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Top stories for 2011

Sarah Stowe

What have been the big stories in franchising for 2011?

Well the year started with devastating floods and franchisors and franchisees showed their community spirit with a host of companies doing their bit to support flood-struck individuals and businesses.

The big picture

Just when the Franchise Council of Australia thought it was all quiet on the legislation front after a number of in-depth inquiries and a final government report, the is-it-on, is-it-off question of state regulation in both Western and South Australia raised its head and has dogged the industry body.

The franchise sector was forced to look in the mirror again when incoming chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission said it needed to sharpen up.

Innovation

There’s no doubt the pizza sector has been the most dynamic, with Domino’s, Pizza Hut, Eagle Boys and Crust battling it out with regular retailing and menu innovations – profiterole pizza anyone?

It wasn’t just the pizza brands though that addressed the need for improved online retailing – outgoing Dymocks CEO Don Grover led the charge to embrace the web world and expand the retailer’s role as fellow book store chains Borders, and Angus & Robertson’s company owned stores, struggled to stay relevant. Some Angus & Robertson franchised outlets joined Collins Booksellers.

Re-brands

A video of the Gloria Jean’s Coffee new look was one of our most viewed online stories.

Fastway Couriers also refreshed its brand – for the first time in 28 years, and The Cheesecake Shop celebrated 20 years in business with a brand upgrade.

Imports

Among the new names to the Aussie franchising scene were US based Ben & Jerry’s ice cream and Tasti D-lite;

Significant milestones

  • 7-Eleven opened its 100th outlets since acquiring Mobil retail fuel sites in October 2010, and reached its 50th branded store.
  • Crust Gourmet Pizzas turned 10, and celebrated 100 store openings.
  • It was the 10th anniversary in franchising for Zarraffa’s Coffees too, which opened its 50th outlet
  • The electrical retailer alliance BETTA notched up 50 years

And here at Franchising magazine we broadened our reach with the magazine available digitally, and are in social media on Twitter and with a Facebook page.

So what was your most memorable franchising story for 2011?

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