News
Franchises censure Kall Kwik UK management
Kall Kwik UK is locked in a bitter dispute with the Independent Kall Kwik Franchise Owners Association (IKKFOA) that has led to a vote of no confidence in the management and ownership of the high-street print chain.
The vote was unanimously passed at an IKKFOA EGM, attended by representatives of more than 100 Kall Kwik centres and, although it cannot affect the ownership or management of the franchise, it will do little to improve an already sour relationship.
The problems are understood to have begun in January, when Boundary Capital principal Kealan Lennon was installed as chief executive of On Demand Communications (ODC), which Boundary acquired from Adare in March 2007. He replaced Gary Verity.
Following Lennon’s appointment, franchisee grievances, centred on alleged cost-cutting measures resulting in a drop in service from the franchisor, led IKKFOA to call an EGM for the 24 April, in Solihull.
Other alleged causes for the EGM were a proposed new franchise agreement, described in correspondence seen by PrintWeek as "onerous" by the IKKFOA, and the lack of any dialogue between IKKFOA and either Kall Kwik UK or ODC.
When contacted about the dispute, Kall Kwik UK managing director Mike Dewsbury said: "Kall Kwik is committed to working closely with its franchisees and we maintain a constructive approach to addressing any issues and concerns raised, in order to continually improve the business.
"Our franchisees are our priority, who we meet with on a regular basis to provide ongoing support in order to grow their individual businesses, as well as our wider Kall Kwik network."
In a recent open letter to IKKFOA chairman Richard Adler, a copy of which was anonymously forwarded to PrintWeek, On Demand Communications (ODC) chief executive Kealan Lennon accused Adler of being misleading, unhelpful and counter productive.
He said:" In the context of the misleading and unhelpful correspondence from you and the motions passed at your EGM we [will] not be meeting with the IKKFOA council. We believe that your actions are counter productive to the process of ensuring a continued improvement in the Kall Kwik business."
When contacted by PrintWeek, Adler declined to comment on the dispute.
On Demand Communications
Chief executive Kealan Lennon
Owned by Boundary Capital
Subsidiaries Kall Kwik, Prontaprint
Kall Kwik centres 160
Prontaprint centres 154
Franchisees carried a vote of no confidence in Kall Kwik UK management
Advertisement
Comments
A Prontaprint Franchisee - 16 July 2008
If they think it's bad at Kall Kwik it's even worse at Prontaprint. This article states there are 154 Prontaprint centres - there are less than 146 which is half what Prontaprint used to have a few years ago. They are losing about 15 a year. That's how badly they are managing it!
The franchise has a sour relatationship with a bossy, dictatorial management. There's no proper marketing, they've sacked half the support staff, they can't find buying prospects for centre owners who want to sell up and whenever a centre closes it's never the management's fault - it's "financial mismanagement" by the failed franchisee.
The management should be kicked out of the print industry for bringing it into disrepute!
To post comments please log in here