Gloria Jean's

OVERALL
Owned	AUS
Rating

Coffee retailer

Over 800 stores in 39 countries (470 stores in Australia), mostly franchises. Previously owned and run by senior members of the Hillsong Church in Australia, who are still involved in the running of the company. Acquired by Retail Food Group in Oct 2014.

Company Ownership

Gloria Jean's Coffees International Pty Ltd	AUS	website	email
Retail Food Group Ltd       owns 100% of Gloria Jean's Coffees International Pty Ltd	AUS	website	email	facebook
Retail food franchising One of Australia's largest retail food brand managers, franchisors and wholesale coffee roasters. RFG owns the Donut King, Brumby's Bakery, Michel's Patisserie, bb's cafe, Esquires, The Coffee Guy, Pizza Capers Gourmet Kitchen and Crust Gourmet Pizza franchise systems. Acquired Cafe2U and Gloria Jeans in 2014.

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Company Assessment

PRAISE	CRITICISM	INFORMATION
Gloria Jean's Coffees International Pty Ltd
Australian Packaging Covenant signatory Signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant, a voluntary agreement to encourage waste minimisation. [Source 2017][More on Packaging]		Sponsorship of Mercy Ministries In 2009 Mercy Ministries admitted it had engaged in false, misleading and deceptive conduct by wrongly claiming their residential care programs were free and included support from psychologists, dietitians, general practitioners and counsellors. The admission was part of an ACCC ruling, after an 18-month investigation into complaints from former residents who were forced to undergo exorcisms and use prayer to treat serious health problems such as bipolar disorder and anorexia. The ACCC ordered the former directors (including Gloria Jean's co-founder Peter Irvine) to pay $1050 to each of the 110 young women who took part in their programs from January 2005 to June 2008. Mercy Ministries was sponsored by Gloria Jean's and advertised in Gloria Jean's cafes around Australia. This sponsorship was withdrawn in 2009. [Source 2009][More on Human Rights] Rainforest Alliance certified products This company sells Rainforest Alliance certified coffee. However this only represents a fraction of this company's total coffee sales. Rainforest Alliance certification has been dubbed 'Fairtrade light' by critics, as it offers producers no minimum price for their crop, and guarantees a minimum of just 30% of the product is certified. [Source 2012][More on Eco-Certification] Political Boycott The "Boycott Gloria Jeans" website was started in June 2012 in response to relevations that Gloria Jeans donated $30,000 to the Australian Christian Lobby in the lead up to the 2010 federal election, when the ACL was lobbying the government to oppose same sex marriage. [Source 2012][More on Politics]
Retail Food Group Ltd
		Carbon tax price rise suggestion In July 2012 the Retail Food Group was forced to issue a prompt apology after its managing director, Deane Priest - who has since resigned - wrote to Brumby's franchisees suggesting they lift their prices and 'let the carbon tax take the blame'. Brumby's escaped a hefty fine when the ACCC accepted a court-enforceable undertaking from Retail Food Group that it would not engage in similar conduct in the future. [Source 2012][More on Governance] Pending class action A third law firm is preparing to launch a class action against this company for its failure to disclose troubles within its franchise network. Retail Food Group's market value more than halved in December 2017 when media reports of mistreatment of franchisees were first published. [Source 2018][More on Governance] Environmental claims This 2011 press release from Retail Food Group outlines their environmental initiatives and 'Green Protocols', which aim to reduce their environmental footprint. [Source 2011][More on Environmental claims]

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Company Details

Contact Details

Products / Brands

Gloria Jeans some products Rainforest Alliance certified  Coffee

Related News

Retail Food Group buys Gloria Jeans
27th Oct 2014 — Retail Food Group (RFG) bought Gloria Jean's for $163.5 million in Oct 2014. RFG is one of Australia's largest retail food brand managers, franchisors and wholesale coffee roasters. RFG owns the Donut King, Brumby's Bakery, Michel's Patisserie, bb's cafe, Esquires, The Coffee Guy, Pizza Capers Gourmet Kitchen and Crust Gourmet Pizza franchise systems.  [source]

Gloria Jeans acquired by Singapore's Global Yellow Pages
20th Dec 2013 — Gloria Jean's Coffees announced on 20 December its proposed acquisition by Singapore headquartered and SGX listed Global Yellow Pages Limited (GYP). GYP's acquisition of Gloria Jean's Coffees, including all "Gloria Jean's Coffees" and "It's A Grind" intellectual property, the global supply chain operations, and the master franchisor business for all Gloria Jean's Coffees coffee houses world-wide, will provide significant funding and resources for its continued global expansion with a focus on Asia, especially China, the company said in a statement.   [source]