Global multi-brand retail food franchisor Retail Food Group (RFG) has this year celebrated its tenth year on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX) by posting record profit and announcing major milestones in its international expansion plans. RFG chief franchise officer Mike Gilbert said the company’s exceptional performance over the past ten years has been driven by the Group’s increasingly diverse and global business platform.
“Australia’s leading multi-food franchise operator RFG has built a strong international network across 69 international territories spanning five continents – but there is a great deal of opportunity remaining for us around the world,” said Mr Gilbert. “With a portfolio of several market-leading, innovative brands that can be tailored to suit any market, RFG has a wide range of licensing and franchising opportunities on offer in almost every region of the world.”
Recently announcing a range of achievements for the year ending June 2016, RFG has demonstrated impressive growth internationally with more than 250 new outlets commissioned across the globe in the twelve month period. “RFG’s franchise operations continue to flourish, with 258 new outlets commissioned across the globe during FY16, including 112 in Australia, 69 in Asia and 41 in Europe, our three highest growth regions,” said Mr Gilbert.
“Gloria Jean’s Coffees continues to be our major international system, while a new license has recently been granted to take the Donut King brand into the Middle East. “We’ve developed our full suite of brands to be ready for international licensing, which includes café, bakery, patisserie, mobile coffee and gourmet pizza systems.”
In particular, RFG is motivated to launch its premier gourmet pizza brand, Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar, into new markets. “In contrast to the typical fast-food giants, Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar has focussed its approach on creating high quality, hand-crafted pizzas that aim to offer the customer a new and exciting dining experience, whilst maintaining the ease and convenience of takeaway or delivery,” said Mr Gilbert.
“Crust was founded in Australia in 2001 to meet a new need that had evolved in the pizza market, where consumers still wanted convenience, quick takeaway or the ease of ordering delivery, but wanted to share a truly gourmet, restaurant-quality experience worthy of a special treat with friends and family. With Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar franchises currently located in Australia and Singapore, RFG is looking for further international growth for the brand and believes similar niche ‘convenient gourmet’ markets exist in territories right across the globe.
Mr Gilbert said RFG was able to facilitate its rapid expansion by partnering with motivated and experienced licensees, and through the support of a world-class training and development network.
“We firmly believe our people are our best asset, so we have dedicated training and support structures in place to ensure our people have the tools they need to deliver the best possible outcomes in their business,” said Mr Gilbert. “RFG sees its Master Franchisees as business partners, and we are dedicated to working together towards mutual success.”
Well known for achieving growth via strategic M&A programs, in just over 25 years RFG has grown from a fledgling Australian franchisor operating solely in the franchising sector to a global enterprise valued at over $1 billion with interests in retail food franchising, coffee and allied beverage manufacturing and global brand licensing.
RFG has strategically implemented a vertically-integrated coffee roasting and supply chain system to the business which has become a major advantage for the organisation. All of the group’s franchises and master franchise partners across the world are supplied coffee from one of the company’s four coffee roasting facilities located in Australia, New Zealand and the USA.
“Coffee is a big part of what we do, and we have built a high level of expertise along with a refined and cost-efficient supply chain system that allows us to ensure our outlets all have high quality, delicious blends exclusive to their respective brand for customers to enjoy,” said Mr Gilbert. “In addition to roasting the beans and creating the blends, RFG’s market support team are dedicated to training and upskilling our network of baristas across the world to maintain a high level of excellence across each of our brands.”
Join the RFG Family
RFG is a truly global franchising business with a fully integrated coffee supply chain. With operations currently stretching across 69 licensed territories in regions including Australia, New Zealand, United States of America, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, Europe and Asia, the next three years will see RFG aim to significantly increase its global presence.
In order to drive sustainable growth, RFG operates much of its international business under master franchise partner agreements, which is a negotiated agreement that gives an organisation the exclusive rights to operate a specific brand system in the designated territory. As a master franchisee partner, the organisation is required to set up a franchise infrastructure to nurture and grow the business, including training, marketing, leasing and operational support.
The company’s experienced market development managers serve as its master franchise partner’s dedicated resources to assist in day-to-day business operations and overall business growth. In addition, RFG’s expert management team provides strategic direction, guidance and support to each and every master franchise partner for their market. RFG is now seeking Master Franchise Partners to develop its Brand Systems across several key international markets, with a focus on the UK, USA, Middle East and Asia. For more information visit www.rfg.com.au or call +61 7 5591 3242
About Retail Food Group Limited:
RFG owns the Donut King, Brumby’s Bakery, Michel’s Patisserie, bb’s Café, Esquires, Gloria Jean’s Coffees, It’s A Grind, The Coffee Guy, Café2U, Pizza Capers Gourmet Kitchen and Crust Gourmet Pizza Bar franchise systems. In addition, the Company is a significant wholesale coffee roaster supplying existing brand systems and third party accounts under the Di Bella Coffee, Evolution Coffee Roasters Group and Roasting Australia coffee manufacturing brands.
