34 Business Franchise Australia and New Zealand
what’snew!
Pizza Capers first opened its doors in 1996
and began setting the bar for innovative,
first to market franchise opportunities;
they were the first to embrace and promote
gourmet pizza options and as of July
this year, will be the first national pizza
franchisor to launch a gourmet mobile
food truck.
Pizza Capers Managing Director Sherrie
Halliwell said the mobile food truck is a
fully functioning mobile pizza store that
will operate in designated territories around
Australia, and provides franchise partners
with the unique opportunity to work flexible
hours, from their own place, and to fit in with
their lifestyle.
“Our mobile business model not only taps
into a new market of consumer, but also new
potential franchise partners,” she said.
“With lower operational costs and the freedom
to take the truck to numerous locations and
events, it offers the ability to provide the Pizza
Capers gourmet menu, without the costs andNATIONAL FIRST:
pizzA cApErs
LAuNCH MOBILE
FOOD TRuCK
restrictions of a static traditional store.”
Pizza Capers is confident in the success of the
exciting new business model and are opening
up a limited time offer to entrepreneurial
enthusiasts who are interested in starting their
own mobile food truck business.
“Those interested are now able to purchase
a franchise for less than $50,000 start-
up cost inclusive of initial franchise fees,
comprehensive training and local marketinglaunch activities,” Sherree said.
Food service companies are constantly
innovating to take advantage of the ever-
evolving trends in the industry, and mobile
food trucks have developed into increasingly
popular ventures over the past decade.
“The food truck movement is a rising trend
and we can’t wait to fill the gap and begin
catering for the demand that static stores are
unable to cater to,” she said.Accc tAkEs Action AgAinst
cAr WAsH frAncHisor
The Australian Competition and
Consumer Commission (ACCC) has
applied to the Federal Court to commence
proceedings against Geowash, a national
car wash franchisor.
The ACCC proceedings will allege
that Geowash made false or misleading
representations and engaged in
unconscionable conduct in breach of the
Australian Consumer Law, and the good
faith obligation in the Franchising Code of
Conduct.Geowash’s director, Sanam Ali, and National
Franchising Manager, Charles Cameron,
also purportedly engaged in the conduct. In
particular, the ACCC alleges that from at least
November 2015 to May 2016, Geowash made
false or misleading representations that:
• Prospective franchisees could make revenues
of $70,216 and estimated profits of $30,439
in an average 28-day period, when Geowash
did not have reasonable grounds for making
those representations; and
• Geowash had a commercial relationship or
affiliation with each of Nissan, Kia, Renault,
Audi, Emirates, Shell, Hertz, Holden, Ikea,
and Thrifty, when it did not.
According to the ACCC, Geowash directed
a substantial portion of franchisee funds for
purposes not permitted under the franchise
agreement and not disclosed to franchisees.“The ACCC investigated Geowash’s conduct
following complaints from franchisees
alleging that they had been misled about their
establishment costs, and ultimately had not
been provided with an operating car wash
franchise,” ACCC Deputy Chair Dr Michael
Schaper said.
“The ACCC was particularly concerned
that, allegedly, franchisee funds were used
for purposes other than those permitted
by the franchise agreements, including
as commissions paid to the director and
franchise manager,” he continued.
If granted leave to commence proceedings
against Geowash, the ACCC will seek
declarations, injunctions, an order for the
payment of pecuniary penalties, orders for
non-party consumer redress, corrective
notice orders, and costs, as well as orders
disqualifying Ms Ali and Mr Cameron from
managing corporations for a period of five
years.