October 2024
BoQ accused of short-changing franchisees in buyout
BoQ undervalued franchisee shopfronts in a corporate takeover push and artificially deflated commission payments, a letter to the board alleges.
September 2024
‘Do not speak to the media’: BoQ’s threat to aggrieved branch owners
Bank of Queensland has warned members of its franchise network not to speak publicly about the corporate takeover or they will face “consequence management”.
BOQ prepares for showdown with franchisees as it buys back branches
The bank has set aside $125 million to buy out branch owners in an abrupt reversal of its strategy.
Vegan chain collapses amid lack of appetite, Rich Lister dispute
Flave, started by Stuart and Samantha Cook in 2020, wanted to bring plant-based meat to the masses with a chain of vegan restaurants, but it struggled to attract customers.
August 2024
Dodgy kickbacks, faked tax returns found in RAMS, Westpac alleges
Westpac said it would effectively shut down the 33-year-old RAMS brand this week amid an ASIC probe into the business.
June 2024
This ASX giant is a secret winner from Guzman y Gomez float
As Guzman y Gomez prepares for one of the most hyped floats in years, a $5 billion ASX giant is watching on with interest.
August 2023
Mercedes-Benz defeats $650m dealer compo claim
The luxury car maker’s dealerships in Australia said they were bullied into signing agreements that stripped them of the “goodwill” they had spent millions of dollars building.
Wendy’s cooks up deal with Flynn for 200 Australian stores
Wendy’s, the Nasdaq-listed burger giant and world’s third-largest after McDonald’s and Burger King, has struck a deal to set up 200 Australian stores.
May 2023
Berkshire’s Dairy Queen considers Australian expansion
First it was Wendy’s, now Berkshire Hathaway’s Dairy Queen is looking to Australia as a new market.
February 2023
Cafe franchisor in court over fake wage records and underpayments
The 85 Degrees coffee chain is at the centre of a major test case about whether a franchisor can be held liable for the actions of franchisees.
December 2022
Home builder giant accused of cutting out franchise moneymakers
Court documents filed by Colour Capital claim Netdeen, trading as GJ Gardner Homes, looked to cut out master franchisees over a two-year period.
October 2022
Mercedes-Benz likened to ‘tin-pot dictator’ in landmark dealers’ case
Closing arguments are under way in the $650 million landmark lawsuit between 38 Australian dealerships and their German parent company.
McDonald’s lovin’ $30m from taxpayers to train staff
The fast food giant used the money to pay the wages of thousands of trainees under a federal government program designed to “shore up” the nation’s skills pipeline.
July 2022
KKR’s Laser Clinics buys dozens of unhappy franchisee operations
The private equity juggernaut has bought out dozens of clinics to try to unite the network after two years of unrest and claims of systemic price gouging.
April 2022
Tech troubles fuel Mercedes-Benz sales model dispute
Mercedes-Benz faces a Senate probe over its shift to a Tesla-style online sales model, as its disgruntled dealers battle with failing invoicing software.
January 2022
McDonald’s seeks pioneers for its regional push
The fast food giant has 100 new restaurants in the pipeline over the next three years, many in regional areas. But finding franchisees is proving difficult.
October 2021
Mercedes-Benz hits back at $650m dealer lawsuit
The car company says its switch to an agency model complies with Australian laws, but Labor says plan the piggybacks on dealer goodwill and hard work.
July 2021
KKR beauty clinics stoush heats up
The KKR-owned laser hair removal and cosmetic injectables company is heading for the courts after mediation failed with almost half its clinics.
June 2021
Politicians, regulators are dismantling a tenet of commerce
Telstra was held responsible for the behaviour of staff and managers at stores it doesn’t own that display its products. It’s a slippery slope writes Aaron Patrick.
May 2021
Listed gym giant Viva Leisure’s looming legal stoush
One of the country’s biggest gym and health club group’s has become embroiled in a fight with franchisees amid allegations of unconscionable conduct.