NEW YORK CITY —In part two of this three-part series, NexCen Brands' CEO, Ken Hall, and Chris Dull, the president of the firm's franchising arm, NexCen Franchise Management, are interviewed by Blue MauMau on how the firm is supporting its 1,700 franchisees during this time of financial distress for the franchisor. <!--break--> From November 2006 through January 2008 NexCen went on a shopping spree, buying nine brands in 14 months. In the end, NexCen choked when it bought the Great American Cookies brand. The interest on the amended loan was so large that it placed the company on the edge of insolvency. The firm's new chief financial officer, Hall, inherited the problem. He was shortly promoted to chief executive officer, where he had to immediately deal with the...

Front page of TCBY.com <!--break--> SALT LAKE CITY - The Country’s Best Yogurt is offering entrepreneurs the chance to own their own TCBY with a store giveaway worth more than $300,000. The franchise contest can be seen on the front page of its web site, which is normally reserved for consumers looking for frozen yogurt information. The national contest is open to all U.S. residents over the age of 21. To enter, contestants must submit a video, no longer than two minutes, explaining why they should be the recipient of their very own TCBY, why their town is the perfect location, and what they have to offer the brand. You can check out some of the current submissions at our YouTube channel. Submissions will be judged on creativity, a sense of business acumen, and...

SAN DIEGO – After meeting with company officials last week, The UPS Store Franchisee Advisory Council voiced its concerns in the FAC meeting minutes.<!--break-->The two-day session allowed council members to receive from headquarters updates from various departments and to discuss company changes with Mail Boxes Etc’s senior management team. FAC members also received information regarding performance related to certain programs and changes that can be expected in the coming year. The UPS Store/Mail Boxes Etc. Meeting Minutes, received from an undisclosed source, are below: February 2nd Discussion with Don Higginson regarding UPS changes The changes at UPS are quite significant. Going forward UPS will shift from 46 to 20 districts. UPS has always been an...

CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. – Dunkin' Brands has announced its intent to purchase some of the stores of troubled Kainos Partners Holding Company, a master franchise of 56 Dunkin' Donuts shops located in New York, South Carolina and Nevada. Dunkin' will acquire the franchise's stores to be owned and run by the franchisor, and then refranchise them later. In an email sent out to Dunkin' franchisees, CEO Nigel Travis explained the franchisor's intent to buy the company. "Kainos has been unable to emerge from bankruptcy and has filed a motion seeking an order authorizing bidding procedures to be employed in connection with the proposed sale of their Dunkin' Donuts restaurants and related assets," Travis wrote. "Dunkin' Brands has submitted a bid...