In The News 
NZ attractive to international franchise brands 9th May 2023
May 2023 – The latest global ranking of countries by franchise potential shows New Zealand in a top position, slightly out-performing Australia. Why?
Entries open for 2023 Franchise Awards 4th May 2023
4 May - Entry has now opened for the 28th Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards
Simon Bridges to lead Crewcut franchise group 30th April 2023
1 May 2023 - Simon Bridges, the former National Party leader and CEO of the Auckland Chamber of Commerce, has been appointed chairperson of CC Group. CC Group operates franchises Crewcut Lawnmowing and Crewcare Commercial cleaning and building maintenance, alongside decontamination business Chemcare, CC Facilities Management, contract labour business CC Workforce and training organisation The Welding Academy.
Founded by David Serville in the early 1990s, the business has 441 franchisees and is expected to make revenue of between $31 million and $45m in the year to March 2024. The move follows a significant restructuring of the group's commercial cleaning division in the past year.
Fast food brands sales grow again 26th April 2023
April 2023 – Increased prices and fewer trading restrictions result in higher sales for top food brands
Book Review - Be your own boss 17th April 2023
April 2023 – A new book by a franchise veteran provides good advice for anyone wanting to be their own boss
2023 Franchise Conference speakers named 17th April 2023
Meeting the Challenge. Driving Opportunity Franchise Association responds to interesting times with theme for the 2023 National Franchise Conference in Christchurch. Earlybird rates close 16 June
What could possibly go wrong? Some pointers from the USA 17th April 2023
17 April 2023 - A search through the disclosure documents of the top 10 franchise brands in the US reveals some common causes of franchise disputes. And although the numbers look large, the percentage of lawsuits in the traditionally-litigious US is actually low.
Thanks for helping KidsCan 10th April 2023
You did how far on one tank full?
Nathan Bonney refills the Mini after the epic journey to Invercargill.
Goodbye Pork Pie! The Bonodleys have said a huge thank you to all the people who supported them on the recent Pork Pie Charity Run. Nathan Bonney writes, 'Not only did we manage to drive our classic Mini nearly 2500kms from Paihia to Invercargill; with your support, we were able to raise over $46,000 for KidsCan and were awarded the Most Funds Raised trophy! We already have plans for the next Pork Pie Charity Run, and if we’re able to gain entry (and permission from our wives) we will be back. It has been an honour and a load of fun helping support Kiwi Kids in need.'
Julie Chapman, Founder at KidsCan New Zealand, said. 'You guys are fantastic and it was so great to meet you. Thanks to all of your supporters who donated. We are very grateful for the support which will help so many Kiwi Kids.'
The top McDonald's franchisees in NZ 10th April 2023
11 April 2023 - The New Zealand Herald has published profiles of some of the top-performing McDonald's franchisees around the country, which makes interesting reading and shows some of the hard work that goes into building successful businesses even within such a successful franchise model. Good to see the Stonelake name is still represented among the ranks of franchisees - we interviewed Ray Stonelake 30 years ago and he regaled us with tales of how he first got started (including sleeping on the floor of the restaurant some nights because he was just too tired to go home). Here's the NZ Herald article, and here are a couple of other articles you might enjoy:
The history of McDonald's in New Zealand
Hugh Morris, McDonald's New Zealand founder
Charity Run's race to the finish - donate now 4th April 2023
The Pork Pie Charity Run is nearing the end – and franchising’s favourite team, The Bonodleys, have already raised a massive $46,085 for KidsCan. Can you help, please?
The Big Mac Index – where does NZ stand? 23rd March 2023
24 March 2023 – How has inflation affected countries around the world? The Big Mac Index is a much-used guide to buying power. Here’s the latest guide
KidsCan are the real winners 20th March 2023
How franchisors supported franchisees after Gabrielle 20th March 2023
March 2023 – How did franchisors help after the Anniversary Day floods and Cyclone Gabrielle?
Support KidsCan – earn free advertising 8th March 2023
Franchises supporting this little Mini on the Pork Pie Charity Run can earn a week’s free advertising on our Home Page at www.franchise.co.nz
Happy birthday, Speedy Signs 24th February 2023
24 February 2023 – Speedy Signs celebrated its 25th birthday in New Zealand yesterday, marking the long-term success of the popular business-to-business franchise
Franchise marketing software company re-brands 13th February 2023
13 February 2023 – Brand Machine, the well-known marketing software provider to the franchise industry, has re-branded to Storyteq
Australia's first joint employer prosecution against franchisor 12th February 2023
10 February 2023 – Australia’s first prosecution of a franchisor for wage underpayments by its franchisees has commenced in the Federal Court more than five years after legislation that makes franchisors jointly liable was first passed. Jason Gehrke reports.
Westpac’s Flood Relief Fund for small business customers 12th February 2023
7 February 2023 – Westpac has established a $1million flood relief fund to support its small business customers who have been affected by the recent floods in the upper North Island
Tax relief for adverse events 9th February 2023
9 February 2023 - The Inland Revenue is offering additional support to those affected by recent severe weather events. The following information has been provided by the IRD - all links will take you direct to the relevant page on the IRD website
Former liquor store employees to be paid outstanding $260,000 9th February 2023
8 February 2023 – Five former employees of a Bottle-O franchisee will receive over a quarter of a million dollars in back pay after an Employment Court ruling. The owner has also been banned from employing anyone for 12 months
Online and in-person seminars to improve franchisee performance 3rd February 2023
Four seminars being held in May/June are designed to give franchisor teams the tools they need to help franchisees get the most out of their businesses.
The sessions, run by multi-award-winning Auckland experts Franchize Consultants, are designed to respond to real-life challenges and help answer real-life questions. They are facilitated by two of the company's most experienced consultants: Michelle Bentham, who has many years of operational experience with McDonald’s and Subway; and Dr Callum Floyd, who has led franchise system development and improvement projects for local and international franchises across a range of business sectors.
They cover:
Franchise field support visit training
Improving franchisee performance
Managing a franchise system
Franchisee business planning for field managers
Four Square franchise getting a face lift 1st February 2023
2 February 2022 - The Four Square mini-supermarket chain is one of the country’s longest standing brands, having been in business for 99 years, and owner Foodstuffs is keeping the brand up-tp-date with a nationwide revamp. The green, red and yellow branding update has started in the North Island with plans to extend to all 226 stores nationwide.
SUPPORT KIT for franchisees hit by flooding 30th January 2023
31 January 2023 - The flooding in Auckland and the Upper North Island will see franchisees needing help and support to deal with the consequences. The Franchise Relationships Institute offers a free Franchisee Support Kit to assist franchisors and others wanting to help franchisees and families affected by disasters.
5 tips for small business after flooding 30th January 2023
31 January 2023 - Over the last weekend, Auckland was hit by severe flooding in many parts of the city. Many roads in the North Island are still closed due to the flooding. These floods have affected the livelihoods of many Kiwis living in the North Island. This article from Stuff helps outline some steps that small business owners can take to navigate the unexpected circumstances that they find themselves in.
Join the NZ delegation to International Franchise Expo in New York 25th January 2023
Which franchise can you afford? 23rd December 2022
NAMED – the best franchises in New Zealand 23rd December 2022
What do franchise buyers want? 23rd December 2022
A new survey has some lessons for prospective franchisees as well as franchisors. Dr Callum Floyd and Adrienne Heard of Franchize Consultants and Simon Lord of Franchise New Zealand media report
Where do you want to be? Moving for a new business 23rd December 2022
McDonald's franchisee pays $28/hour for new staff 21st December 2022
22 December 2022 - A McDonald’s franchisee in Queenstown is offering $28 an hour for untrained and inexperienced staff to work during its busiest time of the year.
The difficulty of finding staff in the hospitality sector has been highlighted by the McDonald's franchisees in Queenstown and Frankton, who are offering $28 an hour for untrained and inexperienced staff to work during their busiest time of year. Workers will also be paid time-and-a-half on public holidays – a total of $42 an hour before tax. Workers at the two stores are already being paid a starting rate of $25 an hour, necessary to meet Immigration NZ requirements.
'I think it’s a significant amount of money to pay somebody you train on the job,' franchisee Sarah Lucas told Stuff. She said she was frustrated with Immigration NZ policies and had found the new Accredited Employer Work Visa (AEWV) system and its implementation 'woefully inept'. The AEWV actually discriminates against franchisees as employers, charging them more than 5 times as much as independent businesses to become accredited under the scheme.
People were now paying more for the system and getting a worse service than before, Lucas said.
'I email Immigration all the time. Some of our people get stuck in the system, and they just don’t move. They just sit there, and nobody tells you,' she said. 'I just wish the Government would wake up and see what they’re doing to businesses.'
Modern slavery: record $1.55m fines for ex-franchisee 18th December 2022
19 December 2022 - A multi-unit liquor store franchisee and his associated companies have been slapped with a record $1.55 million in fines after he confiscated workers’ bank cards, forced them to work 70-hour weeks and made them sleep in a cubicle at one of his shops.
Sukhdev Singh, who owned four Liquor Centre stores, will have to pay $415,800 himself within 14 days. The Samra group of companies which ran the stores have to pay up $1.138m. Singh also received the longest-ever banning order from operating a company, a three-year term starting in January. The offending took place between 2015 and 2019.
The chief executive of franchisor Tasman Liquor, Grant Simpson, told Stuff the offending happened before they bought the Liquor Centre chain in 2020. He said they terminated their relationship with the Samra group in 2021 after the first judgement against them. Simpson said they would not work with the group again and was working with the Inspectorate to “eradicate this type of behaviour” from the industry.
Franchising unites to support Pork Pie run for charity 13th December 2022
13 December 2022 – Two franchising personalities are taking this Mini to Invercargill – and aim to raise a massive $100,000 for KidsCan along the way
NZ's best franchises named - with full pictures 9th December 2022
When franchisee finance can be illegal 9th December 2022
December – 2022 Might some franchisors’ attempts to help their franchisees with financing, pricing or selling cause them to fall foul of some unexpected laws? Michael Bright investigates
New Life Members for FANZ 7th December 2022
November 2022 - The Franchise Association has appointed three new Life Members in recognition of their long-term contribution to the franchise sector
Change and success in the food biz 5th December 2022
Food franchises have always been popular – after all, everyone needs to eat. But hospitality is going through massive changes, so what do new buyers need to think about?
Should you buy a business instead of a house? 2nd December 2022
2 December 2022 - An interesting article from Stuff today about the possible value of buying a business rather than a house. It interviews Krista Coningham, the new Westpac Supreme Franchisee of the Year (although it gets a little confused about her awards - see our full report here) and Chris Small of ABC Business Sales, who seems a bit less enthusiastic about franchises - his company doesn't specialise in franchises as much as some other brokers do. He previously recommended buying existing businesses rather than new ones, and we posted some thoughts here. As always, it pays to take expert advice before buying any business from anyone.
Attracting migrant capital 26th November 2022
26 November 2022 – Details have now been published of the new Active Investor Plus scheme. What might it offer to franchisors, franchisees and migrants? Simon Laurent reports
NZ Franchise Awards 2022 Results: YOU BEAUTY! 12th November 2022
12 November 2022 – Two home-grown beauty brands starred at the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards. Both were Supreme Award winners for the first time, while winning franchisees came from towns all over the country.
Christmas comes early thanks to KidsCan kids 7th November 2022
November 2022 – Every year, The Coffee Club and KidsCan collaborate on a special competition to design the seasonal takeaway cups used in The Coffee Club's 65 cafés around New Zealand. But it's not just about the glory of winning – the young artists also raise thousands of dollars for their schools
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