The city of Cotonou, Benin's economic hub, is set to host the FranquiShop Franchise Fair on October 15, 2026. This event, announced during a press conference on October 10, 2026, by Rolland Le Berre, promoter of FranquiShop, will be the first of its kind in Africa. The fair aims to bring together a dozen international brands and Beninese entrepreneurs to discuss investment opportunities, skills transfer, and franchise development.
The FranquiShop Franchise Fair is an opportunity for Beninese entrepreneurs to discover new business opportunities and engage directly with representatives of international brands. The event, scheduled from 9 am to 5 pm, will feature a dozen participating brands in a B-to-B meeting format. According to Rolland Le Berre, the participating companies may not be well-known to the general public but have an international reputation, with some being French.
The participation in the fair is subject to a rigorous selection process. Candidates must meet specific financial criteria, demonstrate professional experience, and show their understanding of the brand they wish to represent. Interested individuals can fill out a registration form on the FranquiShop website, which will be reviewed by the organizing team to select the most suitable profiles for the participating brands.
The organizing team has already received over 1,000 applications for the event, a record for a FranquiShop event worldwide, according to Rolland Le Berre. The fair also aims to promote skills transfer and know-how sharing. Entrepreneurs who choose to invest in a franchise will benefit from support from the franchisor, including training, proven working methods, and operational procedures.
FranquiShop's goal is to identify Beninese companies with high potential and support their international development. The organization aims to help local entrepreneurs structure their concepts to make them reproducible and exportable using the franchise model. According to Rolland Le Berre, FranquiShop can also help Beninese brands looking to internationalize by providing access to its international network.
The choice of Benin as the host country is part of FranquiShop's internationalization strategy, seeking promising economies and markets. Rolland Le Berre cited Benin's economic and political stability as a reason for the event's location. The fair is expected to be a platform for investors, entrepreneurs, and international brands to meet and stimulate entrepreneurial initiatives in Benin.
FranquiShop is an innovative franchise fair that replaces traditional stands with personalized meetings. The event's format ensures quality contacts and maximizes expansion opportunities for franchisees by combining digital innovation with face-to-face meetings. The organization recruits investors who register for free on its website, allowing entrepreneurs to plan meetings with participating brands.
Key points
- The FranquiShop Franchise Fair will feature a dozen international brands and Beninese entrepreneurs to discuss investment opportunities and franchise development.
- Over 1,000 applications have been received for the event, a record for a FranquiShop event worldwide.
- The fair aims to promote skills transfer and know-how sharing between international brands and local entrepreneurs.
