Franchisers see 20 percent growth in 2010 sales

The Association of Filipino Franchisers, Inc. (AFFI) is projecting P72.6 billion in sales this year, a 20 percent growth from last year’s combined sales of P60.5 billion, as members expand to the countryside. "We're expecting a surge in outlets and franchisees particularly in areas outside Metro Manila," Richard Sanz, AFFI executive vice president, told reporters Thursday at a briefing on the 9th Filipino Franchise Show. Sanz, owner of Bibingkinitan, said there is big demand for small to medium franchise outlets in the north and south Luzon. "We're trying to decongest Manila by focusing on unserved and underserved areas, first in Luzon and then to other provinces all around the country," said Tess Ngan Tian, the owner of Lotsa Pizza who sits as honorary chair of AFFI. "Right now we are trying to penetrate Cebu and then we will expand to the rest of the Visayas," Tian said. The association has 5,546 outlets and stores that employ 36,000 people. More than half of its members are in the food industry, withy spas, salons, and logistics, and schools making up its members in the non-food sector. The current expansion is not limited to the local market, said Paulo M. Tibig, AFFI president and owner of logistics firm VCargo International. "A number of association members like Potato Corner, Goto King, Figaro, Fior Gelato, Aquabest, and Bibingkinitan are now branching out in Southeast Asia and as far as the US," he said. Tibig said that the association was formed to advance the interests of each member company and establish a code of ethics for Filipino entrepreneurs. —MR Gavin/VS, GMANews.TV