4 Days of Good Business for visitors and exhibitors alike

Greece is an advanced market with a dynamic, evolving franchising sector, offering significant opportunities for the development of international chains. The country also hosts one of the most important franchising exhibitions in the world.

Participation in the KEM World Franchise Exhibition will guarantee success in your plans for development of your franchise in Greece. The Exhibition will take place from the 20th - 23rd of February in Athens for the 11th consecutive year and is organised by KEM - Exhibitions & Trade Shows S.A.

Currently, the total number of franchise stores operating in the Greek market is 16,996, with Greece achieving the highest rate of self-employed people across Europe (36.3 per cent). It is worth noting that the Greek Franchising industry enjoys one of the highest annual growth rates within the EU.

An interesting aspect of the franchising industry in Greece is that 30.2 per cent of franchise chains are international concepts, developing successful operations in the country. Also, 19.7 per cent of all investors are interested in acquiring a Master Franchise from an international franchise chain.

Specifically, in 2006 1,509 new ventures went into business, while in 2007 this figure rose to 2,118 new ventures, thus showing an increase of 40.4 per cent. In 2007 the number of franchise chains reached 596 of which 180 are international brands, while it is estimated that by the end of 2008 this number will have reached 650. In total, the Greek franchising industry employs more than 100,000 individuals.

KEM 2009 is expected to attract a record number both of participants and visitors. Last year's exhibition was visited by more than 18,000 individuals from 30 countries, not just in the EU but also Eastern Europe, North & South America, Asia, North &'South Africa Asia and Australasia. It hosted more than 200 concepts, 60 of which were from international markets representing 17 countries (Greece, Cyprus, the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Portugal, Italy, Belgium, Switzerland, Russia, Latvia, the USA, Canada, Uruguay, Brazil and Singapore).

This year, the number of visitors is expected to increase due to the growing number of exhibitors and the variety of concepts they will have the chance to explore. The increased exhibitor attendance in KEM 2009 will provide visitors with multiple concept options to choose from.

The 11th KEM World Franchise Exhibition will be held at the Exhibition & Conference Centre of Attica in Athens. The 11th KEM World Franchise Exhibition is organised under the auspices of the National Confederation of Hellenic Commerce, the Franchise Association of Greece, the European Franchise Federation (EFF) and the World Franchise Council (WFC) and has already attracted a large number of exhibitors both from Greece and abroad.

Text: KEM'- Exhibitions &'Trade Shows S.A.

KEM EXHIBITORS:

Clothing/Shoes/Accessories
NO. OF CHAINS: 168
NO. OF STORES: 3,926

Miscellaneous
NO. OF CHAINS: 94
NO. OF STORES: 3,851

Food/Restaurants
NO. OF CHAINS: 88
NO. OF STORES: 3,403

Education
NO. OF CHAINS: 56
NO. OF STORES: 2,300

Services
NO. OF CHAINS: 77
NO. OF STORES: 1,550

Household Furnishing
NO. OF CHAINS: 62
NO. OF STORES: 1,216

Health/Beauty Services
NO. OF CHAINS: 51
NO. OF STORES: 750

TOTAL:
NO. OF CHAINS: 596
NO. OF STORES: 16,996