Sarah Stowe

Editor at Inside Franchise Business

Editor at Franchise Executives

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Articles

FCA supports inaugural World Franchise Day

6 days ago | franchiseexecutives.com.au | Sarah Stowe

The first World Franchise Day takes place on 11 June 2025 and the Franchise Council of Australia is one of the national associations backing the initiative. World Franchise Day aims to raise awareness of franchising by recognising the contributions of franchisees as small business owners, and the substantial economic impact that franchising has at a local, national and international level.
Skill Samurai ANZ CEO exits

6 days ago | franchiseexecutives.com.au | Sarah Stowe

Jamie Buttigieg, CEO of Skill Samurai Australia/New Zealand, has stepped into a new role at Combined Franchise Services. Buttigieg, who was recently ranked number one in the Top 30 Franchise Executives 2025 list, brought the Canadian-based education business Skill Samurai to Australia in November 2020. He scaled the after-school coding, maths and STEM business to 22 franchises. Buttigieg joins Combined Franchise Services with a dual task in the real estate sector.
Harcourts Foundation partners Backpack Bed for Homeless

6 days ago | franchiseexecutives.com.au | Sarah Stowe

The Harcourts real estate group’s charitable arm, the Harcourts Foundation, has partnered with national charity, Backpack Bed for Homeless Inc, to help provide immediate relief for some of the more than 45,800 Australians who sleep unsheltered every night.
Choice Hotels boosts China presence with 68 hotel deal

1 week ago | franchiseexecutives.com.au | Sarah Stowe

Choice Hotels International has enlarged its Chinese footprint with a new long-term distribution and master franchise agreement with SSAW Hotels & Resorts. The deal adds 68 upscale existing properties currently managed by SSAW—totalling more than 9,500 rooms—to the Ascend Collection and grants SSAW exclusive development rights for the Comfort and Quality brands across China as a master franchisee.
Barry Plant invests in leadership training

1 week ago | franchiseexecutives.com.au | Sarah Stowe

Barry Plant has appointed real estate education expert, Lee Woodward, to deliver a tailored leadership and training program for its network. Barry Plant CEO Lisa Pennell said “The greatest opportunity in real estate, as I see it, lies in leadership. People today are seeking more purpose, and creating high-performing, fulfilled teams is essential to shaping our future. “Lee Woodward is a name that holds enormous credibility in the real estate industry.
How InXpress empowers entrepreneurs to thrive

1 week ago | franchisebusiness.com.au | Sarah Stowe

“Logistics is such a strong industry, and the franchising model is robust, so InXpress is well-placed to drive growth and achieve our ambitious targets,” says Michelle Price, chief commercial officer of InXpress APAC. “InXpress has well over three decades of experience in freight and logistics and we are very much a performance-driven brand,” she adds. The business was founded in the UK in 1999 by current global chief revenue officer Adam Thompson’s father.
Lone Star trials drive-through format

1 week ago | insideretail.com.au | Sarah Stowe

The Lone Star Rib House & Brews chain unveiled a trial drive-thru restaurant at Hawthorn, South Australia, on May 20. This is a franchised restaurant and Lone Star head office is working on the project with the franchisee. The initiative optimises the already-established drive-thru site to test the format and trial a drive-thru friendly menu. Gary Blyton, Lone Star general manager NSW/SA, said the new format is “very much a trial at this stage”.
ERA Group secures $146m funding

1 week ago | franchiseexecutives.com.au | Sarah Stowe

The UK-based, global consulting franchise business ERA Group has secured a significant investment from Horizon Capital, a leading investor in high-growth technology and business services companies. Horizon has taken a majority stake in ERA Group and committed £70 million ($146m) to expansion. Growth will be both organic and through strategic acquisitions enabling the business to expand into untapped markets.
Lone Star saddles up for first drive-thru store

2 weeks ago | franchiseexecutives.com.au | Sarah Stowe

The Lone Star Rib House & Brews chain unveiled a trial drive-thru restaurant at Hawthorn, South Australia, on 20 May. This is a franchised restaurant and Lone Star head office is working on the project with the franchisee. The initiative optimises the already-established drive-thru site to test the format and trial a drive-thru friendly menu. Gary Blyton, Lone Star general manager NSW/SA, said the new format is “very much a trial at this stage”.
How Jim Penman built a multi-million dollar business

2 weeks ago | franchisebusiness.com.au | Sarah Stowe

How Jim Penman built a multi-million dollar business May 23, 2025 Listen to new episodes on your smartphone or other device.