Archíve 01.2008

For 2008 KEM organises the KEM World Franchise Exhibition and celebrates its successful 10-year course with a special anniversary edition. The event will be held from the 29th of February to the 3rd of March 2008 in Athens at the HELEXPO EXHIBITION CENTER, 39 KIFISSIAS AVENUE, MAROUSI

Fifty franchises stand as glowing examples of what franchising can achieve, but higher costs and tough competition are making an increasing impact on the model’s success. There are quite a large number of small retailers who have documentation and aspirations for expansion by franchising but most have found it difficult to either secure suitable retail sites or, more frequently, competent franchisees.

The first Figaro's Pizz store planned for the Middle East has opened in Abu Dhabi. Sense Gourmet, a subsidiary of Abu Dhabi-based, Foodco Holding signed an exclusive franchising agreement with Figaro's Pizza in early 2007 to open stores in seven Middle Eastern countries. On Jan. 17, the group opened their first location in the Marina Mall in Abu Dhabi -- the first of four Figaro's Pizza restaurants it will open this year.

As you may well know, Franchise Expo Paris, the international franchise show, works every year in partnership with the French franchise federation to develop franchising, as well in France as in other countries. As a catalyst of growth and place for the exchange of ideas, Franchise Expo Paris offers the perfect environment for investors, franchise candidates and managers to come together.

Aspiring entrepreneurs will benefit from a superb array of business opportunities on offer at The British Franchise Exhibition, taking place at Manchester Central on Friday 25 and Saturday 26 January 2008.

McDonald's Corp.'s global growth plans this year call for $2 billion in capital spending, most of which will go overseas as it shaves U.S. investment. The fast food giant also told an investor conference Wednesday it intends to return between $15 billion to $17 billion to shareholders by the end of next year.

Here's how franchises can offer you a jumpstart toward owning your own business in 2008. It's the time of year for setting goals for 2008 and preparing to start the new year with a big jumpstart of activity toward accomplishing these goals. For many people, these goals include the desire to start their own business and become the master of their destiny, and franchising can fit very well into that picture.

Facing increased competition next year, when the world's biggest coffeehouse chain Starbucks will enter Bulgaria, British rival Costa Coffee has announced on Tuesday plans to boost its presence in the country by opening ten new coffeehouses this year. The chain, which entered Bulgaria at the end of 2006, plans to invest EUR 1,5 M in 2008, the business manager of Coffee Life Ltd., the Bulgarian franchisee of Costa Coffee, Anguel Balabanov told business daily Pari.

Franchise Expo will be held in Paris from 14 to 17 March 2008 and will bring together key players from the franchising and networked commerce industry. Franchise Expo Paris is expected to attract more than 30,000 qualified visitors. Over 400 brands will be represented, stemming from more than 75 different business areas.

Fresissima is among leader companies in Europe for manufacturing and distribution of rotating instruments for dentists and dental technicians. In 2008 the company has increased the possibility for their partners. Fresissima proceeds with the guaranteed profits and protects the entry fees with the formula “black in white”.

InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) has announced the opening of a new Holiday Inn property in Dubai, early this year. The announcement follows a development agreement to build Holiday Inn Bur Dubai, set to open in 2009. The Holiday Inn Dubai Al Barsha and Holiday Inn Bur Dubai properties will be the third and fourth Holiday Inn hotels in the UAE.

A big franchise show opens Friday at the Miami Beach Convention Center offering hundreds of business opportunities for investors.

What would you do if you could have your favorite ice cream with all of the flavor but without all of the calories? There is a healthier version of America’s favorite indulgence, and it has finally made it here from Italy. San Gelato Café has been serving premium gelatos and sorbets with ingredients imported from Italy in the Florida panhandle for over ten years and is now ready to launch the company nationally as a franchise.

Zpizza has signed a master franchise agreement with Bohoor International to bring 34 restaurants to the Middle East, the company has announced. Bohoor International, a private investment and business development company based in Saudi Arabia, expects to open its first zpizza store in Riyadh by fall 2008.

Dixie Lee has announced its Master Franchisee in Dubai will be opening the first of five or more restaurants in Dubai during the third week of January. The first Dixie Lee location is in Deira, Dubai on Dubai Sharjah Road.

Gold's Gym, made famous in the cult film "Pumping Iron" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Lou Ferrigno, plans a major expansion in metro Detroit. Plans are in the works for 20 new locations and at least $40 million in investment, said Keith Albright, director of development for the Dallas-based fitness chain.

THE franchising sector in Wales is continuing to grow and boasts an annual turnover of £510m, according to the latest survey. And according to the research, of NatWest and the British Franchise Association (BFA), UK-wide the industry is now worth a record £10.8bn. Following on from last year’s exceptional performance, the industry has gone on to report steady, stable growth, as the market shows signs of maturity.

American fast-food chain Church’s Chicken plans to cluck its way into Ukraine next year through its Russian franchisee European Active Corporation, which owns franchising rights in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. Church’s Chicken is following in the footsteps of McDonald’s, which has launched 58 restaurants in 16 cities since entering the market in 1997. In recent years, other fast-food chains have tiptoed onto the market. Most recently, in 2006, US-owned pizza chain Sbarro set up shop with two restaurants: one in Kyiv and another in Donetsk.

Organizing the fourth edition of the RoFrancize International Franchise Fair - Bucharest, between the 22nd- 24th of February, within Romexpo Exhibition Center, has proven out to be not only advisable, but also compulsory, due to growing interest in Romania's franchise market, as well as to the success recorded at its second edition.

Turkey is an exciting country for international business enthusiasts. The country is considered one of the fastest growing and most attractive emerging markets in the world with an economy that has, been growing at an average annual rate of 6 percent in the last five years. This positive market reality is supported by a falling inflation rate (around 7 percent) and increasing income per capita ($5,500 as of April 2007).