The Franchise Innovation Summit 2024 establishes itself as the must-attend event for innovation and growth in franchising

Madrid, November 21, 2024

The 0th edition of the Franchise Innovation Summit 2024 was held on November 13 and 14 at the Convention Pavilion in Casa de Campo, Madrid. Nearly 1,600 professionals joined the FIS365 Community, with almost a thousand attending the event to debate, network, and explore business opportunities in the franchise system in Spain.

This innovative platform, promoted by the Spanish Franchise Association (AEF), with the support of BBVA as the main sponsor, marks the beginning of a new era in specialized business connections within the franchise system, focusing on innovation, digitalization, sustainability, and expansion opportunities under the franchise model.

This inaugural edition, with the participation of 50 companies and 70 leading franchise brands, sets the stage for creating and developing the main professional meeting point for the franchise ecosystem in the coming years. It aims to stimulate the entire sector, showcase a secure and profitable business and entrepreneurship model, and highlight the strength and professionalism of franchising brands established in the Iberian Peninsula.

Luisa Masuet, President of the AEF, emphasized in her welcome speech that the AEF's goal is to make this Summit “a true meeting point for franchising, leveraging the valuable knowledge and experience accompanying us, where technology and innovation are its fundamental pillars.”

For his part, Raúl Calleja, Director of FIS, stated that “this event is already projected as the main driver of innovation, sustainability, and expansion in the business ecosystem, connecting thousands of professionals and paving the way for the future of the franchise model.”

Similarly, Eduardo Abadía, Executive Director of the AEF, highlighted that “the 0th edition of FIS has met expectations, and now we are starting to work on the next edition to make this event the reference point for the franchise system.”

Official inaugurations, synergies, and networking

The inauguration featured the notable presence of Marta Nieto, Director General of Trade, Consumer Affairs, and Services of the Community of Madrid, who emphasized “the opportunities of hosting a sectorial meeting point in Madrid, the leading region in the national ranking for the number of franchising centers, open locations, turnover levels, and being the primary destination for foreign investment, with 75% of total investment.”

Nieto also took the opportunity to invite all attendees to “participate and create value through the program of talks and other activities of the Franchise Innovation Summit.” She expressed confidence that this event would be the first of “many more in the future.”

The second day of the Franchise Innovation Summit was inaugurated by Julián Conthe, Director General of Trade Policy at the Ministry of Economy, Trade, and Business of the Spanish Government. Conthe highlighted Spain's leadership as a pioneering country in franchise expansion, thanking the AEF for its work in this field and emphasizing its contribution to the national GDP, nearly 2%. Undoubtedly, “a growth engine adapted to a global market,” according to the senior ministry official.

The two-day event featured the participation of 70 top speakers and twenty CEOs and senior executives from the franchise system in Spain, who addressed, uninterruptedly, the present and future of this business model, exploring topics and trends such as the integration of artificial intelligence in business management, cybersecurity, or the power of emotion, communication, and marketing within the franchise model. Other key topics for franchising were also discussed, such as internationalization, sustainability, and gender equality, with a specific panel on the role of women in franchising.

Franchise Innovation Summit 2024 brought together nearly a thousand professionals in its various spaces over the two days of the event, reaching visibility through media and social channels close to one and a half million impacts.

FIS 2024 also offered networking spaces, facilitating interaction among franchisors, franchisees, and key suppliers. This edition further delved into all these strategic areas for franchising, as well as strengthening commercial relationships, aiming to expand its reach among investors, entrepreneurs, franchises, and franchisees across Europe and Latin America.

Key achievements of this inaugural edition include creating a strong brand with sectoral reputation, validating an innovative and participatory format, and developing a professional community (FIS 365) that already includes over 1,600 entrepreneurs, investors, and strategic allies.

Additionally, it has fostered connections among the main players in franchising, facilitating connections between brands and partners, laying the groundwork for a roadmap that positions FIS as a strategic commercial instrument, serving the entire value chain of the franchise ecosystem.

FIS 2024 Ambassador Awards

At the conclusion of the first day of the Franchise Innovation Summit, the FIS 2024 Ambassador Awards were presented, recognizing the work, commitment, and drive behind the creation of FIS in four categories:

• “Institution”: awarded to Marta Nieto Novo, Director General of Trade, Consumer Affairs, and Services of the Community of Madrid, for her outstanding support in the development of franchises and SMEs in the region.
• “Franchise”: given to the brand Midas, the first to confirm its participation in this inaugural edition. The award was received by Enrique Santos, Expansion Director of the chain.
• “Franchisee”: awarded to Marisa Lazareno, franchisee and manager at Yves Rocher, who manages six stores of the brand.
• “Media Outlet”: awarded to the magazine Emprendedores, for its constant commitment to disseminating entrepreneurship in the franchise system. The award was received by its CEO and director, Alejandro Vesga.