50 foreign brands to seek Philippine partners this June

MANILA, Philippines – About 50 foreign companies are coming to the Philippines next week to look for local partners that will further expand their brands, the chairman emeritus of the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) said.

PFA Chairman Emeritus Samie Lim said Thursday, June 4, that “around 50 international franchisors will join the Franchise Asia Philippines 2015 this June 12 to June 14.”

Franchise Asia Philippines 2015 – which PFA claimed to be the world’s largest franchise expo – will be held on June 12 to 14 at the SMX Convention Center in Manila.

“Businessmen will converge  to explore and discuss the various potentials and opportunities offered by an increasingly integrated global economy,” Lim said.

Among the 50 foreign brands, according to Lim, are Australian Just Cuts, 9 Round Fitness, Bennigan’s, Buca di Beppo, Earl of Sandwich, Fast Signs, Jani-Pro, Joe’s Crab Shack, Jump Bunch, Millennium Dance Complex, Park Lane Jewelry, Renue Specialized Cleaning Services, Snap Fitness, and Zambrero Mexican Restaurants.

Indonesian brands seeking local partners are Nakamura Healing, Macsauto Indonesia, Griya Farma, Bakso Cak To, Royal Tea Roci, PT Citra Inovasi, and PT Kuliner Nusantara Sejahtera Indonesia (Sour Sally & Aussy Burger).

Lim also said that Singaporean brands, such as Glides, Pezzo, Gameware, Subway, Bizlink and Asiawide, will also attend the Franchise Asia Philippines 2015 expo in Manila.

“Many international brands from the US, Canada, Thailand, Hong Kong, Macau, Myanmar, Singapore are coming here to look for master franchisees,” Lim said.

Master franchisees have control over franchising activities of a brand in a specified territory.

For example, the local operations of American Shakey’s Pizza is being held by executive-vice president and chief operating officer Vic Gregorio, which is the master franchisee of the pizza parlor in the Philippines.

PFA President Franklin Go said that as the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) integration kicks in by yearend, there will be a lot of opportunities Filipino franchisees and franchisors can enter and explore.

“This is a testing ground for us and for other ASEAN members to explore the region and then go beyond,” Go said.

Globally, there are more than 290 outlets of 14 local brands in 18 countries, Go said. “And moving forward, we see this number growing.”

PSA Chairman Emeritus Lim said that his organization sees a 60% growth in number of franchisees in the Philippines this year.

“Right now, we have 1,470 franchisees. We see this growing by 60% this year, because more foreign brands are coming in and there is an expected increase in spending during the election season,” he added. – Rappler.com