Latest franchise news:

Web exclusive: Chemex International: Full Chemex takeover team revealed
The full team of owners of sales and distribution franchise Chemex has been revealed to The Franchise Magazine, after the company was bought out earlier this year.

Web exclusive: London House (Services): Huge growth ahead for debt collection
With personal debt in the UK now over £1.1 trillion, risk control services franchise London House highlights a recent report from the Credit Services Association (CSA), which found that debt collection agencies are dramatically increasing their employment to cope with the workload of collecting on personal debt.

Web exclusive: TaxAssist Accountants: 40th taxation & advice shop announced
TaxAssist Accountants, accountancy and taxation specialists for services to small business, has recently opened its 40th shop front style office.

Web exclusive: Auntie Anne's: US favourite tempts UK tastebuds
One of America's most popular snack food retailers is moving into the UK high street with the launch of Auntie Anne's hand rolled soft pretzel stores. The Master Franchise to market Auntie Anne's throughout the UK and Ireland has been acquired by Robert Burton, former owner of the Thrifty Car Rental operation in the UK.

Web exclusive: Belvoir Lettings: Belvoir franchisee in bfa award finals
After buying Belvoir's Sleaford franchise as a going concern, Peter Atkinson has tripled its turnover in his first year. He was awarded the Newcomer of the Year Award at the Belvoir High Achievers Award in 2005 and has since gone on to be one of the 10 finalists in the British Franchise Association's 'Franchisee of the Year 2006' awards.

Web exclusive: Dyno Group: Slough gets the Dyno-Secure treatment
Security specialist Dyno-Secure, in partnership with the local police force and council, has implemented a major crime reduction initiative in Slough. The innovative project, funded by Thames Valley police with the help of a grant, was supported by a number of groups.

Web exclusive: Pareto Law: Pareto Law opens first Scottish office in Glasgow
Graduate recruitment and training specialist Pareto Law has launched its first office in Scotland, with Gerry Dowds heading up the Glasgow-based operation.

Web exclusive: Molly Maid UK: Molly Maid pumps up support
Molly Maid has appointed Jonathan Holden as Director of Franchise Support. Jonathan joins with over 12 years' experience in franchising including positions at Kall Kwik, where he was Head of Sales and Operations, responsible for a network of 160 Centres with annual turnover in excess of £70 million and most recently energie fitness clubs as Franchise Development Manager, recruiting 38 franchisees in under two years.

Web exclusive: Ripples: Ripples expands store portfolio
Ripples Ltd, the premier bathroom retailer, is continuing its rapid growth with two recent additions to its showroom portfolio and plans to open another three new showrooms this year.

Web exclusive: Energie Fitness Clubs: Expands network with launch of three new Clubs
Fast growing fitness club brand, énergie Fitness Clubs has opened new sites in Hounslow and Hackney with a third due to launch in Fulham at the beginning of September, taking the current network of clubs to 17. Now established as the largest fitness club franchise operation in the UK, énergie has a growing pipeline with a further six full format and five énergie Fitness for Women clubs by the end of the year.

Web exclusive: Pauline May Limited: Seeking new Franchisees at the NFE
A DESIGNER who began by making clothes for the elderly in her garage and has now launched a franchisee network across the UK and Ireland is to showcase her fast-expanding business at the 2006 National Franchise Exhibition, NEC Birmingham, October 6 & 7 - Stand V110.

Web exclusive: Caremark: New Care Manager at Caremark
Gail Jones has joined the expanding team at Caremark to implement her expertise within the company owned office at Pulborough. Gail, who has successfully opened and developed a domiciliary agency previously, is confident that Caremark offers her an exciting and rewarding new challenge.

Web exclusive: Talkfirst: TalkFirst launches new online shop
TalkFirst has launched an online shop at www.talkfirst.net. The shop is the most comprehensive online shop for dedicated Baby Signing Products in the UK and puts TalkFirst well ahead of the competition. There is an additional section to the shop, which is aimed at adults who want to learn more about British Sign Language.

Web exclusive: Rainbow International: New look for Rainbow International
Rainbow International has launched a new corporate identity to reflect its position as the UK's leading restoration and cleaning company.

Web exclusive: Papa John's Pizza: Papa John's appoints new MD of UK operations
Papa John's International, Inc. has appointed Ian Saunders as Managing Director of its UK operations. Ian replaces Daniel Cousineau who is leaving Papa John's UK to pursue other ventures.

Web exclusive: Sumo: SUMO helps save badger set
SUMO, the UK's largest provider to the construction industry of utility surveys using the latest technologies, has undertaken a very unusual job.

Web exclusive: Cubic Telecom: Cubic Telecom grows UK network
Telecommunication specialist Cubic Telecom is expanding its franchise operation into the UK following the brand's huge success in Ireland, where it has awarded all of its franchises.

Web exclusive: In-toto Kitchens: In-toto franchisees reap rewards
Franchisee Steve Littlewood and his wife Ellen, who own an In-toto kitchen showroom in Northampton, have opened their second franchise in Milton Keynes, and report that it has taken off much faster than anticipated.

Web exclusive: Venture Marketing Group: Calendar for National Franchise Week announced
The British Franchise Association (bfa) has announced a week packed full of events for National Franchise Week 2006, which will take place between 2nd and 8th of October. Aiming to encourage people across the UK to consider how franchising can help them 'Escape the 9 to 5', National Franchise Week will provide an ideal opportunity to explore the world of franchising as a proven and established way of starting a business.

Web exclusive: 0845 Glassman: 0845 Glassman awards 1st franchise
Pioneering double glazing repair company 0845 Glassman has completed the training of its first franchisee. David Adkins from Chelmsford is now the only franchisee in the UK who is able to offer his customers the revolutionary new 0845 Glassman service, which allows misted double glazing units to be repaired without having to install an expensive replacement.

Web exclusive: Signs Express: Flying the flag in British GT
Avid motor sport fans at Signs Express (Reading) were delighted to provide exciting new racing graphics for a 2004 Porsche 996 GT3 cup car used by Hawthorns Motorsport in the British GT. Driven by Rod Barrett and Swedish driver Jan Persson, the Porsche (pic above) has a flag design on either side of the car, the British flag on one side and the Swedish flag on the other.

Web exclusive: Venture Marketing Group: Women in Franchising Lead the Way...
The Women in Franchising Zone is a dedicated conference within The National Franchise Exhibition taking place on 6 & 7 October at Birmingham's NEC and will feature leading women entrepreneurs sharing inspiration and valuable advice on helping women start their own franchise businesses.

Web exclusive: Re/Max: Further expansion for ReMax in Wales
RE/MAX, one of the UK's leading estate agency franchises, continues its expansion across Wales with the opening of two new offices. The addition of RE/MAX 1st Choice in Treherbert and RE/MAX Associated Brokers in Neath takes the total of RE/MAX franchises across Wales to 13.

Web exclusive: British Franchise Association (BFA): UK's Top 10 franchisees battle it out for No. 1 prize
The UK's best-performing franchisees are toasting their success after reaching the National Finals of this year's bfa Franchisee of the Year Awards, sponsored by HSBC and Express newspapers

Web exclusive: PCC (Professional Car Cleaning): Every Step of the Way...Supported by my franchisor
"If you don't ask, you don't get,"says PCC franchisee Stephen Harper, who has secured a number of Ipswich Town Football Club players as his customers. "I had the idea of approaching them to promote the services of my business. I now wash the players' cars at their training ground as well as the Chairman's car at the stadium. It's been great publicity for my business!"

Web exclusive: Charisnack: Freedom in Franchising...The benefits
More flexible working hours and greater free time to spend with the family, financial and personal rewards, and the freedom to make his own decisions appealed to ex-teacher Spenser Lees.

Web exclusive: Certax Accounting: Before Becoming a Franchisee I was...
With 25 years of experience as an accountant, Paul Matthews knew exactly what he was looking for when he invested in the CerTax Accounting franchise. "I've worked for a number of medium to large size companies but I became frustrated with the corporate politics that often occurs between departments of big businesses,"reveals Paul. "I liked the idea of opening a small practice, went for my practicing certificate and started looking at what was on the market."

Web exclusive: Riverford Organic Vegetables: Off to a Flying Start...
"The business has grown at lightning speed,"exclaims Rob Smith, who turned down a promotion to a senior management position to invest in a Riverford Organic Vegetables franchise. From a flying start with 116 customers, secured via leaflet drops and local media coverage, Rob and his wife Rachel have grown the business to 2,300 active customers in just 16 months.

Web exclusive: Recognition Express: High Hopes...My future in franchising
"I've always enjoyed selling and I wanted a business with a really good product range,"says Recognition Express franchisee Arthur Keighley. "Franchising appealed to me because, although I can sell, it's the buying of the goods at the right price that helps. Recognition Express has 25 years worth of suppliers and this really grabbed my attention."

Web exclusive: Franchise Development Services (FDS): Management Franchise Opportunity with Global Company
Franchise Development Services (FDS) has been commissioned to assist an established Franchisor in their drive to recruit quality candidates for their Franchise as part of their ambition of full network coverage.

Web exclusive: MyHome Residential Cleaning: Myhome makes a fifth acquisition: Autosheen Limited
Myhome, one of the UK's leading providers of franchised service operations, is delighted to announce it has acquired the entire share capital of Autosheen Limited, in a deal worth GBP500,000.

Web exclusive: Domino's Pizza Group: Community relations and maintaining customer loyalty
Consumers increasingly want to see businesses demonstrating a high degree of social responsibility. According to Business in the Community, nearly half (44%) of consumers rate this as a 'very important' consideration when buying a product or service.

Web exclusive: Recognition Express: Supreme Group Awarded 'Supplier of the Year'
Leading franchise organisation Recognition Express has named the Supreme Group its Supplier of the Year at an internal conference and awards ceremony.

Web exclusive: In-toto Kitchens: In-toto National Meeting is Great Success
The UK's leading independent fitted kitchen franchise, In-toto kitchens held its 2006 National Meeting at the DeVere Belfry Hotel in the Midlands with a theme of 'Going for Gold'. Nearly 100 franchisees and suppliers attended the event, which incorporated social and sporting activities as well as business presentations and special achievement awards over the weekend.

Web exclusive: Ovenu: Using redundancy as a springboard into a new career
Ovenu, the specialist oven valeting franchise, has helped former printer Liam Flynn use redundancy as a springboard into a new career. Liam, 44, who is from Aylesbury, has launched Ovenu to provide householders with a professional oven valeting service.