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Franchisers to seek opportunities at Shanghai exhibition
By Chen Qide (China Daily Shanghai Bureau)
Updated: 2009-08-21 12:32

An exhibition for international chain stores and franchisers is scheduled to open at the Shanghai International Exhibition Center on September 19, creating a new chance for retailers and franchisers to expand their business.

As one of the largest shows of its kind in China's south, the two-day event will have many branded retailers and franchisers from home and abroad showcase their business, Wang Hongtao, director of the Exhibition and Conference Department of the China Chain Store and Franchise Association, said.

Businesses participating include KFC, Xianzonglin, Little Sheep, Fornet, Yonghe King and Diocoffee. And the Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency is expected to organize 10 Korean famous franchisers to participate in the show, Wang said.

Organizers said many potential investors will visit the show to look into investment opportunities. As an official representative of the retailing and franchise industry in China, the association now has 800 members with 160,000 outlets, including domestic and overseas retailers, franchisers, suppliers and relevant organizations. Total sales of its top 100 members with more than 100,000 outlets exceeded 1 trillion yuan in 2007.

A survey of about 100 franchised members showed a majority of franchisers have an optimistic attitude towards their development in China even under the current recession, according to Wang.

"The business of restaurants and snack chain stores was not influenced much but it was not good to the hotel and home decoration industry," Wang said.

"But many show confidence in their business, thinking that the current recession will bring about a good chance for them to restructure business and give them time to solve problems which have emerged," he added.

Wang said the exhibition will also give businesses room to choose qualified employees and find suitable sites for new outlets.