The 14th IFE – International Franchise Expo starts Friday, April 8, at the Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C. The expo, which runs through April 10, will have as one of its main highlights the Brazil Pavilion.
This is a pioneering initiative of the ABF – Brazilian Franchising Association and the Brazilian Government through APEX – Brazilian Export Promotion Agency, seeking to support the international spread of Brazilian franchising chains.
Visitors to the Brazil Pavilion at the expo will learn about eight Brazilian chains wishing to set up or expand business in the United States.
At the ABF booth, visitors can also get more information about the Brazilian franchising market, which presently holds 3rd place worldwide, behind only Japan and the United States.
The 14th IFE – International Franchise Expo is the second stop for this group of entrepreneurs, who were just in Mexico at the beginning of March.
Along with the ABF and APEX, they will invest about US$ 700 thousand over two years in the marketing, diffusion, and insertion of Brazilian brands in overseas markets.
Three other international events are included in the group’s plans. The forecast is for more than US$ 5.3 million in exports by the end of 2006.
Franchises that will be showing their brands at the 14th IFE – International Franchise Expo at the Brazil Pavilion are: Vivenda do Camarão, Wizard, Golden Services, Livraria Nobel, Movimento, Carmen Steffens, Showcolate, and Bon Grillê.
Most Brazilian chains hope to secure partners in the United States who will work as master franchises, that is, partners who can guarantee brand expansion throughout the Americas. Others, who already operate in the country, seek to secure new partners.
According to ABF Executive Director Ricardo Camargo, Brazilian franchising is recognized worldwide for its creativity and standard of quality.
“Several Brazilian franchises already operate successfully in Mexico, the United States and several European countries. Through this project we hope to facilitate the advance of other Brazilian companies into foreign markets,” he said.
Franchising in Brazil
Domestic franchising ended 2004 with total sales of US$ 12 billion. In 2003, sector sales totaled US$ 11 billion and in 2002, US$ 10 billion.
The system employs some 530,000 throughout Brazil and creates approximately 30,000 new jobs a year. It is the system that also invests the most in employee training. Presently 678 brands operate in the country, of which 90% are truly Brazilian.
The ABF – Brazilian Franchising Association, is a non-profit organization set up in 1987 to market, defend and promote the technical and institutional development of the business model called Franchising, or “Franquia” in Portuguese.
In this capacity, it brings together all parties involved in franchising – franchisors, franchisees, consultants, and service providers – to guarantee and disseminate good franchising practice in Brazil and abroad.
Service
14th IFE – International Franchise Expo
Date: April 8, 9 and 10, 2005
Place: Washington Convention Center, Washington
http://www.franchiseexpo.com/
For more information about the ABF http://www.abf.com.br/abf.com.br/abfint/sistema/site.asp?pnCdMenu=4&pnCdIdioma =2
For more information about Franchising in Brazil, with growth data by segment http://www.abf.com.br/abf.com.br/abfint/sistema/site.asp?pnCdMenu=3&pnCdIdioma =2
For more information about chains taking part in the project http://www.abf.com.br/abf.com.br/abfint/sistema/site.asp?pnCdMenu=1&pnCdIdioma =2
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