial success, it’s the personal growth that’s come from taking the leap so young. “When I reflect on my journey, I can’t believe I had the courage to take such a big risk at 21,” she says. “But Oporto gave me a platform to build something real. The systems, the support, the brand, it all worked together to help me succeed.”A Model for Future Franchisees
For those considering a step into franchising, Akankssha’s story offers a clear message: preparation, passion, and partnership are key.“Oporto gives you the tools, but you have to bring the commitment,” she says. “If you follow the systems, lean on the support, and put in the work, the results will come.”
From high-school casual to multi-store operator, Akankssha’s flame-grilled journey shows that the right franchise structure, combined with courage and hard work, can turn a single opportunity into a family legacy.
And at just 31, she’s only getting started.
