The fourteenth edition of the Franchising Trade Fair, Expofranquicia '08, organised by Ifema, took place between 22nd and 24th May last at Feria de Madrid, achieving some highly favourable results and welcoming almost 15,000 professionals, who revealed a strong knowledge and awareness of this economic sector. Throughout the fair's three-day duration, the fair organisers witnessed a generally high level of satisfaction regarding the dynamic trade activity at the event and the large number of contacts that were established. Once again this year, the fair presented one of the leading trade showcases for the franchise sector.
The strong level of business participation also confirmed the favourable progress that this fair has made in recent years. In effect, Expofranquicia2008 once again attracted the attention of professionals and investors interested in this type of trade, presenting one of the most important business forums of its kind in Europe. This edition recorded a series of record results: 279 exhibitors, 300 franchises and a net exhibition area measuring some 7,000 square metres.

 The majority of the participants agreed that the event had surpassed all expectations, based on a highly favourable business climate. This contradicted the initial predictions, which had been based on the generally sluggish performance of the Spanish economy and, in particular, the performance of certain sectors of the economy such as financial services and property services. Furthermore, we might highlight the high decision-making power and high professional stature of the 14,206 visitors recorded at Expofranquicia '08. These professionals attended the fair from every part of Spain, with the largest groups, in order of importance, coming from Madrid, Andalusia, Castile-La Mancha, Castile-Leon, Catalonia and Valencia.

Another outstanding characteristic of the fair was the high level of foreign participation, an aspect that strengthens the event's increasingly high prestige on the international fair circuit. Specifically, the fair featured some 22 foreign companies from 10 different countries: Germany, Andorra, Brazil, the USA, France, Italy, Mexico, the Netherlands, Portugal and Romania. Furthermore, the fair welcomed visitors from 28 different countries, the largest groups, in order of importance, attending the event from Portugal, Italy, France, Venezuela, Mexico and Argentina. In particular, we might mention the fact that numerous exhibitors declared that they had made some excellent trade contacts with foreign professionals. 

In addition, a series of activities were organised within the framework of the fair, based on the participation of various trade sector associations from different countries. Specifically, the Brazilian Franchise Association, ABF, presented a series of Brazilian franchises that were interested in the Spanish market. For its part, the Business Department of the French Embassy, in collaboration with the French Franchise Federation, organised an informative seminar. In fact, the general level of satisfaction achieved by this seminar led the French Trade Office to announce that it would be attending the next edition of Expofranquicia as well. The Mexican consultants, Alcázar y Aranday highlighted the opportunities for expansion that exist within the Mexican and Central American markets. For its part, the Spanish Foreign Trade Institute, ICEX, summoned a meeting in order to analyse the situation regarding franchises in Russia and Vietnam, an event that enjoyed considerable success.

The segment that aroused the greatest level of interest among visitors to Expofranquicia '08 was the travel agency segment. Professionals also revealed a strong interest in the following fields: consultancy services, photography, ice-cream parlours, cosmetics / beauty care and hotel and catering, among others. Nevertheless, the fair featured representation of practically every type of business based on the franchise formula.

The commercial success of Expofranquicia reflects the favourable climate that currently exists within the franchise sector. According to the report entitled "Franchising in Spain 2007", produced by the Spanish Franchisers Association, AEF, the franchise system achieved a turnover in Spain last year of 24,676,923 euros, which represents growth of 5% compared to the year 2006 and testifies to the good health of this business sector. 

With regard to the most prominent segments that make up the franchise industry, food and catering play the leading role in terms of their levels of business turnover. The property sector also plays a prominent role within the franchise sector, having maintained the 41 franchises that were operating at the end of the year 2006, although the number of existing outlets has fallen by 656.

The trade exhibition itself was complemented by the Second Madrid Franchise Forum, which was attended by almost one thousand visitors. This meeting promoted training and consensus among franchise professionals and also provided useful guidance to those individuals interested in entering this business activity. These Conferences, which were organised by the fair and by Mundo Franquicia Consulting, featured the participation of a number of experts from the sector, thus offering a faithful picture of the current sate of the industry.  

Following the excellent results achieved at this edition, the Franchising Trade Fair, EXPOFRANQUICIA, has already begun preparing for its fifteenth edition, which will take place between7th and 9th May 2009 at Feria de Madrid.