Global Franchise 10.2

As European franchising meets global standards, one truth stands out: this is not an industry of national champions, but of systems built to scale across borders E U R O P E A N F R A N C H I S E F E D E R A T I O N hen Europe’s franchise community gathered in Brussels for the 2025 European Franchise Awards, sponsored by CMS Francis Lefebvre, it wasn’t just another black-tie event, but a reflection of how far the sector has come, and where it’s heading next. The night revealed an industry that’s moved beyond counting locations and into a new era of systems, scalability, and cross- border cohesion. Across every category, the message was clear: Europe’s franchise market is maturing fast. The 2025 shortlist traced a map of Europe’s business frontier, stretching from Finland’s Alina and the UK’s Right at Home to Croatia’s Tinker Labs and Italy’s Fortidia. These aren’t just successful domestic operators; they’re mature brands fluent in cross-border growth and adapting their models to new cultures and regulations without losing their identity. Franchisee finalists told a similar story on the ground, with the awards spotlighting operators who excel not just in sales or service, but in translating brand systems into consistent, high-quality local execution. In Europe’s connected marketplace, that balance between consistency and local nuance is fast becoming the gold standard of franchise excellence. And for emerging brands such as X’PERT IMPACT (France), Zorgmaatje aan Huis (Netherlands) and Canopy Nurseries (UK), the recognition carried a different weight. It signaled that in 2025, youth isn’t a disadvantage – not if a brand model is tight, its systems disciplined, and its scalability proven. The Emerging Brand category does not merely hint at future promise but showcases the next generation of well-structured challengers. Even the Services to Franchising category, featuring suppliers like MCR Retailminds (Netherlands) and Stevens & Bolton (UK), highlighted a critical fact: Europe’s franchise landscape is not driven solely by brand expansion, but by the infrastructure, technology, W INSIGHTS INTO THE EUROPEAN FRANCHISE AWARDS 2025 “The next chapter of European franchising will be defined by great systems, smart networks, and strong foundations” Big winners: Right At Home (UK), Franchisor of the Year 2025 38 GLOBAL FRANCHISE Issue 10.2