Who are the franchises and franchisees who have served up excellence in business this year? We take a look at the winners of the PricewaterhouseCoopers Excellence in Franchising Awards 2007.

Glamour and success went hand in hand at Melbourne's Sofitel Hotel which hosted the prestigious Pricewaterhouse Coopers Excellence in Franchising Awards 2007 in early October.

Franchisor of the Year 2007

Retail Franchisor of the Year, Pack & Send, has taken the industry's most coveted title with this award, which is given to one of the three franchisor category winners - Retail. Food. Service. Founded by CEO Michael Paul in 1993, the franchised business provides an easy drop-off delivery service for consumers, ebay buyers and sellers, tourists and backpackers, small businesses and major blue chip organisations including Qantas, Telstra and BHP.

Since its first day of business which notched up a single sale of $2.90 for a cardboard box, Pack & Send has become a national retail network with more than 80 franchised retail outlets generating in excess of $24 million with annual growth rates exceeding 20 per cent.

Other nominees in the retail sector were Caltex, Ella Baché, Hairhouse Warehouse, Howards Storage World, Just Cuts, Kwik Fix and Snap On Tools.

Gloria Jean's Coffees walked away with the Food Franchisor of the Year 2007 accolade, beating fellow nominees Bakers Delight, Boost, Lenards, Red Rooster, Retail Food Group and The Coffee Club. From 2006 to 2007 the coffee business grew its stores by 22 per cent nationally, and 82 per cent internationally and it has been consistently recognized as one of the country's top franchisors.

Quest Serviced Apartments, established as a franchise business 18 years ago by Paul Constantinou, scooped the Service Franchisor of the Year 2007 Award, outclassing ANZ Mortgage Solutions, the Bank of Queensland, Fastway Couriers, Fernwood Women 's Health Clubs, James ' Home Services and Mortgage Choice. Now the brand which markets to the extended-stay corporate traveller counts more than 100 properties across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji.

Commenting on the achievements of the industry, outgoing Franchise Council of Australia CEO Richard Evans said franchising provides enormous social capital to Australia.

"The entrepreneurial spirit Australians are renowned for can be found in the many franchisees and franchisors setting best practice standards. The Excellence in Franchising Awards are a high-quality example of successful Australian small business contributing to a $128 billion sector," Evans said.

Individual recognition

But no franchise business is a success without committed and excellent franchisees driving the business.

Queensland franchisee Andrew Robertson was named the Franchisee of the Year 2007. In the four years Robertson has owned the Spring Hill franchise of Worldwide Online Printing the annual turnover has increased more than four-fold.

Under his leadership, staffing has grown from three to 14 with employees paid on a salary plus profit-share basis resulting in a positive work culture and low staff turnover. Robertson attributes this approach to his successful acquisition of an additional Worldwide Online Printing franchise at Rowes Arcade in July 2007.

Australia's first skincare franchise Ella Baché was also recognised through the achievements of one of the country 's youngest CEOs, Karen Matthews taking the award for Franchise Woman of the Year 2007.

Since joining Ella Baché in 1999, Matthews has been instrumental in establishing Ella Baché's authoritative position today and in January 2007 BRW named the brand as one of the fastest growing franchises of the year, Over the past three years Ella Baché has a recorded revenue growth of 53.56 per cent and annual store growth of 44.12 per cent, with 71 franchises currently in operation, and solid growth forecasting 50 more in three years.

More gongs

Other awards included: Franchise Export Award 2007 taken out by Howards Storage World which has master franchises in Singapore. New Zealand, Spain, the Middle East, Philippines and Ireland.

Franchise Media Campaign of the Year 2007 was awarded to Red Rooster for the 'it's gotta be red' campaign to redefine the brand as a well-recognized, well-liked, relevant and successful Australian brand after years of cut-price retail advertising. Competing for the title were Bakers Delight, Clark Rubber, Fernwood Women's Health Clubs, Hairhouse Warehouse, Hotondo Homes, Mr Rental, Wendy's and 7-Eleven.

Introducing the JBH Essential Hair Education Program to address the skills shortage in hairdressing proved a winner for John Brennan Hair which walked away with the Franchise Innovation Award. Nominees for this category were dog grooming business Aussie Pooch Mobile, the specialist bedding and bedroom furniture retailer Forty Winks, waterless car washing system Ecowash mobile, and candle specialist Paraffine.

For the first time a Judges Recognition Award was announced and this went to Hotondo Homes which established its franchise network in 1993.

Regional awards

Around the country the regional awards had already been celebrated.

Congratulations to all of these winners.

Western AustraliaLinda Steele (CHOOKS fresh & tasty)

PwCWAWoman in Franchising

Steele's franchise career has taken her from major franchised real estate group to Chooks, where she is general manager. In 1997 she started supplying advertising and marketing expertise for Chooks and joined the organisation on a full-time basis four years later. Her initiatives are seen as key reasons for the company~ expansion from 14 stores when she started to the existing 35 stores with more in the pipeline.

Aroma Cafe

PwCWAEmerging Franchise System of the Year

Since its inception in 1996, the family owned and operated Aroma Café has grown to 39 franchised stores in Australia, with three more scheduled to open in this year. A household name in WA, the business puts a big emphasis on both made-to-order meals and coffee quality. It is the largest distributor of Dimattina Coffee in Australia and employs highly trained baristas who have competed nationally and internationally.

Jamie Gant (ANZ Mortgage Solutions)

PwCWAFranchisee of the Year

Like many mortgage brokers, Jamie Gant had been in the banking industry for years before broking, then headed back to banking as a tranchisee. Last year he turned over $lOOm worth of loans, picking up the accolade for national ANZ mobile lender franchise of the year and is currently the franchisee for three ANZ Mortgage Solutions branches in Fremantle, Willeton and Armadale.

South AustraliaVicki Prout (Franchise Alliance)

PwC SA Woman in Franchising Winning this award for the second year, Prout has more than 11 years experience in franchising and marketing, but was appointed Partner of Franchise Alliance, a firm of business development consultants, in July 2007, just three months after joining the company. Previously marketing director at Cartridge World she was responsible for promotion design, and advertising and marketing concepts for franchise sales across South Africa, Asia Pacific and the Middle East.

Wokinabox

PwC SA Emerging Franchise System of the Year

Wokinabox was founded by Adrian Morrissy and the first store opened in August 2002 at Norwood, South Australia and the third store (and first franchise) opened in Adelaide in January 2004.

Since its inception, Wokinabox has consistently sought to sell Asian cuisine with a commitment to healthy food and fast service. Today, there are 34 Wokinabox stores located across Australia and New Zealand serving more than 25,000 customers per week.

Jock Dean (Mr. Carports)

PwC SA Franchisee of the Year

An engineering surveyor by trade, Dean bought his Adelaide Hills Mr Carports franchise in January 2000 after various roles working in IT networking, call centres and a stint as an account manager for NEC in Darwin and Canberra. A 2005 winner of the PwC SA Franchisee of the Year award he is heavily involved in the mentoring program, training a number of new franchisees for up to six months.

Queensland/ Northern Territory Dianne Williams (Lenard 's)

PwC QLD/NT Woman in Franchising

Dianne Williams started her career as a midwife but purchased her first franchise in 1985 with Pizza Hut and became an award winning, and regional best performing, franchisee. She began franchising with Lenard 's in 1994 and she now owns two franchises. Williams founded tundraising initiative Lenard 's Chickadee Chicks, a group that has helped raise funds for the Queensland Cancer Fund and key events such as Relay for Life.

Mr Rental

PwC OLD/NT Emerging Franchise System of the Year

Glen and Kerrianne Hickman moved to Bribie Island in 1983 for the coastal lifestyle and to raise a family; running a local video library and a chicken takeaway. They opened Mr Rental in 1991.

For 10 years they built their business in their local community, developing the Mr Rental systems, and then started franchising.

Now they have more than 50 stores across Australia and New Zealand.

Andrew Robertson (Worldwide Online Printing)

PwC QLD/NT Franchisee of the Year

In 2003, Robertson started a management agreement at the Spring Hill franchise of Worldwide Qnline Printing with an option to buy the business, which he did in September 2003, increasing the annual turnover more than four-fold.

New South Wales/ACT Karen Matthews (Ella Baché)

PwC NSW/ACT Woman in Franchising

Karen Matthews is one of Australia 's youngest female CEOs, leading Australia 's first skincare franchise and she speaks regularly about franchising and business issues.

Ecowash Mobile

PwC NSW/ACT Emerging Franchise System of the Year

Sydney-based Jim Cornish and Stewart Nicholls established Ecowash Mobile in March 2004 as a completely waterless mobile car washing and detailing franchise system. Ecowash Mobile has consistently won awards, including BRW 's Fast Starters ' Top 100 list for Australian companies. The business has 42 Australian franchisees and is now established and operational in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates. Bahrain, Jordan, France and the USA (launching in Greece, March 2008).

Marc and Tania Donohue (Narellan Pools)

PwC NSW/ACT Franchisee of the Year

Marc and Tania Donohue have been the franchisees for Narellan Pools ACT since 2004, have won 18 industry based awards and turnover has increased 177 per cent in three years. The business is now a one stop location including full design and construction of landscaping concepts, The Donahues have been working closely with successful industry groups and government small business authorities on on-going water restrictions and water conservation polices in the region.

Victoria/Tasmania Sadhana Smiles (Hocking Stuart)

PwC VIC/TAS Woman in Franchising

Fijian Sadhana Smiles has worked with real estate agency Hocking Stuart to establish industry-leading standards for managing both the sales and property management divisions of the business, resulting in increased turnover in sales and the number of properties under management. In her spare time, Sadhanna has established a rural, preventative health care clinic, raising funds to fly in specialist doctors, general practitioners and nurses from Australia and the US.

Hairhouse Warehouse

PwC VIC/TAS Emerging Franchise System of the Year Brothers Tony and Joseph Lattouf started Hairhouse Warehouse in 1992 and began franchising in 1998, building their initial three salons into one ot Australia 's fastest growing tranchises, with the most significant growth seen in s are 2006/7 now an average of 45 stores opening annually. Hairhouse Warehouse offers more than 75 I ian brands of professional hair care products under its retail arm, plus in-store hair and beauty services.

Cameron Mactier and Margaret Whelan (Optus World)

PwC VIC/TAS Franchisee of the Year