Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - March, 10, 1999

AAFD Launches Purchasing Co-op

The AAFD's new Purchasing Co-op is now open for business! The benefits of AAFD membership have never been so obvious and tangible . . . and countable in dollars and cents, as in savings and patronage dividends.

The goal of the AAFD Co-op is simple. Bring the power of group purchasing to the benefit of AAFD members. Effect volume pricing for the immediate benefit of members, and develop a stream of rebate revenue that we can return to Co-op members as Patronage dividends to insure our members will find it economically essential to retain their membership in the AAFD and their respective Trademark Chapter or Independent franchisee association.

The Co-op opened for business in late December, 1998, with the announcement of three exciting programs through World Cash Providers: cost effective credit card processing, a very innovative electronic gift/loyalty card program, and a money making Cash Ticket Machine program that can drive new high spending customers to your door. More about these programs in our new Co-op Corner feature which debuts in this issue of the Franchisee Voice.

This month we expect to shock the small business community with the announcement of the AAFD Co-op Long Distance Program, with interstate rates of 71/2 cents per minute, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week! This incredible program offers incredible intrastate rates. For example, in California our members will enjoy rates as low as 4 cents a minute. This program is available through a major international communications company, and is a testament to the potential buying power of the AAFD.

Once fully in gear, we expect that the AAFD Co-op will serve the specific purchasing needs of our member chapters. Already, our GNC Franchisees Chapter has negotiated a dozen programs with vendors of vitamins and nutritional supplements to be sold in our members' stores.

The American Association of Franchisees and Dealers is the oldest and largest direct member non-profit trade association representing the interests of franchisees and independent dealer networks throughout the United States. Stressing market solutions and franchisee empowerment through independent franchisee associations, the AAFD has grown to represent more than 12,000 franchised businesses nationwide.

For more information, contact the AAFD at 800-733-9858, or visit our website.