Four global franchisees, who managed to break into the challenges of a highly competitive Southeast Asian market will be sharing their insights on how they work with their franchisor to introduce innovations in the franchise system to succeed in the ever-changing market at the Franchise Asia Philippines 2017 slated on July 19 and 20 at the SMX Convention Center Manila.
A “must” for entrepreneurs, the 25th edition of Franchise Asia Philippines, the biggest 4-in-1 franchise show in Asia, will give them valuable insights on how four franchisees of global brands 7-Eleven, Bench, McDonald’s and Potato Corner collaborate with their franchisees for innovation.
Lester Mark Yee, a 7-Eleven franchisee; Aye Thida Aung Victoria of Bench; Chayapatra Thongcharoen of Potato Corner; and Jose Ma. Ordoveza of McDonald’s Philippines will share the best practices on how entrepreneurs can identify the important issues, demands and concerns critical in “going international” through franchising.
A Certified Public Accountant by profession, Yee, who hails from San Jose, Antique, owns and manages Esprutingkle Food Corp., which operates 29 7-Eleven stores across the country (Nueva Ecija, Batangas, Cavite, Quezon, Laguna, Antique, Cebu, Iloilo, Negros Occidental, Negros Oriental and Misamis Oriental).
Starting his franchise business in 2012 after converting his Caltex station’s minimart in Mandaue City into a 7-Eleven store—Yee believes that the principle of stewardship is key to the growth of the global brand entrusted to them. His vision is to continue to grow with Philippine Seven Corp. in bringing more 7-Eleven stores to our fellow countrymen.
Aye Thida is the managing director of the Super One Co.—Burma’s retail leader operating several malls (Super One Mall and Victoria Mall), department stores (Fashion Lab and Super One), convenience stores (Nation Mart) and other manufacturing plants.
Recently, Aye expanded her businesses in Myanmar to cater to the middle and premium sector by taking in global brands, like Bench, Rip Curl, Morgan, Paul Frank and
Shuberry shoes.
Aye started working with Bench Philippines in 2016 with three outlets and plans to open the more bythe end of 2017. Today the Super One Co. has grown into 21 outlets in the entire Myanmar—mainly in Yangon, Mandalay, Nay Pyi Taw and Pyin Oo Lwin.
Moreover, it also came out with a new concept for department stores known as Fashion Lab, with the first outlet in Taw Win Center (4,000 square feet) and second outlet in Junction City (2,600 square feet).
Participants can also get new insights in running a franchise from Chayapatra Thongcharoen, a 23-year-old Thai businessman, who is the Master Franchisor of Filipino brand Potato Corner in his home country. He started his Rocks Foods Ltd. with his partner Pachara Chirathivat right after college and has traveled the world competing in business case competitions and debate tournaments, winning them awards and recognitions on both national and international level.
One year after the launch of Potato Corner in Thailand, Potato Corner has grown to become one of Thailand’s fastest-growing companies, now with 11 branches across Bangkok. Rocks Foods’s goal is to be able to reach 20 Potato Corner stores in Thailand within this year and for the brand to remain as the true leader in the French fries industry in Thailand.
Ordoveza started his franchising journey with a McDonald’s restaurant in December 2002 in Santa Cruz, Laguna. In a span of 15 years, he opened seven more branches in National Capital Region and Laguna.
He received multiple awards and recognitions for his outstanding achievements and performance as a franchisee, namely, Ronald McDonald Award (2014 & 2015), People Award (2008), Community Development Award (2009), GTY Award (2012), Ray Kroc Award (2008) and Ayala Malls Merchant Award-Retailer of the Year Award (2014).
Through his passion for excellence, genuine commitment to his people and love for the McDonald’s brand, Ordoveza grew his business to become a leading-edge franchisee.
Organized by the Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) and copresented by Bank of Philippine Island Family Ka-Negosyo and Philippine Long Distance Telephone SME Nation, this year’s Franchise Asia will be celebrated with the theme “Innovate and Replicate: Asean Rising”. The theme is also a salute to the Philippines’s hosting of the Asean Summit, as the region celebrates its 50th anniversary and an articulation of the confidence of PFA and the entire franchising sector in Asean as an economic bloc.
“In today’s world where many brands disrupt while others fade, companies need to continue to innovate in order to survive, especially now that we are inching toward a more integrated regional economy,” said Alan Escalona, PFA president.
The annual event consists of an International Conference on July 19 and 20, International Expo from July 21 to 23 and Educational Seminars also from July 21 to 23, which will all be held at SMX Convention Center, Manila; and a mini-MBA on Certified Franchise Executive program, which will be separately held on July 17 and 18 at AIM Conference Center, Manila.
Franchise Asia Philippines 2017 is supported by the Department of Trade and Industry, Philippine Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Philippine Retailers Association, Taiwan External Trade Development Council, Hong Kong Trade Development Council, Franchising and Licensing Association (Singapore), International Franchise Association, the Asia Pacific Franchise Confederation and the World Franchise Council.
For more information about Franchise Asia Philippines 2017, visit www.franchiseasiaph.com.