Nosh stoush puts Veritas on notice, Pressure mounts to regulate franchising, Hidesight on media’s absurd Thiel-ogical musings
In NBR today
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Tim Hunter reveals that two days after sinking his life savings into a Nosh grocery franchise, Phil Mead learned franchisor Veritas Investments had been instructed by ANZ Bank to sell the chain or start closing it down. The announcement was a shock for Mr Mead – and for his suppliers, who started removing stock from his store. Mr Mead’s consequent decision to terminate his franchise agreement has triggered a legal dispute with Veritas, which claims the cancellation is invalid.
Karyn Scherer writes that calls for the regulation of the $20 billion franchising industry have been renewed by an NBR investigation into the Palmers franchise. The gardening chain faces issues similar to the Nosh and the Mad Butcher franchises and, says expert Gehan Gunasekara, suggests “another wave of problems” for the sector. His warning follows strengthening of regulations in Australia and is backed by disgruntled franchisees, as well as an industry body representing more than 4000 small businesses.
The day-to-day detritus of politics doesn’t interest former merchant banker Andrew Bayly, Sally Lindsay writes; grappling with the big picture does. And he doesn’t miss “the sparring involved in buying and selling big businesses and launching IPOs” at all, the MP says.
In Hidesight, Rodney Hide says Rod Drury and Sam Morgan have been given a fair old shellacking in a local rag. “Their crime was to support Peter Thiel (pictured), who in turn supports President Trump.I kid you not. We are now to be held to public account for our friend’s friend’s politics and behaviour. Of course, it’s nonsense.”
Auckland International Airport regularly announces airlines starting routes to New Zealand’s largest city, Calida Smylie writes. But it doesn’t accord the same fanfare to airlines’ decision to pull their services due to a combination of too much capacity and depressed yields. As Forsyth Barr’s Andy Bowley points out, the prospect of further capacity cuts is of great concern to an airport spending over $1 million every day on infrastructure.
And don’t miss the millennial take on Meetings and Conferences in our special feature.
All this and more in today's NBR Print edition. Out now
Staff reporter
Fri, 10 Feb 2017
Fri, 10 Feb 2017
© All content copyright NBR. Do not reproduce in any form without permission, even if you have a paid subscription.
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Nosh stoush puts Veritas on notice, Pressure mounts to regulate franchising, Hidesight on media’s absurd Thiel-ogical musings
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