The ACCC has completed its investigation into the conduct of General Motors Holden Australia NSC Pty Ltd (Holden) towards Holden dealers shortly before and after the company’s withdrawal from the Australian market.
The ACCC received over 3,500 contacts from small businesses in the first six months of this year, the highest number of contacts in the last two years.
The ACCC’s latest Small Business in Focus report, released today, highlights the ACCC’s work from January to June 2021 in the small business, franchising and agriculture sectors.
The report shows that approximately one quarter of all small business contacts to the ACCC are about online business activity.
The Full Federal Court has today dismissed an appeal by the former director and franchising manager of former carwash franchise Geowash Pty Ltd against a Federal Court decision that they were knowingly concerned in breaches of the Australian Consumer Law (ACL) and Franchising Code of Conduct (Franchising Code) by Geowash.
In 2019, the Federal Court found that Geowash had acted unconscionably towards franchisees through its charging practices for the establishment and fit-out of its franchise sites, in breach of the ACL.
The franchisor Jump Loops Pty Ltd (in liquidation) (Jump Swim) has been ordered to pay penalties of $23 million for making false or misleading representations and wrongly accepting payments from franchisees, in proceedings brought by the ACCC.
Jump Swim offered ‘Jump Swim’ branded learn-to-swim school franchises for sale between March 2016 and July 2019.
The Federal Court has ordered Megasave Couriers Australia Pty Ltd (Megasave) to pay $1.9 million in penalties for making false or misleading representations to prospective franchisees, in proceedings brought by the ACCC.
Megasave’s sole director Gary Bourne has also been ordered to pay a penalty of $120,000.
The Federal Court has declared that Megasave Couriers Australia Pty Ltd (Megasave) breached the Australian Consumer Law by making false or misleading representations to prospective franchisees, in proceedings brought by the ACCC.
Megasave’s sole director Gary Bourne admitted that he was knowingly concerned in the conduct.
The ACCC has commenced proceedings in the Federal Court against Retail Food Group Limited (ASX: RFG) and five of its related entities (Retail Food Group), alleging the food and beverage franchise company engaged in unconscionable conduct and made false or misleading representations in its dealings with franchisees, in breach of the Australian Consumer Law.
Retail Food Group manages and operates a number of franchises, including Michel’s Patisserie, Brumby’s Bakery, Donut King and Gloria Jean’s Coffee.