Content area
Full Text
It must be best part of 18 months since I last visited Glyn Jones, managing director of Swinton Insurance, in Stockport. Some fundamental changes have gone on during that time, so it was opportune for me to make another trip last month to find out all about it.
Franchising is now a distant memory at Swinton. At one time, it was all the rage, with as many franchise operations opening as new branches. Then, in November 1997, the decision was taken to withdraw from franchising, following which offers were made to all franchisees for the unexpired terms of their agreements and to acquire their businesses.
Offers were accepted by 32 out of 75, but the rest formed an action group to challenge Swinton's legal right to withdraw from franchising and not to renew agreements.
Finally, that action has now been decided in the High Court and agreements have been reached to acquire the businesses of the remaining franchisees.
That is one chapter that is now closed in the Swinton story book, and one result is that Glyn Jones and his executive colleagues now have a unified...