The Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) believes that the agriculture industry has the potential to become the next sector for franchising, according to PFA president Sam Christopher Lim.
Lim informed reporters at the Franchise Asia Philippines International Conference that agriculture franchising is expected to gain prominence. He stated that the PFA aims to support agricultural franchises, whether they involve retailers or farm service providers.
Lim pointed out that currently, the percentage of agriculture-related franchises is quite low, representing less than one percent of the total franchises in the country.
However, he mentioned the emergence of new agricultural franchises, citing examples such as agri drones in Davao and feed offerings for pigs.
The PFA aims to assist micro and small enterprises in expanding through franchising.
Lim expressed their intention to identify businesses with good models that can generate profits, regardless of their size. He stated that they are actively seeking such enterprises.
According to Lim, the franchise industry’s growth is driven by healthcare franchises, including dialysis centers, diagnostic clinics, and pharmacies.
However, he emphasized that the food sector remains the leading growth driver in the franchise industry.
Lim projected a revenue growth of 12 percent to 15 percent for the country’s franchising industry this year, as reported by the PFA.
The association believes the international expansion of local brands will be crucial in driving this growth.
The PFA announced its intention to double the number of Philippine franchise brands that have expanded globally to 50.
The Franchise Asia Philippines International Conference, held at the SMX Convention Center in Pasay City, served as the launch event for the Franchise Asia Philippines Expo.
The expo, scheduled for October 27 to 29 at the same venue, is anticipated to be the PFA’s largest and most significant event to date.
With the entire SMX Convention Center Manila dedicated to the event, the Franchise Asia 2023 Expo will showcase around 1,000 local and foreign brands. Known as a platform for the national and global expansion of franchise brands, the expo continues to attract foreign exhibitors and effectively promotes the Philippines as an investment destination.
The expo will feature special zones for emerging franchises, highly franchisable concepts, and micro and small enterprises supported by the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI). It will be an excellent opportunity for entrepreneurs seeking business solutions and service providers.
In addition to the expo, the PFA is set to host the joint meetings of the World Franchise Council (WFC) and Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation (APFC) in Manila in October 2023. The meetings will unite leaders from franchise associations worldwide and provide insights into potential overseas markets for Philippine franchises.
Mr. Jaycee de Guzman is a self-taught agriculturist and the patriarch of Alpha Agventure Farms, the number one backyard farm in the Philippines. His experience in livestock farming is rooted back in the early 90s. Mr. de Guzman is a computer scientist, a digital marketing strategist, an equity analyst for more than 20 years.