Michel's Patisserie
Kitchener bun from Michel's Patisserie in Adelaide | |
| Founded | 1988 |
|---|---|
| Founder | Noel Roberts and Noel Carroll |
| Defunct | 2025 |
| Headquarters | Sydney, Australia |
Number of locations | 360 in Australia, New Zealand, Indonesia, China |
| Products | |
| Parent | Retail Food Group |
| Website | www |
Michel's Patisserie was an Australian chain of bakery-style food outlets selling cakes, pies, savouries and coffees.[1][2] The company was a franchise system that was founded in 1988 and had over 90 retail outlets in all Australian states and territories except for Tasmania and Western Australia.[2][3] The chain employed approximately 4,000 staff and served approximately 36 million cups of coffee and 9.5 million slices of cake each year. It was the largest pastry chain in Australia.[4] In 2016, Michel's Patisserie Toronto was judged to be National Retail Association Supreme Retailer of the Year.
The Michel's Patisserie franchise network was owned and managed by Retail Food Group (RFG), which also manages Gloria Jean's Coffees, Brumby's Bakeries and Donut King.[5]
In February 2025, RFG announced the remaining 19 stores would be closed or converted to Gloria Jean's Coffees or Donut King locations, ending the 45 years of operation.[6]
History
Michel's Patisserie was founded by Noel Carroll and Noel Roberts in 1988. Their business model involves a central bakery that bakes products and distributes the products to outlets on a daily basis.[2] The retail outlets act as points of sale, from where customers may purchase the products on display.[2] After two years of research into all facets of the concept, distribution, store design and layout, marketing and training, the model was tested under full market conditions in stores located in Castlecrag and Newport before being launched as a franchise in 1990. The franchise reportedly won the 2007 Churner of the year award. In February 2006, Michel's Patisserie conducted a management buyout and merged with its master franchisee in Queensland and Victoria to create a single national franchise business.
The original Michel's Patisserie was started in Sydney by French chef Michel Cattoen and his wife Elisabeth in 1980.[7]
In 2015 and 2016, the company switched to supplying frozen cakes instead of fresh cakes to franchisees leading to a decline in product quality.[8]
Controversy
In December 2022, the Australian Competition & Consumer Commission won a civil court case against RFG resulting in Michel's Patisserie and Gloria Jean's franchises receiving repayments and debt erasures totalling $10 million as part of a settlement relating to allegedly illegitimate marketing expenses and allegedly being sold loss-making shops.[9]
See also
References
- ^ Hatch, Patrick (21 June 2017). "Shares in Brumby's and Gloria Jean's Coffees owner dumped over profit downgrade". Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ a b c d Van der Wagen, L.; Goonetilleke, A. (2015). Hospitality Management, Strategy and Operations. Pearson Australia. p. 561. ISBN 978-1-4425-4356-0. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Balmer, C. (2014). Expandable Brands: A Guide to Growing Business Locations While Protecting Your Brand. BookBaby. p. 107. ISBN 978-0-9925060-9-4. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Cassidy, Tara (29 September 2017). "REVEALED: 15 new businesses coming to Mackay". The Courier Mail. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ Varma, S. International Business. Pearson Education India. p. pt220. ISBN 978-93-325-0024-2. Retrieved 27 November 2017.
- ^ "Last remaining Michel's Patisserie stores to shutter after 44 years". www.9news.com.au. 11 February 2025. Retrieved 12 February 2025.
- ^ "Chef introduced his duck pie and fine French cuisine to Sydney". Sydney Morning Herald. 14 August 2018.
- ^ Norris, Glen (11 February 2025). "RFG to axe Michel's cafe brand after class action settled". The Australian. Retrieved 19 October 2025.
- ^ Sibthorpe, Clare (23 December 2022). "Retail Food Group to pay $10m in repayments and debt erasing to Michel's Patisserie, Gloria Jeans". News.com.au. Nationwide News. Retrieved 6 August 2023.