Failing to keep an updated profile on the Franchise Disclosure Register has cost Luxottica Franchising Australia $19,800. It paid the penalty after the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission issued it with an infringement notice.
The register provides prospective franchise buyers, existing franchisees and professional advisers information about franchise systems.
Luxottica, the franchise operator for the OPSM and Laubman & Pank brands, has 21 franchisees and 387 franchisor-owned or operated units in Australia. It allegedly breached the Franchising Code of Conduct by failing to update its profile by May 2025.
ACCC deputy chair Mick Keogh said “We are pleased Luxottica is now compliant and has reviewed its internal processes to avoid future oversight.
“Failure to update the register compromises transparency and may mislead prospective franchisees, so all franchisors should be aware of their obligations to comply with the Code and update their profiles annually with accurate information.”
Keogh said the ACCC will continue to search for franchisors who fail to meet their Code obligations and take enforcement action where appropriate.
In 2018 Luxottica provided a commitment to the ACCC to be more transparent about the structure and operation of its franchise system to franchisees, after an ACCC investigation found Luxottica’s marketing fund financial statement and disclosure document were unlikely to comply with the Franchising Code of Conduct.
