IT WAS TIME TO BECOME AN ENTREPRENEUR AND IN 1986 HE PUT TOGETHER A COMPETITIVE TEAM AND FORMED FEEDEM CATERING SERVICES WHICH AS AN INDEPENDENT, TOOK ON THE GIANTS IN THIS VIBRANT INDUSTRY. AS MANAGING DIRECTOR OF THE FEEDEM GROUP OF COMPANIES, THE GROUP GREW TO BECOME NUMBER 3 IN THE MARKET PLACE OVER 15 YEARS WITH 265 OUTLETS UNDER HIS GUIDANCE, TO BE PLACED AHEAD OF SODEXHO, ROYAL FOODS AND MANY LISTED COMPETITORS.HE SOLD HIS SHARES IN 2000 AND INVESTED IN MUGG & BEAN TO JOIN UP WITH BEN FILMALTER WHO HAD BEEN HIS GENERAL MANAGER AT THE BALALAIKA HOTEL IN 1977. BEN HAD DEVELOPED THE CONCEPT AND WAS IN THE INITIAL STAGES OF FRANCHISING THE BRAND. THEY HAD OPENED 4 STORES. BEN TOOK CONTROL OF BRAND DEVELOPMENT AND MICHAEL TOOK ON THE ROLE OF BUSINESS MANAGER, DEVELOPING AND IMPLEMENTING THE FRANCHISE CONTROL PROCESSES AND GROWING THE PROFITABILITY OF THE BUSINESS END OF THE BRAND. THE BRAND ALSO SHOWED POTENTIAL IN THE INTERNATIONAL MARKET AND DEVELOPED JOINT VENTURES UNDER LICENSE IN THE UNITED ARAB EMIRATES, KUWAIT AND SAUDI ARABIA. AFTER OPENING A TOTAL OF 126 STORES IN SOUTH AFRICA, NAMIBIA AND BOTSWANA, IT WAS TIME TO EXPLOIT THE INTERNATIONAL ARENA CONCENTRATING ON DEVELOPING MARKETS. THE MUGG & BEAN LICENSE FOR THE TERRITORY OF AFRICA WAS SOLD TO FAMOUS BRANDS WHICH ADDED VALUE TO THE FRANCHISE PARTNERS IN SOUTH AFRICA WHILST FREEING UP THE BRAND FOUNDERS TO CONCENTRATE THEIR SKILL ON GROWING THE BRAND INTERNATIONALLY. WE ARE AT PRESENT SETTING UP HUBS IN HONG KONG FOR THE LUCRATIVE SOUTH EAST ASIA MARKET. MUGG & BEAN NOW HAVE 226 OUTLETS AND OPERATES IN 9 COUNTRIES IN AFRICA AND MIDDLE EAST.CURRENT BUSINESS INTERESTS:HE STILL OWNS 2 MUGG & BEAN STORES IN SOUTH AFRICA, A PREMIUM FITNESS CENTRE AND A CARWASH SPECIALIZING IN HAND WASHING AND DETAILING. HE ALSO OWNS THE IN INTERNATIONAL RIGHTS FOR THE MUGG & BEAN BRAND OUTSIDE OF AFRICA AND OPERATES MASTER FRANCHISE LICENSES IN UAE AND SAUDI ARABIA AS WELL AS KUWAIT.IN 2012, HE INVESTED IN A TWO AUTHENTIC MEXICAN RESTAURANTS BASED IN CHARLOTTE NORTH CAROLINA IN ORDER TO BECOME PART OF AND TO STUDY THE US MARKET PRIMARILY FOR THE LAUNCH OF MUGG & BEAN IN USA HE CURRENTLY OWNS 43.25% OF THIS ENTITY. IT IS THE INTENTION TO EXPAND THIS CANTINA 1511 BRAND WITH A UNIQUE INVESTOR – FINANCIAL GEARING BUSINESS MODEL WHICH SHOWS SOLID SUSTAINABLE RESTAURANTS, ROLLED OUT RESPONSIBLY SO AS TO AVOID CANNIBALISATION AND GOOD RETURNS FOR CASH INVESTORS.