Franchise Asia April 2017

International Focus
The Latin American-
South East Asia Connection
A Story Yet to Be Written
By Fernando López de Castilla
Founding Partner, Grupo Nexo Franquicia
It is truly remarkable how the franchise system has
revolutionized the business world and the world itself, expanding
businesses worldwide and turning local brands into global
brands at a rate none could have ever imagined.
An example of this is that today it is completely normal to find
a McDonald´s or a Starbucks within a couple of blocks of
where you could be standing right now. The same may be said
of Lima as much as of Kuala Lumpur. We could both walk a
couple of blocks to get a “Quarter Pounder” or a “Frappuccino”.
Furthermore, although we now take it for granted, this is
amazing, and we owe it to franchising, a multitrillion global
industry that has changed our way of thinking and living.
Franchising makes the world smaller, and this is not merely
an idea but a fact. It brings equality and democracy to every
consumer, rich or poor, sophisticated or simple, and gives
entrepreneurs around the world almost infinite possibilities for
investment and expansion. The internet has connected us all, for
sure, but franchising has made it possible for individuals of every
culture to recognize each other as equals because they see
familiarity everywhere they go. I truly believe that franchising has
made us share more of a common humanity, since we can relate
to people we will never meet, and because we share market
offerings and business possibilities.
Franchise Asia • 2017 Vol 33
33