Expo spotlight on home-grown franchises

THERE has been a surge in the number of home-grown brands taking part in a major franchise exhibition in Bahrain.

The number of Bahraini brands showcasing their products at the second edition of the Bahrain Franchise and Dine Expo jumped from just four last year to more than 20 this year.

Meanwhile, the total number of exhibitors taking part in the expo from the region and around the world has also jumped, from around 60 last year to more than 150 this year.

The expo, at the Crowne Plaza Hotel’s Bahrain Convention Centre, is being held under the patronage of Capital Governor Shaikh Hisham bin Abdulrahman Al Khalifa.

The expo was inaugurated yesterday by Middle East and North Africa Franchise Association (MENAFA) chairman Dr Khalid Al Sharfa in the presence of Capital Deputy Governor Hassan Al Madani, businessmen, ambassadors and guests.

Held under the theme ‘Expand Your Global Footprint in the Middle East’, the exhibition continues until tomorrow, from 10am to 7pm.

“Last year, there were more international brands but this year we see a lot more local brands,” said MENAFA business development manager Prado M.

The expo, organised by MENAFA, presents a unique marketplace for Bahrain’s growing franchise industry and Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs).

It also provides companies with a platform to showcase their products and services to business partners from the dining industry.

“Bahrain’s SMEs Development Society has put forward steps and encouraged more Bahraini home-grown brands to be a part of the exhibition,” he added.

“Last year, we had only four Bahraini brands and more than 60 were international while this year we have more than 20 Bahraini brands and the rest are regional or international.”

Participants are from 17 countries including Bahrain, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, the US, the UK, Bosnia, Italy, Poland and Austria.

Mr Prado said the aim of the expo was to enable SMEs to explore various business prospects, gain knowledge and insights on the latest development and opportunities in the franchise industry regionally and globally.

“We are hoping to get Bahraini entrepreneurs into franchising as we have many home-grown brands that are just lay outs and operating as successful franchise models without their knowledge,” he said.

“We are working closely with Tamkeen and the Bahrain SMEs Development Society to change 10 Bahraini home-grown brands into franchises through this exhibition.”

Workshops, running in parallel with the expo, feature international speakers providing advice and expertise on franchising a business, selecting a consultant, choosing the right furniture for a shop and other topics offered to business owners.

The majority of the booths are dedicated to the food and beverage industry, with service providers and wellness and hospitality taking up the rest.

An awards ceremony will be held to honour home-grown and emerging foreign franchises tomorrow at 6pm at the same venue. The winner will compete in the World’s Best Franchisee Awards to be held in Madrid next month.

Source: http://www.gdnonline.com/Details/429874