Cotonou hosted its inaugural Salon des franchises on 15 October 2026 at the Azalai hôtel to promote entrepreneurship. FranquiShop organized the event in partnership with Franchise World Link. The first Salon des franchises in Cotonou took place on October 15, 2026, at the Azalai hotel. This collaboration between FranquiShop and Franchise World Link served as the foundation for the day’s activities, bringing together various stakeholders interested in the expansion of commercial networks.
Lola Helfer, a member of the FranquiShop team, stated, "c’est une très bonne chose pour la marque qu’on essaye de développer à Cotonou. Le rôle du Franchiseur, c’est de développer la marque à l’international et plus précisément à Cotonou et d’implanter…à Cotonou."
Rolland Le Berre, a representative of FranquiShop, added, "En facilitant l’accès à des réseaux commerciaux et à des modèles économiques structurés, ce type de rendez-vous peut contribuer à la diversification des activités, à la création d’entreprises et au développement de nouveaux services."
Structuring Business Growth Opportunities
Pre-scheduled 30-minute meetings serve as the primary format for the salon, allowing local entrepreneurs to engage directly with international brands. The event format consists of pre-scheduled 30-minute meetings between entrepreneurs and international brands. This structured approach aims to facilitate specific discussions between potential franchisees and brand representatives. The salon covers a diverse range of sectors, including catering, local retail, fashion, beauty, wellness, specialized food, and leisure equipment. The salon covers sectors including catering, local retail, fashion, beauty, wellness, specialized food, and leisure equipment.
FranquiShop brings experience to this format, having previously organized over 80 salons in Spain and five editions in France. FranquiShop has previously organized over 80 salons in Spain and five editions in France. These past events serve as a model for the current operations in Cotonou. By utilizing this established framework, organizers hope to provide a reliable environment for business development and the exchange of professional expertise. The deliberate scheduling of these sessions ensures that each participant has adequate time to evaluate potential partnerships and understand the requirements of the international brands present at the venue.
Yazid Ibrahim, a participant at the event, discussed his experience engaging with the brands present. "Je suis à la recherche d’opportunités dans mon pays…Il y en a beaucoup, beaucoup. Il y a énormément d’opportunités. Il faut juste les voir. Il faut juste savoir les saisir, surtout. Et accepter de se battre. Parce que quand on ne se bat pas, on n’a pas de résultat… Ce n’est pas une surprise, parce que je connais la plupart des enseignes, déjà. Parce que moi, je n’habite pas ici. Je connais la plupart des enseignes…Je suis plutôt satisfait, parce que j’ai eu pas mal d’informations. C’est un peu plus clair dans ma tête. Ça augure de très, très bonnes choses…J’espère qu’ils repartiront avec beaucoup de candidats… J’espère qu’il y aura d’autres salons comme celui-ci. Merci beaucoup," he stated.