Six Filipino brands secured over 100 trade leads during the Philippines’ first participation in the franchising and business Expo in Melbourne, Australia, the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) said.
The DTI reported that Avocadoria, BENCH, The Cabalen Group, Miguelitos Ice Cream, Oryspa, and Shawarma Shack achieved actual and potential export sales totaling $20.6 million at the 2024 Franchising and Business Opportunities Expo.
According to the DTI, these Filipino brands “captivated attendees” from Australia (specifically Victoria and New South Wales), as well as from Pakistan and Singapore.
DTI Acting Secretary Ma. Cristina Roque stated that Philippine brands are gaining momentum in the Australian market, owing to the quality and innovation that Filipino businesses bring.
Roque also said that the expo has set the stage for a “Bagong Pilipinas,” where Filipino enterprises can thrive on the global stage.
“There are many more Philippine franchise brands with great potential in international markets. We will continue to open more doors for more Filipino enterprises to explore franchising as a key strategy for international expansion,” Roque added.
Meanwhile, Philippine Franchise Association (PFA) delegation head, Sherill Quintana of Oryspa, emphasized the PFA's commitment to expanding homegrown internationally to create businesses and jobs for the country.
“The B2B and the Franchising Opportunities and Expo in Melbourne proved to be a great opportunity for our participating brands to scale up and level up our offerings to fit the Australian market,” said Ms. Quintana.
“This synergy is a catalyst as well to encourage the Filipino diaspora to invest in the Philippines through franchising by adopting a Filipino brand. Activities such as this, motivate more to believe that truly, the Filipino brand is world class,” she added.
This initiative was realized through the collaborative efforts of the DTI-Export Marketing Bureau and the Philippine Trade and Investment Center-Sydney, with support from the Tatak Pinoy Program, the Philippine Exporters Confederation, Inc., and the PFA.