Climate change in Europe affects more than just the weather. Reopenings in June marked a period of optimism among franchisees, franchisee owners, and franchisees across Europe.
Due to the 2020 cycle (summer recession, September increase), low vaccination rates, and spread of the highly transmittable Delta variant, which has now spread to 60 countries, including the United States, everyone is cautious about the pandemic.
Europe still has several restrictions, such as restrictions inside restaurants, masks required outdoors, and corporate employees working from home.
Despite the 40% vaccination rate in the U.K., Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced a 4-week extension of the Coronavirus ban due to the variant called Delta.
There is still an 11 p.m. curfew in France until June 30th, but theaters and cinemas have reopened and live events allowing up to 1,000 participants (providing a negative PCR test or proof of vaccination).
Travel conditions remain very strict across Europe (whether it's the geographical entity of the United Kingdom, Norway, and Switzerland, or the political and economic entity known as the European Union), and many corporations haven't yet lifted their travel bans.
A standard protocol for vaccination passports, including those used for cross-border travel, should be available by June 30 in Europe, which will make travel between countries much more straightforward, both for business activities and tourism.
Franchises Remain Popular
As for franchising, despite the disruption brands, operators, and clients have faced during the past 15 months, the franchise partnership model has proved its worth robustness. Thanks to the ability and agility of franchisors and franchisees to collaboratively build new processes, adapt their business models, and invest in digital solutions, many prospective entrepreneurs believe in a post-Covid future through franchising.
A franchisor today must prove its ability to anticipate future consumption trends, and to sustain the development of the franchise network through a peer-to-peer approach and supportive relationship.
Across several different industries, from food to services to fitness concepts, European entrepreneurs remain eager to discover, replicate, and develop a new foreign brand in their national and local markets. They may prefer a multi-unit development agreement over a master franchise partnership with sub-franchise development opportunities, depending on their territory and current operations.
Europe's Franchise Shows Are Coming Online Later This Year
As Europe prepares for a cheerful summer, franchisors are sharpening their tools to get ready for September, when "live" franchising events will re-start, including:
- Franchise Expo Paris – Sept. 26–29
- The International Franchise Show – London, October 1–2
- Franchise Expo21 – Frankfurt, Germany, Nov. 4–6
- MAPIC 2021 – Cannes, France, Nov. 30 – Dec. 2
<h4>To find your perfect franchise, take a look at the wide range of opportunities in our A-Z Directory.</h4>