Change is coming, but some retailers aren't ready for slavery laws

Some of Australia's major retailers are woefully unprepared for new laws aimed at ensuring their products are not made with slave labour.

Domino's workers to vote on new wage deal

Workers at embattled pizza shop operator Domino's Pizza will have a week in early January to consider a new pay deal the company says offers better terms than the current award.

Steinhoff appoints advisers, but says sales are strong

The Asia Pacific arm of stricken South African retail group Steinhoff has moved to reassure the market that it is trading well and is not reliant on its parent company or working capital support.

Fantastic Furniture owner hires advisers

The owner of brands including Freedom Furniture and Best & Less has hired financial advisers specialising in helping distressed companies, but says it remains profitable despite problems at its parent company.

Retail Food Group shares surge on debt deal

​Shares in Retail Food Group have rebounded more than 10 per cent after the embattled franchisor extended the life of $150 million worth of debt facilities to 2020.

Oroton set to be saved as major shareholder's bid accepted

​Oroton's administrator has accepted a purchase proposal from its largest shareholder that will keep the luxury handbag retailer trading and prevent a break-up of the embattled business.

Advertising funds in the franchise sector need closer scrutiny

• COMMENT

Franchisees across the scandal-riddenRetail Food Group are questioning how their advertising dollars are spent.

'Nerve-racking' time for shops as Boxing Day sales tipped to hit $2.4b

Australians are expected to spend a record $2.4 billion on Boxing Day, but bricks-and-mortar retailers are reporting smaller crowds.

Surfstitch CEO leaves troubled retailer

Troubled online sport apparel retailer Surfstitch, which slipped into voluntary administration four months ago, no longer has a chief executive.

This was the best-performing Australian stock this year

Listed electronics retailer Kogan.com was the best-performing stock on the ASX All Ordinaries index in 2017, with an annual gain of more than 300 per cent.

'We worked like slaves and no one cared': 7-Eleven worker

• COMMENT

When 7-Eleven chairman Michael Smith bragged about the lengths the franchise giant had taken to compensate thousands of underpaid foreign workers, he failed to impress underpaid workers Manish and Anshu Mehra.

'Tis the season for desktop shopping

A shift to online shopping has seen Australia Post process a record volume of parcel deliveries this week.

Hole in Donut King owner's earnings could get bigger, analysts warn

The franchisor of the Donut King, Gloria Jean's and Brumby's chains could suffer an even deeper fall in earnings, analysts predict.  

Myer and Ten: 2017's two epic corporate battles

• COMMENT

Myer versus Solomon Lew still has a way to run. CBS versus Lachlan Murdoch and Bruce Gordon for control of Ten Network had the strangest outcome.

Donut King's sharemarket bloodbath as investors bail

• COMMENT

When a company falls more than 55 per cent in 10 days, it speaks volumes about its credibility.

Retail Food Group shares plunge 25% on profit downgrade

The cafe and bakery giant says negative media coverage is making it harder to attract new franchisees or hold onto existing store owners.

'It's like 7-Eleven': underpayment rife at franchise giant

There are claims of rampant underpayment at RFG Group's stable of franchise brands including Gloria Jeans, Crust Pizza, Donut King and Michel's Patisserie.

Apple shoppers go cold on the iPhone X, analyst says

Apple customers seem to be opting for cheaper models of the iPhone, analyst research shows, suggesting that the company failed to cram enough new technologies into the iPhone X to justify the $1,579 price tag.

'Enough is enough': Why Sir Frank Lowy walked away from Westfield

After 57 years as Australia's shopping centre czar, Sir Frank Lowy has opened up about the reasons he is walking away.

BP and Woolworths vow to fight to save $1.8 billion servo sale

BP and Woolworths will fight to keep their $1.8 billion service station sale alive, accusing the ACCC of botching its assessment of the fuel market.

Myer reveals horror start to Christmas sales

Myer says its sales in the first two weeks of December were down 5 per cent on last year. 

Australia's biggest stores are in for jingle hell this Christmas

The weakest run-up to the Christmas sales period in four years and the absence of a "killer gift" could make for an ugly festive season for retailers.

Have $10,000 to burn? Splash out on Star Wars toys

What to do with that reverence for a galaxy far, far away? Well, spend, of course. Now under the auspices of Disney, the latest push for Star War toys is unparalleled.

Frank Lowy unleashes a one man Santa bounce on ASX

Frank Lowy's massive deal will send billions looking for a home.

Retail Food Group's shares plunge to five-year low

Retail Food Group's shares plunged more than 27 per cent hitting a five year low after a Fairfax Media investigation revealed hundreds of Donut King, Brumby's and Gloria Jeans stores were going to the wall as a result of a brutal franchise model.

The rise of the donut king

• UPDATED

Tony Alford first shot to international attention in 1998 over his role in the messy business affairs of Michael Hutchence.

'Don't speak out': franchise giant RFG warns against complaining publicly

Retail Food Group, the franchisor of iconic brands including Brumby's, Donut King and Gloria Jean's, has issued a warning to store owners not to air their complaints in public or risk breaching of their franchise agreement.

Cup of sorrow: the brutal reality of Australia's franchise king

• INVESTIGATION

Julia Banks will never forget the panic attacks. She still finds herself waking up in the middle of the night, heart pounding and mind racing from stress.

Retailers, don't be relieved: Amazon's second act is yet to come

Amazon won't kill Christmas this year for investors in retail stocks, but 2018 could be very different.