Maydonik wouldn't guarantee the new owner would fulfil existing Nutri-Lawn contracts. "The new party will most likely fulfil the commitment of service," Maydonik said. "I can't guarantee it because it'll be on the shoulders of that party."
The London Free Press
June 15, 2000
Nutri-Lawn franchise in limbo
Joe Paraskevas
One of the area's largest lawn-care companies is in limbo, but at least one competitor says it will help out those whose contracts remain unfulfilled. Several other London lawn-care companies say they received calls in the last two weeks from clients of Nutri-Lawn Ecology Friendly Lawn wondering why they couldn't reach the company and hadn't received service.
Nutri-Lawn International Inc. president Larry Maydonik said yesterday from Toronto the company is "in the position of changing over the management of that operation."
The London and St. Thomas franchises have been owned for five years by Richard and Glenna Tighe of Mt. Brydges, but Richard Tighe said yesterday he was selling the businesses "as a result of a divorce."
The phone numbers for the two franchises had been disconnected, but yesterday afternoon, calls to the London number were forwarded to the Woodstock Nutri-Lawn franchise.
"The phone lines were not answered for a brief period," Tighe said. "We got to a stage where we were overwhelmed with some things. We're one of the top five lawn-care providers in London."
Maydonik wouldn't guarantee the new owner would fulfil existing Nutri-Lawn contracts.
"The new party will most likely fulfil the commitment of service," Maydonik said. "I can't guarantee it because it'll be on the shoulders of that party."
“That's my intention at this point," Tighe said when asked if he would oblige the new franchisee to honour existing contracts.
The Woodstock Nutri-Lawn franchise was inundated with calls from London yesterday.
"I just volunteered my time to answer the phone for a couple of days," Woodstock franchisee Jordan Lavin said, adding he had received about 40 calls by mid-morning.
Lavin was afraid the customer concerns about Nutri-Lawn would affect his own business.
"We're up to date with our service here," he said.
News of Nutri-Lawn's London franchise wasn't a surprise to some competitors.
Superior Lawn Care Inc. president Bill Graham and Great Lakes Lawn Spray Inc. president Henry Valkenburg said they would honour the pre-paid contracts of Nutri-Lawn's existing customers.
"If they somehow show proof of payment, we'll honour it," Valkenburg said, estimating there were as many as 800 affected Nutri-Lawn customers. "I don't want to step on anybody's toes. I just want to protect my territory."
The Firewood People, another business the Tighes ran, had the same number as the Nutri-Lawn London office. Richard Tighe said that business would continue, but did not provide a new phone number.
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