Food still franchise investors’ favorite sector

FOOD and vanity are still the top picks for investors when it comes to franchising, accounting for 80 percent of all franchises here and abroad.
Rudolf Kotik, founder of RK Franchise Consultancy, Inc., said food makes up 50 to 60 percent of franchises made in the Philippines while vanity or beauty-related businesses account for 20 percent.

“The vanity sector is fast growing, both local and export. When it comes to exporting, it’s very easy. It’s just a matter of training,” he said in a press conference in Mandaue City on Thursday.

This strong demand is reflected in the growing number of restaurants and food shops as well as salons and spas all over the country and even abroad.
Kotik said that 90 percent of franchise exports go to the Middle East due to a strong demand for Filipino products and services.
While the Philippines is number one in Asia in terms of franchising, players choose to go only local or regional.

“Not everybody has the capability to go out of the Asian borders,” said Kotik.

Franchising is attractive to overseas Filipino workers, retirees, and those who have cash to spare as it can provide them an extra stream of income.
Kotik, in a previous interview, said more are seeing the advantage of getting a franchise since chances of success are higher.

“More and more people of all ages invest in a franchise, since it is the safest way to invest one’s hard-earned money,” he said.

For as low as P500,000 to P650,000, investors can franchise a business of their choice.

More than 200 franchise opportunities will be made available to investors in the 18th Cebu Franchise Expo, scheduled for March 3 to 5, 2017 at the SM City Cebu Trade Hall.

The expo, organized by RK Franchise and its partners, attracts three to five franchisees per exhibitor, Kotik said.

It features a mix of new and returning exhibitors annually.

The 70 booths in the Trade Hall will offer franchise opportunities in food, beauty, convenience stores, café, banking, health and wellness, water stations, and support industries.

Among the exhibitors are 7-Eleven, Figaro Coffee, True Blends, Ystilo, Aquastar, Miguelitos, Bayad Center, Nail It, Motormate, Chicken Deli, Bialetti, Jumping Clay Cebu, and Generika Drugstores.

Other confirmed participants are U3 Café, Oz Racing, Master Siomai, Rapide Izumi Wellness, My fresh Greek, Cassalleyah Kart Adventure, Bag O’ Shrimp, Winterbelle, I.Aircon, Metrofog Cebu, and Bigby’s.

As part of the event, Kotik will also give a seminar on franchise and trademark.

Sokrie Malaco, a trademark specialist, will also talk about the importance of trademarks, and how to get and use them.

Dr. Alvin Matulac will conduct a seminar for resellers of Professional Skin Care Formula on Sunday, March 5, at the same venue.