First Ever International Franchise Congress Announced

The Quebec Franchise Council (QFC), a non-profit organization representing the franchise industry in the Province of Quebec will be holding its first-ever International Franchise Congress in Montréal in November of 2007.

In order to respond to the needs of the franchise industry and to raise its visibility, the QFC will hold its first International Congress in Montréal, from the 4th to the 6th of November 2007 at the Bonaventure Hilton.

The theme chosen for the Congress: “Conquering new markets, are you prepared to meet the Challenge?” is the result of strategic reflections by key industry players. Since the beginning of 2000, the franchise industry in Quebec has been very stable and franchising as a business model is prospering according to the Quebec Franchise Council (QFC). The presence of strong professional franchise networks, the quality of products and an increasingly qualified labour force contribute to this stability.
However, the QFC believes that the franchisors and their franchises will be challenged in the future as the pool of qualified labour decreases and cost of the resources needed to support their development increases. The franchisor, in addition, will have to be more vigilant in the face of competition and possible foreign acquisitions.
 
This is why franchisors from many nations must now redefine their development efforts. They must either remain a regional brand and become vulnerable to foreign competition, or they must export their concepts and know-how to other markets.

What are the chances of success of your concept abroad? Can you expect to establish partnerships with foreign franchisors? Is there still a place for new franchise concepts in other markets? The conference’s participants will provide answers to these and many other questions. International expansion represents a real challenge for the franchise industry and this Congres will, without any doubt, provide the opportunity for a frank, fertile and open debate among the participants.

We expect that this first Congress will become, for both Montreal and Quebec, the place for an exchange and sharing of knowledge of the franchise industry worldwide.
For more information: www.congresfranchisemontreal.com
Or please contact:

Serge Gravel, Vice-President - QFC - 514 499-8911
Pierre Garceau, General Manager - QFC - 514 219-5652