Food & Beverage and retail remain top franchise sectors for Middle East
This year’s Franchising Middle East (FME 2009) exhibition saw 72 brands from around the world promoted to the Middle East market as entrepreneurs offered up business opportunities to local investors.Brands from 22 countries visited the Dubai exhibition, which took place at Dubai International Exhibition Centre in March. New food concepts were among the many product offerings on display at the trade fair, which welcomed over 3,000 visitors.
‘Food is always a strong franchise market. There are no limits to our appetite for new food concepts,’ said Mathew Shay, president and CEO of the International Franchise Association (IFA), in Dubai for the FME show.
A number of new to market food & beverage options debuted at the show, including Pizza Conez from Egypt
London Dairy, Cremeria Vienna and Subway also used the show to increase their Middle East presence.
Retail fashion brands also had a presence at the show with Germany’s Franchise Pool International showcasing casual clothing brand Tom Tailor for the first time.
‘The Middle East is one of the new big markets we see because we are in the mid-price level and see a lot of potential clientele in this region,’ said Rolf G. Kirst of Franchise Pool International.