Franchising surveyed

Lebanese Franchise Association aims to gauge size of the sector and its contribution to employment and GDP

The Lebanese Franchise Association (LFA) will be conducting a survey of the franchise sector to identify the number and type of local concepts and brands that are franchised, the size of the sector, the number of people it employs, and its contribution to GDP.

Farah Shaaban, general manager of the LFA, said that the study will cost around $200,000 and will take from six months to a year to complete. She said a source of funding has been found.

Out of the 180 full members in the LFA, around 60 are franchisors, local concepts or brands that have adopted the franchise business model to expand. “It may not sound like a large number, but compared to the rest of the Middle East, it’s a large concentration,” said Shaaban. The other 120 are local franchisees of international concepts and brands.

The survey will cover all franchise business, both members and non-members of the LFA, as well as a number of associate members. “Associate members are members who have a proven and successful brand or concept and a point of sale and want to develop and expand their business through franchising,” Shaaban said.

She said that over the years local franchise businesses have become more aware of the importance of developing a clear franchise manual, of business ethics, and of doing franchising the right way. Most franchisors and franchisees are in the F& B segment, with the largest, Patchi, having a presence in 40 countries.


by Hani Bathiche