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The Macao Franchise Expo 2019 (2019MFE) was held at The Venetian Macao from 26 to 28 July. The exhibition attracted nearly 180 exhibitors from 11 countries and regions including Mainland China, Brazil, Portugal, Japan, Vietnam, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan. This year’s MFE was the 11th edition.
The exhibition area covered 6,000 square metres and contained 200 booths, displaying a vast array of offerings of enterprises engaging in the food and beverage, retailing, brand agency, consulting and education businesses.
The 2019MFE was organised jointly by the Macao Trade and Investment Promotion Institute (IPIM), the Macao International Brand Enterprise Commercial Association, the Macao Chain Stores and Franchise Association, the Brazilian Franchise Association (ABF), the Association of Chain and Franchise Promotion Taiwan and the Licensing and Franchising Association of Hong Kong. The event was supported by the China Chain-Store and Franchise Association and the Japan Franchise Association.
The Global Association of the Exhibition Industry (UFI) made the MFE one of its approved events in November 2018, which meant the expo was the first franchising exhibition in Greater China to gain UFI approval. UFI’s approval is significant in many aspects, since it represents the recognition of the expo’s internationalisation, professionalism and branding operation.
The organisers say the MFE this year drew about the same number of visitors as the previous year’s edition. More than 180 business-matching sessions were held during the three-day event and 12 agreements were signed, involving co-operation in the industries of food, healthy drinks procurement, brand agency and strategic collaboration.
Following the announcement of a development plan for a city cluster in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the 2019MFE gave special emphasis to the development of the Greater Bay Area. The exhibition featured a Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area Business Zone, and the organisers arranged a tour in Macao and Zhongshan for delegates attending the expo with the aim of enhancing the regional co-operation of the Greater Bay Area.
The “Portuguese-speaking Countries Pavilions” at this year’s MFE was expanded, so Macao could better perform its function as a Commercial and Trade Co-operation Service Platform between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries. More than 20 Portuguese and Brazilian exhibitors were invited to the 2019MFE.
This year’s MFE continued to be held at the same time as the 2019 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair. In a bid to maximise the efficiency of the event, the organisers continued to organise guided tours to Macao’s communities and retail markets for exhibitors and delegates. Such tours allowed participants to gain first-hand market information by directly meeting industrial and commercial associations and local retailers, and to explore fresh opportunities in the communities. In addition, some delegates also took part in a visit to Zhongshan, in Guangdong province, in order to gain insight into the city’s business environment and to meet with some of the successful local chain enterprises and get to know some of Macao’s young entrepreneur projects which have gained a foothold in that city.
Finance joins innotech
The Forum on Chain and Franchise Business Opportunities of International Brands opened on the first day of the 2019MFE, bringing together representatives of trade associations, enterprises and financial institutions in Mainland China, Portugal, Brazil, Japan, Singapore and Macao. The speakers gave insights under the theme of “Financing Analyses – Financing Strategy for Franchising Business”.
Another session of the forum featured the theme “Harnessing Innovation and Technology for Development and Branding”. Representatives from newly established and innovation-driven enterprises related their experiences to the audience.
The organisers said more than 410,000 people watched the live streaming of the forum sessions.
One of the keynote speakers of the forum, Mr Bruno Amado, International Project Manager of Brazilian Franchise Association, said: “Macao’s Portuguese language platform makes it easier for Brazilian companies to enter the Asian market. Many representatives of companies from Portuguese-speaking Countries gather at this expo, which greatly enhances commercial exchanges among countries, and also with Macao.”
Mr Amado added that a number of Brazilian companies were taking part in the 2019MFE, and that representatives of these companies attended business-matching sessions meant to put them in touch with companies in Macao and other places.
Barra Creative Technology and Design Ltd., a company that sells services related with augmented reality (AR) technology, was invited to the innotech session of the forum. Mr Kammy Cheong, General Manager of
Barra Creative Technology and Design, said the Macao SAR Government and other sectors support young entrepreneurs and innovation to a considerable extent, which enabled his company to grow effectively.
“We provide customised AR interactive education for companies to make their brands stand out,” Mr Cheong said.
Mr Cheong said his company was exhibiting at the 2019MFE to introduce AR technology to a wider audience. “AR is really a new concept to Macao and to the whole world. So, we need to be visible and build customers’ confidence, help them understand our services and what AR can bring them in return,” he said.
Mr Bruno Amado, International Project Manager of Brazilian Franchise Association
Mr Kammy Cheong, General Manager of Barra Creative Technology and Design
Coffee and pastry
The Pacific Coffee exhibited at the expo for the first time and found the organisers helpful to debutants, making all the processes relatively simple. Mr Jonathan Somerville, Hong Kong and Overseas Chief Executive of Pacific Coffee Co. Ltd., said his company had learned of the multitude of visitors to the previous editions of MFE and set out to reach 20 percent of the visitors this year. Mr Somerville said his company hoped to co-operate with the participants and other companies to explore the market.
Pacific Coffee has strong relationships with its franchisees in Macao. “Pacific Coffee has proved that, in Macao, franchise systems work well,” Mr Somerville said. “We will continue to work with the local community, gaming industries and universities to launch innovative and quality coffee and health food products, in order to provide better customer experiences.”
Yum Yum Creates Co. Ltd. of Japan, a sweets expert company, was another debutant at the MFE this year. Mr You Anan, FC Overseas Division Leader of Yum Yum Creates, said his company was introducing its products to Macao at the MFE because Macao was an international city, a draw for foreign visitors, having a combination of Chinese and Western culture. He said he hoped via the participation in the fair to let more people know about his firm’s brand and products.
Yum Yum Creates makes choux pastry. The company has franchised shops in Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam, and now aims to enter the Macao market through the MFE.
Mr Anan said representatives of the company had taken a tour of Macao to learn about the culture of the city before attending the MFE. “There are many shops selling choux but I couldn’t find our type of product,” he said. “We joined the 2019MFE to meet potential franchise partners and bring our special choux to Macao.”
The next MFE will be held concurrently with the 2020 Guangdong & Macao Branded Products Fair from 31 July to 2 August 2020.
Mr Jonathan Somerville, Hong Kong and Overseas Chief Executive of Pacific Coffee Co. Ltd.
Mr You Anan, FC Overseas Division Leader of Yum Yum Creates Co. Ltd.
