COFFEE REPUBLIC - about to boil in 2006?

Apologies for the name slip, it was the cockney that threw me!! I understand your logic with 4 franchisees signed up already, but it does beg the question; why cannot CFE make a profit with their new format themselves? As you are aware CFE has never made a profit in its entire history and that must be a bit of a dampener for propective franchisees. I understand the franchise business model, but the successful ones are invariable linked to a company which has shown consistent, demonstrable profits. You have made some calls in the past and I agree with your enthusiasm on the MACF thread, but I cannot see the future in backing this one. I will probably be proved wrong.