Edition One Hundred and Thirty-four of The Insider

Delivering franchising news and opportunities since 2005

Hello and welcome to The Insider.

Each week we source business, franchise and finance news from across Australia and around the globe - this week's edition is packed with all the latest. 

Today's Feature Articles:

~ The ARA warns that the Government's proposed new IR laws may force many small retailers to return to a casualisation of the workforce, creating employment uncertainty for Aussie workers.

~ And: 

Do you know what chocolate cake and pasta have in common (apart from both being delicious, that is!) ? Find out in today's news.

Profit increases; latest mortgage data; stand-out performances; and lots of international news, including news from one company which is looking to employ 9000 workers.

These stories and many more in today's edition of The Insider.

Enjoy!

From the Inside Franchising Team

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Local V-Day play goes Worldwide

A local charity production to raise funds for women’s charities has gone ‘worldwide’ – that is, it now has the support of local printer Worldwide Online Printing Preston.

The V-Day Melbourne 2009 "Until the Violence Stops" Benefit Production of Eve Ensler's The V`gina Monologues will be held on February 21 at 8pm at the National Theatre in St Kilda.

All proceeds will benefit the Women's Domestic Violence Crisis Centre and the V-Day 2009 Campaign, which supports women’s rights in the Democratic Republic of Congo.

“The local event coordinator, Nikki Thomas, approached us and we jumped at the chance to sponsor the printing for the event,” said joint Worldwide Preston owner Gabby Petoud. Gabby and business partner Piero Palermo are delighted to be supporting the play.

Gabby added that, “As new owners of an existing business, we are keen to start helping out in the community. This event supports a great cause and is certainly unique!”

Ensler's award-winning play is based on more than 200 interviews with women of all ages, ethnicities and orientations about their experiences. It’s the 11th year that the famous play that has been performed globally to oppose violence against women.

Well known actors in this special production include Anne Phelan currently seen in (‘Guys and Dolls’, and previously ‘Prisoner’ and ‘Something in the Air’), George McEncroe (from MIX 101FM's ‘Two Women and a Metro’), Geraldine Quinn (Rock Cabaret star) and Louise Steel ("D-Cupperty"). These women are supported by a range of talented actresses from a diverse variety of communities.

Click here for more information about Worldwide Online Printing Franchise Opportunities

Pizza, Pasta or Chocolate Cake ~ it is all on the menu

                   ( Domino's Pizza CEO, Don Meij)

“We wanted to create a fresh, new premium quality menu range which appeals to customers of all lifestyles, tastes and budgets whilst still offering the regular favourites our customers have come to love.

“We’ve listened to our customers and we’re giving them more of what they want. We really believe these new products speak for themselves and will set the benchmark for convenient, fresh and flavoursome food.”

The new menu range includes the brand’s first offering of fresh pasta dishes with Chicken Carbonara, Vegie Primavera and Beef Neapolitana all made to order and served hand tossed in a unique freshly baked puff pastry bowl.

“We are dedicated to product innovation and freshness and have invested more than six months in product development, customer research and product sampling to our new menu range.

Mr Meij said it was important that the brand continued to offer its existing menu whilst expanding its product range to offer customers a greater choice.

The new menu range also includes three new Big Taste Range pizzas - Meatza Soprano, Vege Grande and Chicken Capri – all made fresh to order.

Domino’s delicious new desert, the Choc Lava Cake has a rich liquid chocolate centre and is baked fresh in store.

Domino’s new menu range is available now from all Domino’s stores nationwide.

Domino’s Pizza Enterprises Ltd and its franchisees have 510 stores across Australia and New Zealand, employing more than 14,000 part-time and full-time staff and making more than 50 million pizzas each year.

Click here to request more information about Domino's Pizza

Fair Work to casualise workforce and cripple SME retailers
- ARA presents at Senate Inquiry hearings

In its presentation to the Senate Inquiry into the Fair Work Bill this week, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) said the Rudd Government's proposed new IR laws would force many small retailers to return to a casualisation of the workforce, creating employment uncertainty for Australian workers.

ARA Executive Director Richard Evans said small retailers worked within the confines of inflexible fixed expenses, including occupancy costs, and would look at the flexibility within their employment structure to minimise the impact of the Fair Work Bill and increased wage bills.

"Fair Work Australia's ultimate ability to determine the terms and conditions of employment is a costly load that will cripple SME retailers unless they alter their workforce by shifting full-time workers to casual and part-time employment," Evans said.

"Retailing is an important fabric within the Australian community providing jobs for our young; part-time and casual work for those requiring flexible employment; and opportunities for many Australians to be their own boss. Retailers are integral for every hamlet, village, town and city in Australia and this Bill threatens their growth capacity.

"The new IR laws and the subsequent potential workforce casualisation will diminish the security of employment for workers who are trying to access other personal finance including home loans.

"By applying the principles of master/servant union ideology and requirements of mass employment workplaces in this legislation, Australian small business will be over burdened with compliance; provide a reason to limit staff employment; provide a reason to fear the union movement and allow potential disruption of their enterprise.

"Retailers are not just large employers - they are working families trying hard to get ahead - and they don't need increased legislation; increased compliance costs; increased worry; and increased intrusion into their family business," Evans said.

"This Senate Inquiry must give clear direction to the Government to provide adequate education and training for small business operators to ensure they meet their requirements under the law by the required time. To not to do so would fail the entire small business structure within Australia.

"The one size fits all approach to the Fair Work Bill is old-world thinking skewed towards the practices of large employers and ignores the need for flexibility within a small retail business. Coupled with union demands on bigger employers the Bill will close many local stores - opportunity for employment will be lost and only less risk taking retailers will enter the market," Evans said.

For over 105 years, the Australian Retailers Association (ARA) has been the peak industry body in Australia's $292 billion retail sector which employs over 1.5 million people. As an incorporated employer body under the Workplace Relations Act and with a range of member services including employment relations, advocacy and education, the ARA supports and represents over 5000 members throughout Australia. Visit www.retail.org.au or call 1300 368 041.

Inside Franchising Featured Franchise and Business Opportunities

Each week we will bring you a selection of franchise opportunities available.

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>Click here to check out more than 750 Franchises for Sale opportunities

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"There are some predictable factors that can lead to a surge in franchise sales activity -- and many of them are pointing to a franchise boom on the horizon" *

*Click here for this story

Retail Food Group posts 19% profit increase

Leading Australian retail food brand manager and franchisor Retail Food Group Limited (RFG) has announced 1H09 NPAT of $10.6 million, representing a 19% (or $1.7 million) increase on the previous corresponding period (pcp) and exceeding the Company’s NPAT guidance provided on 19 January 2009.

NPAT from ‘Core Operations’ amounted to $11.1 million, up 52% (or $3.8 million) compared to the result achieved in 1H08.

Basic Earnings Per Share (EPS) for the period were 10.7 cents compared to 11.2 cents in the pcp, reflecting the impact of the non-recurring gain on acquisition of Brumby’s Bakeries realised in 1H08.

EPS from ‘Core Operations’ were 11.2 cents, representing an increase of 22% over EPS from ‘Core Operations’ in 1H08.

Click here to view the Retail Food Group Franchise Opportunities

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$5 per hour ~ 24 hours a day?

The Workplace Ombudsman is taking a look at a Geelong franchise complaints were made about some employees being paid $5 per hour and others working 24 hour shifts.

Click here for more about this story

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INTERNATIONAL NEWS

Click here for details of this story

planned by the local franchisee who delivered all of the necessary equipment and ingredients to the Camp Buehring base. 

Click here for details of this story

- one chain is looking for 9000 new recruits.

Click here for details of this story

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ACCC News and Latest Developments

Are you interested in all the latest news from the ACCC?

> Click here to visit the ACCC News Centre.

2008 was a stand-out year for the demand for different mortgage products, with Mortgage Choice loan book data showing that at its peak in February 2008 fixed rate loan demand around Australia hit 36%. At its trough, in November, only 2% of all loan approvals were for fixed loans.

Click here for information about Mortgage Choice Franchise Opportunities

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In addition to the funds being raised by Wendy's to support the Red Cross Victorian Bush Fire appeal, Wendy’s stores across Queensland are also raising money to support The Salvation Army Northern Queensland Flood Appeal.

Click here for more about this story and many more charitable projects

Click here for information about Wendy's Franchise Opportunities

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Fast food restaurantes are cashing in, inspite of the financial crisis.  Whilst it is true that people may think twice about dining at a fancy restaurant, they haven’t given up the love of ‘eating out’ or eating convenience foods.

According to a report in The Australian newspaper this week, for every dollar spent on food and non-alcoholic drink, 44c is spent on fast food -- up from 42c last year.

Click here for details of this story

WHERE IN THE WORLD?

Just some of the Franchise Expos and Conventions happening around the globe throughout 2009

The Franchise Conference, London

Franchise Expo Paris

Franchise Convention India

Miami Franchise Expo

South Africa Franchise Expo

Thai Franchise and SME Expo

China Franchise Expo

National Franchise Convention '09 - Perth

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*The content of all news items published in this newsletter are published in good faith and are reproduced from information provided by the individual companies or their agents, the subject of said news items. News items from other publications are linked to original source. Inside Franchising Pty Ltd takes no responsibility whatsoever for information and content being true and correct. Inside Franchising does not endorse specific franchises. See our disclaimer for full information.

NEWSLETTER EDITION 134 - FIRST PUBLISHED 19 FEBRUARY 2009

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