From Chef to Café Owner: Why Manmeet and Amritpal Chose Muffin Break

Muffin Break Merivale has officially opened its doors, and behind the counter, you’ll find passionate new franchise partners Manmeet and Amritpal, a duo with a shared dream of owning their own business and a strong background in hospitality.

Before joining the Muffin Break family, Manmeet worked in various cafés across Christchurch as a chef, while Amritpal brought valuable food safety and management experience from his role as a food controller with Fonterra. After several years in the industry, they knew it was time to take the next step.

“We had a desire to run our own business — to take charge of something and shape its success,” Manmeet shared.

With over a decade living in St Albans, just five minutes from their Muffin Break café in Merivale, the location was a natural choice. Their deep understanding of the area and its customers gave them confidence to launch locally, and choosing Muffin Break made perfect sense.

“Muffin Break felt like a secure and supportive place to start our first café business,” said Manmeet.

The support they received during training and launch only strengthened that confidence.

“The Foodco team in both New Zealand and Australia were amazing,” Manmeet said. “We’re so grateful for each person who helped us get started and guided us through training.”

As the brand continues to expand across New Zealand, new store openings like Merivale reflect Muffin Break’s long-term commitment to growth in the local market. With strong systems, national support, and increasing demand, it’s an exciting time to be part of the Muffin Break network in NZ.

Now two months into their journey, the pair are building strong relationships with customers and growing their business each day.

“We’re learning constantly and enjoying every moment — it’s exciting to see the café’s potential.”

As for their future? Manmeet and Amritpal are full of gratitude and ambition.

“We’re so happy to be part of the Muffin Break team. Thank you for all your support.”

Inspired by Manmeet and Amritpal’s journey?

If you’re ready to own a business with the backing of a nationally recognised brand and a supportive network, learn more about franchise opportunities with Muffin Break.