Gloria Jean’s on the stand for $56 million
The Oxford St Gloria Jean’s outlet could face ruin as a multi-million dollar lawsuit continues.
The Hillsong-affiliated coffee group is facing a massive lawsuit from American-based coffee supplier Western Export Services.
Claiming that Gloria Jean’s parent company, Jireh International, broke a joint venture agreement signed in 1996, WES is pushing for $56 million.
“We are vigorously defending the matter and deny the allegations contained in the claim,” a Jireh International spokeswoman said.
She also denied there were links between individual Gloria Jean’s outlets and the Hillsong Church.
Jireh owners Nabi Saleh and Peter Irvine are both connected with the church, which allegedly encourages reparative therapy for gay people.
But the spokeswoman maintained that there were no financial or legal ties between the coffee houses found throughout Australia and Hillsong — meaning that even if the Oxford St outlet were to close, it might not be a direct win for the GLBT community.
“There is no connection between franchise ownership and church membership,” the spokeswoman said.
“A person’s faith is personal and it is their choice to disclose it to others or not.”
The Oxford St franchise was showing no signs of financial hardship at this point, she added.
At the end of the day Hill song church have their slimy octopus tentacles all over Gloria Jeans.
If you are an atheist like myself, this is a problem.
If the Ceo of Coles was pumping large sums of money into a evangelical church I would not shop at Coles either.
Gloria Jean’s is owned by Jireh International, which is in turn owned and run by Hillsong Church elder Nabi Saleh and high-profile church member Peter Irvine. There are around 500 GJ’s cafes around Australia and another 400 or so around the world, global sales estimated at $500 million a year. Its franchisees not only pay a fee, they are also required to enter into an exclusivity deal that obliges them to purchase all their supplies from Jireh.
In December ‘09, Peter Irvine, former chief executive of Mercy Ministries, along with his fellow directors, admitted to engaging in false, misleading and deceptive conduct as part of an Australian Competition and Consumer Commission investigation into the practices of the Hillsong-connected organisation. They were required to pay $1050 and apologise to each person affected by Mercy Ministries’ conduct. Mercy Ministries closed in October following revelations that it denied its young female residents appropriate medical care – before then, Gloria Jean’s franchisees were required to display a collection box raising money for the ministry on the counter of every store. Now if I remember correctly, Hillsong demands a 10% tithe that’s at least $100 million per year from just Saleh and Irvine isn’t it? Amazing what taxes can be avoided if you donate it all to a religious organisation that pays most of your wages!
ive worked at the gloria jeans oxford street branch for 5 years. our owner now is not even christian. and half our staff are gay. and unlike other gloria jeans we didnt support the christian coin collection others did.
people should just come and meet us. we resent all this anti-gay comments. i pretty much grew up on oxford st.
also i since im from the west i know people from hillsong and they also have gay friends. we’ve talked about it. it’s a matter of “that’s what you believe. this is what i believe.” and they stay friends.
i think there’s been too much judgement being thrown around. closing our store would just mean a bunch of people wont have money to pay rent.
Nice comment Tiger – I am not religious but don’t really get the massive hangups some people have with Hillsong. I think because it’s so big it annoys the media and gets people nervous. Live and let
live- I’m sure if everyone in Sydney went there would be much less
crime and suicide etc, they’re all so positive.
As for Drew’s comment – to us it seems weird yeah, but if you believe in God & that he created everything then it’s not illogical to believe he can do anything he wants including stuff that’s outside the norm yeah? Otherwise why believe in God.
That’s my two cents.
Christians are Crazy…
1)virgin births
2)burning bushes
3)taliking snakes
4)giant arks….just to name a few.
To quote Mark Twain:
“Faith: believing in something you know ain’t so”
And dont get me started on Christian Rock Music they have at Hillsong…eeeeek.
Let’s get some facts correct here. Franchisees pay a fee back to GJ’s of 8%, which is used for Marketing and Support. Yes, the founders would then be paid from this, so the actual percentage they get paid is a very small percentage. Now what anyone does with their own pay, is their business. If they choose Hillsong that is there choice, not the Franchisees choice. I am sure you don’t shop at Woolies or Coles because a manager goes to Hillsong. Because looking at the support Hillsong gets I am sure that someone works at any number of companies. How about you support small business, instead of worrying where people spend their pay.
But according to Four Corners the owner of the group Gloria Geans in Australia is on the Board of Hillsong, and setup Merci Ministries with Hillsong. Until recently at Every coffee shop they had collections for Merci Ministries. Go Youtube them! Interesting.
I would never buy coffee from a shop that funds Hillsong or supports them in any way. I consider them a Hate group.
I guess the present trouble they find themselves in could be called “An act of God”.
Its about time that this coffee joint was exposed for what it is. I contacted the owner of the Oxford Street store some 6-7 years ago about their affiliation with Hillsong – whilst being vague they admitted that they had agreed to fund raise for church ministry events which were later linked to the re-orientation of gay people – I stopped buying coffee there then – don’t forget that the two owners of the company are high up in the Hillsong empire – effectively if they are true to their church’s principles on tithing they will be giving 10% of their profits to the church – guess that works out as 10 cents in every dollar you spend there – with their record regarding our community that works out as about 35 cents for every coffee you drink – mmmm!! doesn’t taste so nice now – perhaps its time to do as I did 6-7 years ago and wander up the road and spend my money elsewhere…..