Viva La Franchising! - BFA CEO heads to Mexico for World Franchise Council meeting

Pip Wilkins QFP, CEO of the BFA (British Franchise Association) has recently returned from representing the UK at the World Franchise Council in Mexico.

Founded in 1995, The World Franchise Council is a not for profit, non-political association of national franchise associations, organised under the laws of the UK.

Wilkins undertook the 5,500-mile journey to meet with the directors of franchise associations from more than 30 countries across the world, to celebrate Mexico’s World Franchise Week in Merida.  The gathering was a chance for the exchange of ideas, the strengthening of international relations and the creation of networks with local franchisors.

The BFA and the WFC

The BFA has played a pivotal role in the WFC since its inception. In February of 1994, during the IFA’s Annual Convention in Las Vegas, a group of national franchise association executives led by the IFA and the European Franchise Federation unanimously decided to establish the WFC.  Following that meeting, a working group, led by the British Franchise Association, produced a more detailed draft of the Constitution, that was formally adopted on June 15, 1995, in Lisbon.

 Remit of the WFC

The remit and purpose of WFC is to promote the development of franchising and foster best practice in franchise association management. Members consider regulatory and economic factors which influence the prosperity of franchise communities around the world.  WFC meetings often determine policies to promote franchising in accordance with issues of universal significance, raised by one or more member nations.

 Representing UK

BFA CEO Wilkins, was invited to speak on a panel discussing overseas expansion, specifically into the UK, alongside speakers from New Zealand, Canada, Bristol, Guatemala, Indonesia and the Philippines. Other items on the conference agenda included presentations of the country reports, a legal report, exploring legislative impacts across the globe, sustainability in franchising, government lobbying and the development of franchisee membership within associations.

She was also given the chance to meet local Mexican franchisors to further understand the Mexican franchise market which contributes 5% of the national GDP.

Franchise brands present at the 3-day Exhibition & Conference included: BusinessKids, Kukaponga, Baby Ballet, Inglés Universal, Quick Liss, Gisele Delorme, Model Art Spa, 2Body, Megahidraulyx, Aqua Clyva, Green Clean and EPS.

World Franchise Day 2025

During the conference, members agreed to collaborate on a ‘World Franchise Day’ in the summer of 2025, which will likely coincide with the BFA’s planned ‘National Franchise Week’.  Further details will be revealed in the New Year.

Wilkins said: “Apart from keeping abreast of legislative changes that could maybe one day affect us in the UK, my main reason for attending is to exchange ideas and best practices with my colleagues from franchise associations across the world. We discuss a myriad of subjects from how to attract new members into our associations, to standards and how we apply them, reaccreditation, franchisee membership and franchise recruitment. We look at legal and country reports, statues of the WFC and internal rules and what should be included in our annual reports. One subject I had some interesting conversations about was lobbying or ‘advocacy’ as they call it in Mexico. We are keen to engage with the UK Government in 2025 and it was interesting hearing from my colleagues about how they approach it in their countries. It has certainly given me food for thought and some great ideas for early next year.”

The next WFC meeting will be held in Las Vegas, USA from February 10, 2025, to February 13, 2025.