Belgium currently has around 100 franchisors and 3,500 corresponding franchisees.* The Belgian Franchise Federation believes that the franchise sector has the potential to create 12,200 new jobs over the next 3 years.

Belgian entrepreneurs have shown an increasing interest in French brands and attend Franchise Expo Paris every year in growing numbers.

This year, about 60 French brands were present at the Entreprendre 2010 show in Brussels. Our team met representatives from many of them, including Gifi, La Boite à Pizza, Illico Travaux, Troc.com, La Cie des Petits, Schmidt and Yves Rocher, among others.

20 of these brands were grouped together in one pavilion, located in a more visible position than in past years.

From 31 March to 1st April 2010, the show welcomed 250 exhibitors – 25% of them franchisors – and 10,000 visitors.** Exhibitors interviewed found that both the level of attendance and the general visitor profile had improved considerably.

There were more than 100 talks on different aspects of franchising and starting up a business in Belgium. Flagship sessions included “Starting a business as a woman”, for which an award was made, and an entire day devoted to “Social entrepreneurship”.

For more details about this event, visit www.entreprendreondernemen.be
For further information on franchising in Belgium, visit the official site of the Belgian Franchise Federation, at www.fbf-bff.be

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* Source: French Franchise Federation, Belgian Franchise Federation
** Figures provided by organiser