Australian Retailers Association has lost the genius who denied on Sydney radio that franchise ‘churning’ existed a week before the head of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission, Graeme Samuel, finally came out of his closet and admitted it did exist.

Richard Evans’ resignation from ARA will leave members breathing a short lived sigh of relief. 

It was always frightening to consider that this man as Executive Director headed up an association that claims to protect 5000 small business retailers. Frightening because Evans previously headed up the Franchise Council of Australia and his stay at ARA has been short and not so sweet.

ARA and Evans with President Roger Gillespie of Bakers Delight franchise infamy in the background pushed the federal government to ignore the needs to provide better protection to Australian franchisees.  ARA’s push to shut down the recommendations of the recent Federal Inquiry into Franchising seems to many to be in conflict with the best interests of many of those represented by ARA.   

Gillespie’s close association with FCA is seen by many to clash with the ARA stated mission to protect the interests of it's members.  It is suggested that his involvement with ARA should be considered in the context of his drive to clean up the reputation of Bakers Delights [Cobs Bread] and any considered relief with the departure of Evans would be premature.  But it is difficult to know if, or what, Gillespie is thinking when he rarely makes a public statement about anything.  Perhaps he saves it for Court.

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