The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has launched a free online education program, designed to help franchisees make an informed decision when looking to buy a franchise. The program will be administered by Griffith University’s Asia-Pacific Centre for Franchising Excellence and will launch in July this year. ACCC deputy chair Michael Schaper said the pre-entry education program will be available nationally and cater to all levels of understanding. “The program will be a... ...Read more »

Recent announcements by Federal Small Business Minister, Craig Emerson, regarding unconscionable conduct and franchising laws fail small businesses and franchisees, according to Associate Professor Frank Zumbo, Competition and Consumer Law Expert at the University of New South Wales. Mr Zumbo claims that the new announcements are just spin and offer no effective action on issues of fundamental concern to small businesses and franchisees, saying “The announcements are a huge disappointment and... ...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 »

Australian retail food brand manager and franchisor Retail Food Group has questioned the validity of recent media reports regarding their Indian expansion plans, labelling them “grossly inadequate”. “Retail Food Group Limited (ASX:RFG) has become aware of continued media reports indicating that the Company will enter the Indian market in 2010 and anticipates revenues in the order of US$87m from those operations within five years,” the company noted in a statement. “The... ...Read more »

ASX-listed franchisor Allied Brands has entered into a ten year Licence Agreement to launch the Cookie Man brand in Cyprus with a local operator. The license agreement will help underpin their forecast for FY10 of NPBT (net profit before tax) of $6.6 – $7.2m as outlined at the AGM on November 30, the company said. It will see Allied Brand’s receive an up-front License Fee and on-going supply of products (cookies, coffee and giftware) and ovens for the Cyprus market. Allied Brands CEO... ...Read more »

The Federal Court has declared that Personalised Chocolates 4U Pty Ltd and its sole director, Troy Patching, misled franchisees and engaged in conduct in breach of the Franchising Code of Conduct, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has advised.”The false and misleading statements made by Personalised Chocolates 4U were designed to entice work-from-home entrepreneurs to buy a franchise in circumstances where PC4U was unable to provide franchisees with promised software, training... ...Read more »

ASX-listed Retail Food Group has told shareholders that they expect a 10-15% increase in profit for the first half, while expansion activity continues apace with a deal to acquire a Donut King competitor and the Brumby’s master franchises in north Queensland and New Zealand. “The Brumby’s North Queensland master franchise territory represents the best performing Brumby’s territory in Australia,” RFG CEO Tony Alford said during the company’s AGM on Friday. “Further,... ...Read more »

One of Australia’s leading franchise experts has joined up-and-coming franchisor Spudbar as they embark on their growth strategy. Simon McNamara, the Founder of Viva Juice – a company he later sold to Boost, and a founding shareholder of the rapidly expanding burger business, Grill’d, will join the baked potato chain as a Business Partner. Spudbar is a food concept that was developed in 2000 offering baked potatoes with gourmet toppings. Spudbar CEO Kirsten Roberts was delighted... ...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 »