The first event of its kind saw movers and shakers in the franchise industry celebrate notable milestones and achievements during a spectacular gala dinner and awards ceremony in Brussels.
The awards ranged across five categories including franchisor of the year and emerging brand. The four expert judges from national franchise associations in Hungary, France, the U.K. and the Netherlands, had some very tough decisions to make.
In the end, they looked at a range of criteria to decide, in their view, which brands best represented ethical franchising, told their story in a compelling way, and demonstrated the benefits of the franchising business model.
Alisdair Gray of the European Franchise Federation said: “The EFF intends for this inaugural award ceremony to become a milestone in the franchising industry events calendar. We feel it is important to recognize the success of those in the industry at such a challenging time economically. In addition to recognizing the achievements, it’s also an excellent opportunity for those in the industry to network and share knowledge and support.”
Franchisor of the year
100 Montaditos – Spain (pictured)
Eezy – Finland
Didier Château – France
Franchisee of the year
Goldex – UK
Yves Rocher – France
Kiinteistömaailma – Finland
International brand
Logiscool – Hungary
Fit 20 – Netherlands
Special Recognition: Llaollao – Spain
Emerging brand
Makery DIY – Hungary
The CO-OP – U.K.
Resilient brand
Fogarolli – Sweden
Fitness Factory – Portugal
Kotipizza – Finland
The EFF wanted to also say thank you to the 40 companies who took part in the competition. All of the nominees are already winners of their own national competitions. It is never easy to choose between such an elite group of companies. The EFF is grateful for everyone who took the time and effort to take part in our award.