British News Agency

At the opening ceremony of the fair, organized by Medyafors, speeches were delivered by Serhan Erem, Chairman of the Executive Board of Medyafors Fuarcılık; Murat Yılmazsoy, Chairman of the Board of Standards and Partners, the fair's main sponsor; Ayşe Aslan, Chairwoman of BNI Türkiye; Mestan Özcan, Chairman of Özcanlar Köfte; and representatives from the United Arab Emirates. The opening speeches were followed by a ribbon-cutting ceremony.

Serhan Erem stated that the fair has served as a meeting point for brands and investors for 24 years, saying, "We are celebrating a gathering that has continued to grow in value for 24 years, going beyond a mere commercial activity." While Murat Yılmazsoy discussed the opportunities offered by the franchise model in terms of investment and financing, Ayşe Aslan highlighted the role of establishing the right business connections in brand growth, stating, "No brand is merely a signboard."

Özcanlar Köfte's growth experience discussed

During the session titled "From Thrace to a National Brand: Özcanlar Köfte," Mestan Özcan shared the brand's 73-year history and its business experience spanning four generations. Özcan explained that they accelerated their growth by adopting the franchise model in 2004, saying, "We achieved this without compromising any of our customs, traditions or culture."

The session also addressed food production, supply chains and the importance of choosing the right location for restaurant investments. Dr. Uldız Azad and Bora Tanrıkulu discussed the role of data and feasibility studies in business growth decisions.

Franchise and investment opportunities between Türkiye and the UAE discussed

A special session titled "Franchise and Investment Bridge Between the UAE and Türkiye" explored the franchise and investment ecosystem in the United Arab Emirates and opportunities for commercial cooperation between the two countries. The session was moderated by Ahood Almenhali, with Anas Al Madani, Rasha Khalil and Ahmed Ali Al-Amoody participating as speakers.

Emphasis on competence and sustainability in the franchise system

The session titled "Franchise Market Talks: The Ecosystem's Idea Stage" examined the sustainability of the franchise system, investor selection, corporate structure and competence within the industry. Müjdat Güler, CEO of Nova Group, emphasized that capital alone is not sufficient in a franchise relationship, saying, "If you sell a franchise to someone just because they have money, it won't last long. Competence is essential."

Murat Yılmazsoy also emphasized that systems take precedence over capital in the franchise model, stating, "Without hesitation, the system."

Bringing together numerous participating brands and investors, the 24th Bayim Olur musun? Fair remains open to visitors at the Yenikapı Eurasia Exhibition Center in Istanbul until October 18.