Global Franchise 9.1

round 11,000 people descended upon the London Excel Centre across two days in April 2024. They were there to visit the 250+ franchises exhibiting their latest investment opportunities as well as listen to more than 60 seminars which aimed to shed light on how to make a franchise business model successful from day one. This is the not the first year that the International Franchise Show has taken place, but it was by far the most significant. The backing of the International Franchise Association (IFA) has provided additional clout to the event, and as well as raising a few eyebrows from national organizations that have previously exclusively occupied the exhibitor scene, its credibility encouraged more than 50 global players to exhibit in the U.K. For potential investors, particularly those who are hoping to purchase master or area development franchise agreements, the IFA’s weight was beneficial in creating more choice and brand comparison opportunities. This was evident from where the crowds began to cluster on the day, and a notable favorite was clearly the QSR brands on offer – particularly those looking to capture new markets across Europe, South America, Africa, the Middle East, and beyond. However, more unique brand offerings also managed to galvanize a large volume of enquiries. “It was a record for us in terms of people signing up for one of our upcoming discovery days,” confirms Tim Slesinger, CEO at easyStorage – a franchise under the Easy group which specializes in smart storage solutions. A KEY INSIGHTS: INTERNATIONAL FRANCHISE SHOW 2024 GLOBAL-FRANCHISE.COM 49 With the International Franchise Association on board as a strategic partner, London’s IFS was a record-breaking event BY MOLLY RAYCRAFT