Auction Bytes: AuctionBytes.TV is running a video interview with Richard Chemel, owner of the iSold It eBay drop-off store in Chatsworth, California. ISold It is one of several franchisers of drop-off stores throughout the country. Franchisee Richard Chemel discusses the business of eBay drop-off stores.... More

Pizza Market Place: LOUISVILLE, Ky.—Papa John’s reported its domestic system-wide comparable-store sales for the four weeks ended May 21, 2006, increased 5.2 percent (composed of a 5.3 percent increase at company-owned stores and a 5.1 percent increase at franchise stores). According to a news... More

Sify: Coimbatore: With shortfall of quality hands in the IT sector, Hyderabad-based IT training company, SQL Star is expanding its knowledge centres in 10 more tier-two cities, to cater to the industry requirements, a senior company executive said today. Considering the goal of achieving $60 billion... More

Business Times: THE Franchise International Malaysia 2006 (FIM 2006), an annual exhibition organised by Malaysia Franchise Association, is expected to pull in 120 exhibitors and more than 10,000 visitors this year. Both exhibitors and visitors will comprise potential and existing entrepreneurs in the... More

Sify: New Delhi:Global restaurants chain TGI Friday has bought 25.1 per cent stake in its Indian franchisee, Bistro Hospitality (P) Ltd, for an undisclosed amount and plans to open 25 restaurants in next 3-4 years.”Our purpose for investing together is to create a catalyst for growth. We aim to... More

Btimes: FRANCHISING can help Malaysia become a regional halal hub as the business can grow faster with minimal risk, Francorp Malaysia Sdn Bhd president and chief executive officer Affandy Abdul Raof Faiz said. Affandy said franchising can take halal products globally because wherever the establishments... More

Sidney Morning Herald: S8 yesterday launched a $NZ235 million ($196 million) takeover bid for Gullivers Travel Group after winning the support of the New Zealand company’s founder and 26.8 per cent shareholder, Andrew Bagnall. If successful, the deal will boost S8’s coverage to 2100 travel... More

Daily Telegraph: SOON-to-float Donut King has defended itself against criticism it sugar-coats financials, wastes store-owners’ money on the CEO’s race car and faces legal claims which could cost millions. Criticisms have been made by IPO analysts Float Tank, which has told would-be investors... More

Iafrica: Quick service restaurant food group Famous Brands has said that maintaining compounds growth at current levels would be ‘challenging’, after reporting a strong set of results for the year ended February. Fully diluted line earnings per share grew by 38 percent to 78.7 cents from... More

Telegraph Money: Chipsaway, the car dent repairer, has banned one of its franchisees from selling his concession on eBay, and rewritten its rulebook so it can never happen again.The company acted after The Daily Telegraph revealed franchisee John Hopkins was trying to sell his membership on the internet... More

Townsville Bulletin: IT had been a 10 in 10 plan – 10 stores in 10 years. Well, Brumby’s North Queensland maestro Michael Kopittke has exceeded himself, opening his 55th franchise at Port Douglas this month and now says the century is in sight. “I’d like to think in a couple... More

Nz Herald: Roast-chicken chain Red Rooster hopes to drum up $2 million in private equity as it looks to expand the chain. Red Rooster New Zealand, which has four outlets here, wants the money for its plans to increase store numbers to seven by the end of the year. Private equity specialists Campbell... More