Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Limited CEO Don Meij has announced plans to open 30 to 40 new stores in Australia over the next six months. Combined with plans to employ more team members across its 474 existing stores in Australia, the publicly-listed pizza chain expects to create more than 2,500 employment opportunities in the next four months. Mr Meij said the company had kicked off the 2011/12 financial year with solid same store sales growth and its stores are requiring more drivers and pizza makers... ...Read more »

Small Business Minister Dr Craig Emerson last week announced sweeping reforms of the Franchising Code of Conduct, including the requirement to provide plain-English disclosures of rights and responsibilities to potential franchisees. The Australian Franchise Council welcomed the reforms, saying that “the FCA welcomes both the Government decision and the recommendations by the expert panel, especially the decision against creating both new rules for good faith or unconscionable conduct in the franchising... ...Read more »

Companies planning to launch American food brands into the unique Australian market could be doomed to failure, a franchising expert has warned. Stan Gordon, Managing Director of Melbourne-based Franchised Food Company, which holds the interests and rights of Mr Whippy, Pretzel World and Cold Rock Ice Creamery, said multinational retailers wanting to roll out concepts that worked in the US or Europe could find the same format is not always successful in Australia. His warning follows reports giant... ...Read more »

A former business manager at Australia’s second largest bakery chain has been appointed to a similar role at the Franchised Food Company (FFCo). Michelle Sprenger will manage two of the burgeoning food company’s brands, Cold Rock and Mr Whippy within Queensland and the Northern Territory from FFCo’s Brisbane office. The 46-year-old was previously Brumby’s Queensland business manager for eight years and the business manager for Ella Bache beauty salons in Queensland and the... ...Read more »

Over 1,000 franchisees and staff from Donut King, Brumby’s Bakery, Michel’s Patisserie and bb’s cafe stores from across Australia will converge on the Gold Coast this week to discuss initiatives for continued business growth during the current economic climate. The annual trade show and conference, titled “Pulse 2009″, is being held at the Gold Coast Convention Centre from 10 to 12 February by Gold Coast-based and ASX-listed company Retail Food Group (RFG). RFG CEO Tony... ...Read more »

Boost Juice Bars, one of Australia’s most successful franchises, is the latest Australian company to take its brand to China with Shanghai to be the entry point. Boost, which opened its first store in Adelaide in 2000, already has 190 stores operating in Australia and has now set up in 16 countries. The company yesterday announced it had signed a franchising deal worth over $1 million to set up 100 stores in China over the next 10 years. The decision comes after studying the differences between... ...Read more »

Australian retail food brand manager and franchisor Retail Food Group Limited (RFG) announced earlier this week that retail trade performance of its four franchise systems during December 2008 remained positive, thus consolidating “excellent 1H09 results” and indicating that Australian consumers are still willing to indulge their taste buds with comfort foods. The Donut King, Michel’s Patisserie, Brumby’s Bakeries and bb’s café franchise systems have continued to achieve... ...Read more »

Queensland gourmet pizza franchise Pizza Capers is set to enter the Victorian marketplace with the opening of their first store in Malvern later this month. The 38-store strong Pizza Capers franchise recently placed amongst the Top 20 in BRW’s Fast Franchises 2008 and co-owner Scott Geiszler believes they can succeed in their first foray outside Queensland despite greater competition in the gourmet sector. “We’re confident our pizzas will take the Melbourne dining scene by storm... ...Read more »

Australian pizza franchise Eagle Boys has recognised the need to develop a new store model in order to thrive in small towns.Called the “Local Store Model”, the new range of franchised stores will be established in towns with a population of between 2,500 and 5,000 residents. The stores will have a smaller store footprint, and open for fewer hours (4.30pm to 9pm daily) with an optional delivery service but will still offer the same menu. The new model is part of the company’s robust... ...Read more »

Brisbane-based gourmet pizza franchise Pizza Capers has taken out the “Rising Star Award” at Queensland Business Review’s Q400 Awards. Pizza Capers co-owner Scott Geiszler said the award acknowledged the immense growth rate of the business which moved from the 332nd spot on the Q400 list in 2006 to number 97 this year. “It is fantastic to know we are one Queensland’s largest businesses, it is what we strive to achieve and it’s great to be recognised for all our... ...Read more »