Organisers of April’s International Franchise Show have hailed this year’s ‘IFA seminar’ a roaring success and have plans to hold it again in 2025.
The seminar, arranged and managed by the International Franchise Association (IFA), was a pre-cursor to the two-day show which took place at London’s ExCeL Centre in Royal Victoria Dock (E16 1XL).
The main focus for the seminar was to encourage greater collaboration between franchise brands in the United Kingdom and United States. Those who attended learned about the opportunities available for franchise development between the two nations.
Delegates, who visited the pre-event seminar, listened intently as officials from franchising giants in both countries discussed the benefits and challenges of cross-pollination between two global markets.
Tom Krouse of Donatos Pizza remarked: “It was next-level collaboration to hold discussions outside of our usual comfort zone. The speakers gave everyone a wholesome view of both markets and an insight into European territories too.”
IFA President and Chief Executive, Matthew Haller, said: “We’ve always had a great relationship with the UK franchising sector, but this first formal event in London truly showed the power of collaboration.
“The energy in the room reflected what we’ve come to expect from such a strong community of business owners and franchise professionals. We’re excited to return next year to London to foster even more partnership and opportunity for growth.”
As for this year’s seminar, the gathering heard from a number of leading franchise executives.
Franchise specialists from the NatWest Bank, Aaron Britton and Peter Howe, led a discussion about funding options; while Alan Greenfield (Greenberg Traurig), Matt Duncombe and Sophie Conroy (both of DLA Piper) tackled the legal implications of entering new markets.
Brands which have already successfully made the leap between the US and UK spoke about their stories, and there was a lively Q&A session with IFA boss Matthew Haller.
Also on the bill was a selection of UK franchising experts. These included Joanna Kurowksa, the Managing Director at IHG Hotels & Resorts; Dan Archer, Chief Executive at Visiting Angels; and John Preston, Managing Director of Mathnasium;
And Scott Gladstone, the President International of Dine Brands, discussed how his company entered the UK market this year. The IFA, which has its head office in Washington DC, has signed a multi-year deal to become the headline sponsor of the International Franchise Show.
In 2025, the event will return to the ExCeL Centre on Friday, April 11th and Saturday, April 12th. This year’s show attracted 11,474 visitors who enjoyed access to over 250 exhibitors and 60 seminars.
About the International Franchise Association: Starting out in 1960, the IFA is the world’s oldest and largest organisation which represents franchising worldwide. Among its members are more than 800,000 franchise establishments, which cumulatively employ approximately 8.7 million people. These companies boost the economic output of the US by around $850 billion annually. This amounts to almost three per-cent of the country’s gross domestic product. IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories.
