Australia

Anthony Windress, Executive Manager Key Accounts Franchising, Corporate Financial Services, Commonwealth Bank explains their role in the process.

The Australian retail food brand manager and franchisor posted 26% growth in net cash inflow from operating activities to $29.2mln.

Gone are the days when businesses have suppliers who simply deliver products to the store and take the money out, and current business trends dictate a co-branding with partners in the industry.

Editor in Chief Justine Charlton visited the new Grill'd outlet at Crown St in Darlinghurst to share with us a site report.

This is when they are given personalised service while research shows 69% would switch retailers for a better deal.

Crust Gourmet Pizza Bars has launched its first store in Western Australia at 502 Hay Street in Subiaco to serve Perth residents, with plans to continue expansion in WA in 2011.

Acktiv Brands, developers of the popular Bucking Bull franchise have recently introduced an exciting new franchised brand to launch on the Australian Market, Se7en Gourmet Takeaway. QSR Media sat down with Karina Steele, Marketing Manager Aktiv Brands and Rob Sawkins, General Manager se7en, to find out more: Describe your business, what products/ services do you provide? se7en Gourmet Takeaway is a re-invigoration of the classic Aussie Takeaway Shop - with a whole lot more style, sophistication, variety and value. We’re all about innovation, high-end delicious Gourmet Takeaway meals and cheeky fun. The Australian born franchise currently has 2 stores located in South East Brisbane, with plans for more to open in key retail destinations across the country. The se7en brand encompasses a passion for many things including the environment, nutrition, rewards for loyal customers and creating and maintaining a positive work environment. se7en’s all day menu consists of a delicious array of dine-in or take away meals including freshly made salads, gourmet burgers and grills, seafood, hot breakfasts, coffee, desserts and our famous seasoned chips and wedges. When did you open your business? se7en at Calamvale Central opened Thursday 6th May, with the Capalaba Central store opening early June. Where do you see your business in the future? se7en has being carefully designed to ensure it can thrive in a broad range of locations from food courts to outdoor dining precincts to stand alone locations on a coastal esplanade or the main street of a country town. We are looking for steady growth here in Queensland and interstate. Franchise enquiries are welcome through our website. What are you most passionate about in business? We are passionate about delivering on the promise. Our corporate team goes to great lengths to ensure that we carefully balance store design, menu design, brand personality, service quality and operational efficiency to make delivering on the promise a constant. If we get these aspects right we can maintain a true perception of value for money and a truly loyal customer base. And that’s exciting. What sets your business apart from anyone else? In a word "innovation!” From the stunning use of digital menu screens to our cheeky loyalty rewards club named Friends with Benefits. At se7en we have fun breaking new ground in everything we do. Our commitment to the environment is possibly what we are most proud of. The use of energy efficient building materials and eco-friendly cutlery and napkins is just the tip of the iceberg. Our Friends with Benefits loyalty club members receive a 10% discount se7en days a week. Each time their card is scanned in store they are automatically entered into the monthly prize draw. The unique monthly prizes consist of Carbon Credits purchased on behalf of the se7en winners. These carbon credits are purchased from forestry and greenhouse gas schemes around Australia and offset the equivalent of 1 tonne of carbon emissions. All the winners receive a personalised certificate detailing the reduction of their carbon footprint and the major prize winner also has their loyalty card loaded with $77 to spend in store. If it’s not these innovations that have started a cult-like following for the se7en brand then perhaps it’s the chips.

QSR Media will be hosting the Inaugural Awards in February in Sydney next year. The awards will recognize and reward excellence within your industry.

Eagle Boys has introduced a gourmet sandwich range aimed to target workers as the pizza maker taps the lunch market.

Social networking has become an indispensable tool among quick serves.

Crust Gourmet Pizza Bars has received the Australian Business Award for Retail Excellence as it nearly doubles in size through national and international expansion.

The initiative aims to raise over $1 million to support children born with heart defects.

The 2010 Australian Business Award for Retail Excellence was jointly awarded to Eagle Boys Pizza for its recent growth, achievements and industry contribution.

The third for franchisees Sanjay and Shobna Patel, the new outlet in Centro Maddington’s Food Court features an extensive store front as part of an ‘evolving’ store layout.

Quick service restaurants have incorporated “green marketing” in their products and business practices not only as a corporate social responsibility but more importantly to make a positive contribution to the environment.

In a typical month 80% of the foodservice population aged 16 and above eat out for a sit down mean and 86% have a takeaway meal. Whilst all age groups are high for consumption of takeaway meals - particularly among the working population - this average has been brought down somewhat by those aged 60+ where eating out for a sit down meal is the preferred option. One can therefore conclude that the convenience and time saving brought about by consuming takeaway food has more of a role among the working population.