Franchising for Africa and the Middle East 

By Funmi Bajulaiye, OETE, President ACR Global 

Franchising is a relatively new concept in Africa and the Middle East. It is exciting to see a distinguished body like National Franchise Saudi Arabia bring together investors, franchisors, and franchisees from all over the world who understand the franchising market.

We at ACR Global are glad to be a main driver of this novel franchise mindset in the drive to maximize investment in Africa and the Middle East.

In furtherance of the franchise campaign, we held the CEO Drawing 6.0 in June 2024. ACR Global held the CEO Drawing 6.0, which brought brands together from over 100 countries and speakers from 10 countries to showcase their franchise brands and discuss the elements that will help achieve successful franchising transactions in Africa. Major factors that contribute to successful franchises were discussed at the CEO drawing. These include the business environment, artificial intelligence, legal support, effective branding, insurance, and, of course, great products. 

African brands have built great products that are being experienced around the world. Foods like Jollof rice in an effective franchise module would form successful opportunities. In the Middle East, we have over 10 major franchise brands, expanding rapidly around the world, building billionaires in their sweep. 

The African Franchise Industry, Past, Present and Future

The franchise industry in Africa is an untapped and underserved Market African Businesses are clear about buying known Franchises such as KFC, Marriott Hotels and even McDonald’s chains in South Africa. 

The concept of African and Middle East brands offering their differentiated products and services in the global Markets is still a newfangled concept and this is where we come in as ACR Corporation and its brands CEO Drawing Board. 

The first brand to break this Glass ceiling is Nandos, a South Africa owned brand now present in 5 continents with its Chicken Peri Peri delight. 

At ACR Global and through our CEO Drawing Board Stories, we would be spotlighting great African Brands who are now taking advantage of the Franchise Module to expand intra and Intercontinental. 

The Industries that are yielding easily franchisable concepts include food and beverage, restaurants,  wellness and beauty products,  fashion, retail and lots more. 

Take the case of Arravo, a brand leader in Artificial Intelligence, who has partnered with several international brands to deliver bespoke SAAS solutions for AI transformation in the Financial Sector, Governmental Agencies and other Industries across Africa.  They were also spotlighted by Forbes Africa. This brand is already a Franchisable Phenomenon 

Another thriving brand crossing from just successful to a Franchise chain is Tielle Intimates , a unique brand that caters to delicate care of female genetal hygiene.  With its unique niche offerings, its already present in UAE and is ready to expand globally. 

And finally Tunu, a Nigerian -owned fashion brand with clientele in New York, Atlanta, United Kingdom and are now interested in expanding into the GCC Countries. The brand has styled Hip hop artists, and celebrities in different works of life and its brand story creates a magnetic connection across markets. 

In the future,  more successful brands in Africa are visualizing the approach of Franchising as a mode of expansion and several institutions are giving backing and support to interested organizations.  Within our ecosystem system alone over 700 brands are holding Franchise Conversations and some of the top will be interviewed in our bi-weekly reports on the CEODrawingBoard Stories. 

Watch this YouTube video to gain more insight into the work we are doing to evangelize and support cross pollination of Franchising across Industries and Continents. 

We welcome brands coming into Africa with strong support systems as we also broker for a team of Wealth Managers who seek bespoke brands with high support coming into Africa.  Some requests in the Education Industry,  Lest Control, Food,  Leisure and Beauty sectors have been top on our list.

At ACR Global we have decided to help build the franchise ecosystem through our various initiatives including the CEO Drawing Board series, in order to help African and Middle East franchises thrive.  We have therefore partnered with various institutions and organizations  such as   Easy life & Consultancy, to become ACR Corporation. This corporation offers funding, legal support, insurance,  branding, operations solutions and markets to help brands attain global access. 

Furthermore, our show CEO Drawing Board Stories,  aims  to showcase successful African and Middle Brands, and to support the process of Building what we call “brand value.” 

We congratulate brands who have made it to the 10th Edition International Franchise Exhibition from National Franchise Company in Ridyah, KSA holding in October 2024. 

We have partnered with National Franchise to jointly open markets for our brands in this Expo and upcoming ones in Qatar, Cairo, Egypt and BAHRAIN. 

Franchising should be your 2025 business Expansion plan.