FoodWeek The specialty coffee retailer, wholesaler, roaster and franchisor has opened the training centre, which is a replica of a standard Zarraffa’s coffee shop, offering technologically advanced equipment and accredited baristas, for the company’s new and existing franchisees. The academy was... More

USA Today Shareholders of the bar-and-grill chain Applebee’s International (APPB)0 on Tuesday approved a $1.9 billion buyout offer from pancake house operator IHOP (IHP). More than 70% of shares voting approved the agreement, which critics said shortchanged shareholders. Under terms of the deal,... More

Biz Yahoo Craters & Freighters, the national leader in specialty freight solutions, announced the company has nearly doubled revenue and added 22 new franchises across the United States in the past five years. Steady growth, ventures into commercial markets, and global logistics makes it a leader... More

Busrep Famous Brands lifted first-half operating margins to record highs despite keeping selling price increases well below the food inflation rate, the takeaway franchiser said yesterday. Chief operating officer Kevin Hedderwick said the owner of the Wimpy and Steers brands had lifted margins despite... More

Moneyweb The Franchise Association of South Africa (FASA) held its annual awards evening last week and for the third time Scooters Pizza won the award for Brand Builder of the Year. “We are extremely proud to win this award once again,” says Carlo Gonzaga, CEO of Taste Holdings. “Every time we... More

Business Standard Bartercard, the Australian trade exchange that claims to be the leading exchange in the world, will start retail barter operations in India through an Indian subsidiary in February 2008. Rakesh Thapar, Indian licence holder for Bartercard, reveals that the company has signed on Steve... More

Biz.Yahoo Full Circle Image announces that it is in the first phase of expanding its franchises in the Middle East. In the past nine months it has opened a franchise in Amman, Jordan and is now in negotiations to expand its Franchise throughout the Middle East Gulf States. Certain matters discussed... More

Sify Sporadic protests against retail biggies in recent months have driven Reliance Retail to tweak its business model a little, to ensure the enterprise isn’t derailed before it has really taken off. Under the new scheme of things, it plans to partner local kiranas in smaller outlets, understandably... More

Wsj Not long after Randy Richey signed a franchise agreement to open three tanning salons in 2003, things started going awry. His costs to build a salon in Centerville, Va., ran about $40,000 more than the $53,000 he was led to believe, he says, and his two other planned franchises were put into default... More

Biz Yahoo Have you been thinking about a career change? A visit to one of the upcoming 2007 Texas Franchise Showcases could be the first step of taking charge of your next career move. The Showcases will feature national franchises from many industries, at many different investment levels. Would-be... More

Biz Journals Stratus Building Solutions announced Monday it has entered the New Jersey market after awarding a master franchise to the Joy Community Development Corp. (JCDC) in South New Brunswick, N.J. Financial terms were not disclosed. JCDC is affiliated with The Tabernacle, a non-denominational... More

Craig MacKenzie, director of Retsol, was honoured as the Franchise Personality of the Year 2007 at the Franchise Association of Southern Africa (FASA) awards last night. MacKenzie has been an integral part of the franchising industry since 1992 and has passionately embraced franchising subsequently.... More