StarDev Managing Director Christian TC Tuercke visited the Saudi Franchise Expo from January 27th to 29th. Read about his experience in his own words:
Attending the Saudi Franchise Expo once again has been an exceptional experience. The hospitality and courtesy shown here are truly outstanding. While modern franchising has its roots in the U.S., it’s clear that this business model transcends borders, thriving across cultures and languages.
As with last year, the balance between international and regional concepts is perfect, sparking many fascinating conversations. It’s also incredibly rewarding to reconnect with familiar faces.
For instance, I first met Walter Vendel founder of fit20 | Fit in 20 minutes per week at the SFE exactly one year ago. Now, we greet each other as partners with a shared vision for the German and Austrian markets. fit20 is a leader in the Netherlands for microstudios, with an impressive network of over 160 franchise-operated locations.
It was equally delightful to catch up with our friends Massimo Barbieri and Marco Basile two outstanding franchise experts from Italy. While Italy is renowned for its incredible cuisine, it’s becoming increasingly clear that it’s also home to a growing number of innovative and emerging franchise brands—a trend worth watching closely.
I was also happy to see Sean T Ngo from Top Franchises for Asia and MENA again. Our paths have crossed at franchise shows around the globe, starting with our first meeting in Vietnam. As the co-founder of VF Franchise Consulting, Sean is a true specialist in franchising across Asia, representing a diverse range of international brands.
Another great reunion happened with long-term fellow colleague Mahmoud Chahrour former Subway Middle East Director. Mahmoud is dedicating his full attention now to his projects Piri Piri Chicken Canada and Signature Juices G.C.C. After so many years, it was amazing to meet him again and discuss with him the Franchising chances and challenges in the Middle East.
A heartfelt “shukran” to the organizers for another fantastic event. Looking forward to seeing everyone again next year!