About 15 US franchises will visit Hyderabad from April 12-13 to network with leading entrepreneurs, business leaders and companies to learn more about the opportunities in the city.

This is the first-ever Franchising Trade Mission organised by the US Department of Commerce to visit India, which will also stop in Mumbai and New Delhi, according to a press release from the US Consulate General here.

Hyderabad's strong entrepreneurial talent and propensity to embrace franchising concepts provide mutually beneficial and lucrative opportunities for partnerships in the areas of food and beverage and services franchises.

The participating companies include: Applebee's, BannaStrow's Crepes and Coffee, CKE Restaurants- Carl's Jr., Denny's, Focus Brands - Schlotzsky's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill, Carvel Ice Cream, Johnny Rockets, Molly Maid, One and Four LLC - Wonderworks Amusement Parks.

The Indian market is ripe for a franchising boom. Currently, the franchise market in India is estimated at $3.3 billion and growing at about 30 per cent. Over 700 franchise systems are already operating in the country, and approximately 10 per cent of these systems are run by international companies.

However, these systems still represent a very small percentage of the overall retail sector. As the Indian consumer market matures to the level of other developed economies, organised retail will increase its presence — franchising is expected to grow its share within retail until it represents 50 per cent of the overall organised retail trade, the release added.

Source: March 30, 2011, Business Line

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