Introducing the successful UK Cyclelife franchise last year, is the next step is for Raleigh Ireland. The Irish market mirrored that of the UK and so the move from making to selling bikes was a natural one, as it was for the mother company Raleigh UK Ltd. Irish Raleigh Cycle Co. was closed nine years ago when the continuation of an assembly plant was no longer viable and distribution was moved to Eurotrek Ltd. Eurotrek was formed 20 years ago by Mel Sutcliffe and was originally one stand alone retail store. In search of growth Eurotrek started to import bikes and distribute throughout Ireland. The break came in 2000 when Raleigh sought an Irish based company to take on the sales, marketing and distribution of all products. In conjunction with wholesale distribution, the retail wing of the business has been expanded to include 3 modern well located stores.

Raleigh Ireland Chairman Mel Sutcliffe explains "Ireland is a special market place; it resembles the United Kingdom in many respects but differs greatly in others. We feel with such a small population (5 million) we need to lead by example. Our own retail stores allow us to showcase the Raleigh and Diamondback brands and ensure they are always to the fore". Group Managing Director Aidan Duff explains "In many ways we have the best of both worlds. We work closely with our partners in Raleigh UK and benefit because of this. We share the same bike range, catalogues and many other advantages. Since the turn of the 21st Century Ireland has too often been seen as a dumping ground for UK and European surplus stock." It has taken the strength of a brand and the hard work from Eurotrek to trade through and persevere in tough market conditions to the point where today Raleigh has regained its rightful position as the number one selling brand in the market.

Eurotrek reports into Raleigh UK enabling it to take advantage of the UK's greater resources, as well as product range, including IT development allowing their customers to access Raleigh UK's B2B site directly. Next to the bikes and the P&A range Raleigh Ireland is now also introducing UK's Cyclelife franchise this year to Irish dealers.

The partnership between Raleigh UK and Raleigh Ireland plans will be launched this summer and Raleigh Ireland plans to open 15 Cyclelife dealerships. Raleigh UK started its Cyclelife initiative in 2004. The 100th Cyclelife store opened beginning of April in Scarborough, UK. At that opening Raleigh UK said that it was well on the way to achieving interim target of 250 stores nationwide by 2010. The Cyclelife concept was created to compete effectively with chain stores in the UK by giving all Cyclelife participants a national identity. The ambition of Raleigh's partnership is: "To improve the retailing standards of its members and by driving greater footfall into the stores, improving the profitability. For that, the promotion of the Raleigh brand nationally and locally in a cost effective manner will be provided." To search Franchises for Sale in Ireland, please click the Home link above.

Kerri has a vast amount of experience within Domino's Pizza as she joins the Irish franchise from Domino's Pizza Enterprises in Australia (DPE). Kerri joined DPE over 20 years ago and has seen the company progress on a national and international basis since then. Kerri comes with a wealth of knowledge, experience and ideas from the high volume stores of the Australian market and will be taking those practices into the Irish market. During her tenure at DPE her achievements have included International Supervisor of the Year, State Manager of the Year and Queensland Women in Business, Businesswomen of the Year finalist, as well as numerous sales and service awards. Kerri is very focused about each store getting involved with its local community. 5 years ago, when cyclone Larry hit Australia, Kerri launched a plan of action to help support all those affected, by instructing the stores to feed free pizza to the homeless and the volunteers that helped at the scene.

Delivering more into the local community is actively encouraged throughout the Domino's system and Kerri is a proud advocate of this philosophy. Chris Moore, Domino's Chief Executive, said: "I am delighted to wish Kerri all the best as she takes over as operations director for Domino's Pizza UK & Ireland. Kerri strives for operational excellence and her many accomplishments in providing consistent service, high standards and store profits are admirable.

Kerri's brings with her an abundance of passion and energy for Domino's and she is a 'hands-on' operator who likes to play an active part in the development and engagement of her team. We are very excited to see the results she will bring and the ideas she has to put forward. Her experience and knowledge of the business will be invaluable to us and I can't think of anyone better to replace Patricia Thomas." Kerri joined Domino's UK & Ireland as Deputy Operations Director a few months ago and has been familiarising herself with the UK and Irish operations as well as with her new team, the franchisees and the stores. Kerri Hayman said: "I am thrilled to be appointed as Operations Director for Domino's Pizza UK & Ireland. This year I will celebrate 23 years with Domino's and I am very excited to be a part of the largest Domino's market outside of the USA. I am surrounded by a great team and I am excited about the future growth of the company and the part I can play in it. My passion lies with the franchisees and their stores and I am looking forward to taking over from Patricia and following in her steps to continue the great work that she has done with Domino's Pizza operations." To search for Pizza Franchises for sale in Ireland, please click the Home link above.

Signs Express, Irelands largest and most successful sign franchise business opportunity, has just launched their brand new website. The new site design provides online visitors with dramatic improvements in navigation, appearance and accessibility. New Website launch for Signs Express.

Providing customers with comprehensive information about the company and its products, the revamped site is designed to be as fresh and current as the technology and services Signs Express offers.  A clean modern look and more information for customers than ever offered in the past enables users to view the different products and gain access to product categories, franchise territory availability and technical information. The site also provides an enhanced extranet and new bespoke e-shot marketing facility for franchisees and staff.

Commenting on the new website, Rebecca Dack, Marketing Manager at Signs Express says that the development of the website was a natural progression to support our customers and further raise our profile within the markets we operate.  It also shows much larger images, and an easy to find branch locator so local customers can see work directly from the production centre in their area. The site is a sign of progression for the company, providing a more streamlined experience for its clients.  The launch of the new site is in response to this increased demand, designed to support the growth of the technology and the company. Operating for over 23 years, Signs Express has developed into the largest sign company in Ireland with over 75 franchised production centres. They provide a complete design, manufacture and fitting service for all forms of signage including interior and exterior signs, vehicle graphics, banners, window graphics and exhibition display products.

For further information, please click the Home link above.

The Streat Cafe, one of Irelands fastest growing and most successful cafe franchises predicts that it will create in excess of one hundred jobs in the Munster area over the next three years. Munster Master Franchisee Michael OToole says that the The Streat is already a well know brand in Northern Ireland, renowned for healthy, fresh food, its unique blend of great coffee, friendly and welcoming service and stylish contemporary decor. This winning formulae is now being replicated across a growing number of cafes in the Republic of Ireland.

To search Cafe Franchises for Sale in Ireland, please click the Home link above.

Auditel the cost and purchase management franchise opportunity, are planning to launch their business model in Ireland this year. Head of Marketing, Laurence Knott, says We are very excited about expanding into Ireland. We have been considering this move for some time. Now, having built a UK network of over 200 franchisees, we feel the time is right to move across the water. We believe that we have the expert knowledge and experience to work with Irish companies, large or small, and help them at this critical time to manage all of their business costs in the most effective way. 

Auditel invite interested management professionals to a free Discovery Seminar on 24th 2011, at 7 pm, in the Gilford Suite at the Sandymount Hotel, Herbert Road, Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4,

Visitors will have the opportunity of gaining an insight into how Auditel works, meet members of the Senior Management Team, ask as many questions as they like and find out firsthand how they could benefit from becoming an Auditel consultant. There is no hard sell, no obligation and nothing to pay.

For further information on Business Franchises for Sale in Ireland, please click the Home link above.

MARBLE SLAB CREAMERY FRANCHISES DECLARE JULY 11 2011, RED HEAD APPRECIATION DAY. The Marble Slab Creamery Franchise Will Give Away Free Scoop of Red Velvet Ice Cream to every Red Head. The Marble Slab Creamery Franchise has declared July 11, 2011, Red Head Appreciation Day to help celebrate the launch of the brands new Red Velvet Ice Cream. Marble Slab Creamery is managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group. All day on Monday, July 11, 2011, at participating locations, Marble Slab Creamery will give away a free scoop of Red Velvet Ice Cream to anyone who has red hair, no matter if its natural, dyed or a wig.

Red Head Appreciation Day is a great way for Marble Slab Creamery to engage our customers with a tongue in cheek holiday,  said Jenn Johnston, chief marketing and operations officer for GFG Management, LLC. We hope everyone will come into one of our participating locations with their real or fake red hair and try our new Red Velvet Ice Cream for free. Limit one offer per guest during the day of the promotion. Counts vary by store. Valid only at participating U.S. stores. No purchase necessary.

About Marble Slab Creamery
Marble Slab Creamery, a leading purveyor of chef created super premium hand mixed ice cream and the innovator of the frozen slab technique, was founded in 1983. Every batch of Marble Slab Creamery ice cream is fresh made in small batches in store using dairy from local farms and flavour ingredients from around the world. Today, Marble Slab Creamery is enjoyed by consumers across the globe with locations in Bahrain, Canada, Kuwait, Lebanon, Mexico, Oman, Scotland, United Arab Emirates, and the United States.

About Global Franchise Group, LLC
Global Franchise Group, LLC is a strategic brand management company with a focus on franchising. The company owns a portfolio of franchise brands that includes five quick service restaurant QSR franchise concepts: Great American Cookies, MaggieMoos, Marble Slab Creamery, Pretzelmaker and Pretzel Time, as well as two retail franchise concepts: TAF and Shoebox New York. The brands are managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group, LLC. Global Franchise Group, LLC is an affiliate of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, an independent investment firm, with USD5 billion of capital under management and substantial franchise management experience.

To search Franchises for Sale in Ireland, please click the HOME link above Top Left.

Pretzel Franchising Business Pretzelmaker will announce July 2011 that the company has introduced Mini Pretzel Dogs, their newest pretzel creation. Mini Pretzel Dogs, miniature all beef hot dogs wrapped in Pretzelmakers original pretzel dough, are currently being featured in stores across the country. The new product rollout is supported by NexCen Franchise Management, Inc., a subsidiary of NexCen Brands, Inc.

The new Mini Pretzel Dogs are offered in 6 piece and 12 piece servings and can be paired with any of Pretzelmakers delicious dipping sauces and wide selection of beverages. According to Michael Curtis, vice president and head of NexCens Research and Development department, the company began developing the Mini Pretzel Dog after two of Pretzelmakers other signature products, the Pretzel Dog and Pretzel Bites, were enthusiastically embraced by both customers and store owners.

The Our R and D team works tirelessly to develop and test concepts that are not only delicious, but also live up to Pretzelmakers reputation of high quality and innovative products, said Curtis. "The new Mini Pretzel Dogs flavour is second to none and we believe that they will quickly become a customer favourite. Jenn Johnston, senior vice president of brand marketing for NexCen Franchise Management, added that the introduction of the Mini Pretzel Dogs also fulfills a growing consumer demand for portable snacks.

One of the trends weve seen with our customers is an increasing demand for snacks that can be enjoyed on the go, said Johnston. The Mini Pretzel Dogs are another versatile option from Pretzelmaker perfect for shopping with friends at the mall, a bite between errands or any other occasion requiring a quick snack.

About Pretzelmaker
Pretzelmaker,  Pretzel Time are franchised concepts that specialize in offering hand rolled soft pretzels, innovative soft pretzel products, dipping sauces and beverages. The brands were founded independently of each other in 1991, united in 1998 by Mrs. Fields Famous Brands and acquired by NexCen Brands in 2007. Beginning in April of 2009 NexCen instituted the consolidation of the two brands which will result in the new Pretzelmaker. Long recognized as innovators in their industry, the brands are credited with inventing the popular Pretzel Dog and portable Pretzel Bites. Collectively, Pretzelmake, Pretzel Time is the second largest soft pretzel franchise in the U.S. with approximately 360 stores worldwide.

About NexCen Brands, Inc.
NexCen Brands, Inc. is a strategic brand management company with a focus on franchising. It owns a portfolio of franchise brands that includes two retail franchise concepts: TAF and Shoebox New York, as well as five quick service restaurant QSR franchise concepts, Great American Cookies, MaggieMoos, Marble Slab Creamery, Pretzelmaker and Pretzel Time. The brands are managed by NexCen Franchise Management, Inc., a subsidiary of NexCen Brands.

To search Franchises for sale in Ireland, please click the Home link above.

Irish Franchise sector turnover has jumped 15 per cent to Eur2.4 billion in the last five years. The industry delivered over 4,000 operating units in Ireland last year and has generated over 42,000 jobs, according to an assessment of the Irish franchise market conducted by UCD Michael Smurfit Business School and Ulster Bank. The franchise sector has increased job creation figures every year over the last five years, when the study was last conducted.

Irelands Noodle Franchise Wagamama is to step up its restaurant franchises opening programme after being bought by a private equity firm in a UKP215m Eur244m. London based Duke Street has agreed to buy the Japanese style chain from consumer business investor Lion Capital and has said it will make expansion one of its priorities. It is understood that the move will secure a hefty windfall for Lion, which bought the business for around UKP100m Eur113m in 2005.

The businesss management team will retain its minority stake but is also expected to receive a payout as part of the deal. Under Lions ownership, Wagamama, which employs around 2,350 staff in the UK, has doubled its number of restaurants in the UK to 70 and opened its first three company-owned sites overseas, in Boston in the US. Lion also more than trebled the number of eateries overseas through franchise partners to 36. A spokesman for Duke Street said its new owners would make extra funds available to increase the rate of store openings both in the UK and overseas. The deal, which is understood to be worth about UKP215m Eur250m, is expected to complete in the next 30 days. The chain, which was founded in Bloomsbury, London in 1992 by the restaurateur Alan Yau, sells more than 12 tonnes of noodles a week. It recorded more than UKP15m Eur17m in pre tax profits in the year to April 2010.

London-based Lion, which attempted to float the business in 2007, also has investments in Weetabix, Findus Group and Kettle Chips owner Kettle Foods. Duke Street also owns discount chain The Original Factory Shop and used to own stakes in Focus DIY and Esporta gyms.