FRO EXPO 2025 Gujarat - 139th Franchise & Retail Opportunity Expo

Day 1 20 SEP
Day 2 21 SEP

Day 1: The Big Picture in Franchising – Trends, Opportunities & Innovation

10:00 – 10:15 AM

Welcome Note

Ashita Marya

CEO & Consulting Editor, Franchise India

10:15 – 10:30 AM

Opening Remarks & Keynote Address

Mohamed Al Madani

Chairman of TAGMOA & ALMADINI Group of Companies LLC.

10:30 – 10:45 AM

Unveiling of Top 200 Magazine

10:45 – 11:40 AM

Inaugral Panel : India’s Franchise Future: Vision 2030

Emerging Trends Shaping India’s Business Landscape

Discussion Points:

Rise of micro and nano franchising
Growth of experience-driven retail formats.
Acceleration of phygital (physical + digital) retail strategies.
Success of localized franchise models tailored for Bharat
Shifting consumer preferences shaping retail and franchise innovation.

Key Takeaway:
Emerging formats and business models that new entrepreneurs can explore

Mukesh Gupta

Director – Strategy Consulting, Deloitte India

Anupam Bansal

Executive Director, Liberty Shoes

Rajesh Kapase

CEO, Trackon

Lalit Agarwal

Founder & MD, V-Mart Retail Ltd

Kumar Nitesh

CEO - Ajio Business / Reliance Footprint / Trend Footwear / Lee Cooper / Catwalk / Performax

Ashita Marya

CEO & Consulting Editor, Franchise India

11:45 AM – 12:15 PM

Session 2: Turning Taste into Business: Profitability in the F&B Sector

Discussion Points:

Crafting a scalable and operationally efficient menu.
Maximizing delivery potential through cloud kitchens and platform partnerships.
Location! Location! Location!: Why location remains the key driver of success.
Growing role of private equity and aggregators in scaling food ventures.

Key Takeaway:
Why profitability & P&L matter more than brand passion alone

Priykant Gautam

Director, Taste Aces Pvt Ltd. Founder: omny kitchen by chef Vicky ratnani, plaka by chef ajay chopra , Hydrama

Radhakrishnan

CFO and Head Legal, La Pino’z Pizza

Alvin Lesmana

Business Development Supervisor, AICHA

Chaitanya Sabharwal

Founder & CEO, Biryani Queen

12:15 – 12:30 PM

Keynote Address : Own It Before You Grow It: Legal, IP & Patent Essentials for Scaling Businesses

Discussion Points:

Why trademarks, copyrights & patents matter more than ever
Structuring franchise/licensing agreements to protect brand interests
Avoiding legal landmines while expanding
Case studies: How IP has unlocked value for fast-scaling brands
Legal readiness for M&A, fundraising, and multi-market operations

Seema Jhingan

Senior Partner, LexCounsel, Law Offices

12:30 - 01:00 PM

Session 3: Building New-Age Brands for Tomorrow’s Bharat

Discussion Points:

How are startups using innovation to solve real consumer problems
Role of technology in scaling and streamlining operations.
Customer-centricity: How do modern brands build deep customer relationships
Omnichannel vs. D2C – what’s working best for emerging brands
Expanding into Tier 2 & 3 cities – what’s the playbook?
Sustainability and purpose-driven branding – trend or necessity?
Franchise-readiness: How should brands prepare to scale through franchising?
Funding & growth: What do investors look for in new-age brands
Biggest mistakes to avoid while building a consumer brand in India.

Saurabh Sharma

Head - E Commerce & B2B, Juniper

Mahendra Prabhudas Bajaj

CMD, Nandi Panchgavya Pvt Ltd

Kinimi Toina

Founder, Beauty Barn

Gaurav Bawa

MD, Iris Lab Grown

01:00 - 01:20 PM

Keynote : "Scaling with Purpose: How Brand Built a Nationwide Presence Without Losing Its Soul"

Discussion Points:

Each store expansion was guided by demand data, emotional insight, and strong franchise partnerships.
The brand stayed rooted in celebrating emotions, even as operations scaled and diversified.
Growth was not just in geography but in categories—from flowers to cakes, plants, experiences, and events.

Dr Blossom Kochhar

Chairperson of Blossom Kochhar Group of Companies

01:20 – 02:20 PM

NETWORKING LUNCH

02:20 – 02:40 PM

"Keynote: Empowering Youth for Atmanirbhar Uttar Pradesh

Discussion Points:

CM Yuva & Atmanirbhar UP Vision: Startups Beyond Metros
Real success stories from smaller towns.
Yuva Hubs offering training, incubation, and mentorship.
Ease of Doing Business
Access to Capital
Franchising as a Growth Model
Digital Enablement & Innovation
Promoting UPI, e-commerce, and tech startups (AgriTech, EduTech, HealthTech)."

Sarveshwar Shukla

State Nodal officer , CM - YUVA mission, Uttar Pradesh

02:45 – 03:30 PM

MANAGEMENT TRACK
Session 4: Sustained Growth for Services Business: Mastering the Art of Franchise Relations

Key Points:

Fostering a culture of mutual respect, trust, and collaboration between the franchisor and franchisees
Consistency and Standardization of the products & services offered
Responsive Problem-solving: Demonstrating a commitment to resolving conflicts and fostering positive relationships within the franchise system.
Performance Monitoring and Accountability: Establishing clear performance metrics and benchmarks to monitor franchisee performance and track progress towards goals
Long-term Relationship Building & Continuous Improvement and Feedback Loop: Continuously evaluate and improve franchise relations strategies based on feedback from franchisees and stakeholders

Manaswinee Ghadei

Head of Franchise, Bodycraft

Jasmeet Singh

CCO, Makemytrip

Arunabh Sinha

Founder, Uclean

Mahendra Sureka

Founder & CEO, MACJ

Jatin Sethi

VP Channel Business & Development, DTDC Express

03:30 – 04:15 PM

Session 5: Retail Reimagined: Cracking the Scalability Code in Fashion, Jewelry & Lifestyle

Discussion Points:

Regional disruptors vs national giants: Who’s scaling smarter—especially in Tier II & III cities?
The new-age store playbook: Smart design, real-time data, and customer-centric delight Inventory tech, loyalty programs & omnichannel strategies driving repeat business
Exponential D2C growth & opportunity: How rapidly scaling direct-to-consumer brands are creating new partnership, investment, and market-entry avenues.
Key Takeaway:
Why cracking location intelligence, operational agility, and customer loyalty is key to building scalable retail success across India's next 100 towns

Sandip Baksi

CEO, Nuvora Retail

Krishnan Padmanabhan

Lead Operations – Mega Channel – Tanishq Corp Retail

Akash Srivastava

National Head, Business Development and Real Estate Expansion, Raymond Limited

Satish Puranam

VP, Franchise Strategy & Operations, Reliance Retail

Nitin Joshi

Business Consultant & Influencer

04:15 – 05:00 PM

Session 6: Malls vs High Streets – Choosing the Right Location Strategy

Discussion Points:

Evaluating rental models: revenue share vs. fixed lease structures
Analyzing footfall-to-sales conversion across retail formats
Strategic real estate partnerships and effective lease negotiations

Key Takeaway:
Data-backed decision-making for profitable location choices

Akash Kalra

3^rd Generation Owner & Managing Director, United Group

Shruti Khaneja

Vice President - Offline Sales, Clovia

Amar Preet Singh

Co-Founder & COO, Neeman's

Manish Sharma

Co-Founder & COO - Karigari By Chef Harpal Singh Sokhi, Dutchman Port & The Flying Dutchman || Director - Futomic Group

L Niranjan Singh

Business Coach and FIRM Owner ActionCOACH North East India

Day 2: Scaling Services & Retail: Winning Franchise Strategies for Sustainable Growth

Deep dives into high-potential sectors, scalable formats, and how franchisees are building success stories across India.

10:30 – 11:00 AM

Keynote by DICCI Chairman & MOU Signing

Dr. Milind Kamble

Founder Chairman of Dalit Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DICCI)

11:00 – 11:45 AM

Session 1: Brewing Success – Scaling Tea & Coffee Franchises for Maximum Impact

Discussion Points:

Evolving business models in the tea and coffee franchise industry – from kiosks to full-format cafes
Key factors driving growth and consumer demand in the café and beverage space
How legacy and emerging brands are building scalable, sustainable operations
Innovations in product offerings, customer experience, and technology adoption
Strategic expansion: selecting the right locations, formats, and partnerships for long-term

Key Takeaway:
Top kiosk and compact-format franchise opportunities primed for scale in 2025

Moloy Chakravorty

MD & Founder, Beyond Red Ocean Consulting | ActionCOACH West Bengal

Rajat Agrawal

CEO, Barista Coffee

Anand Jain

Director, Nothing Before Coffee

11:45 AM – 12:30 PM

Session 2: Big Fish, Big Scale: How Master Franchisees, Area Developers & M&As Are Shaping the Future of Growth

Discussion Points:

Who are master franchisees and area developers—and why they’re the real growth engines
Unit-based vs territory-based models: What scales faster, and smarter
Multi-Store Operators (MSOs): Delivering consistency, operational control, and local market dominance.
The rising role of tech enablers: How SaaS, data analytics, POS, and CRM platforms are empowering regional leaders to manage scale, inventory, and customer engagement efficiently.
Real-world examples of master franchise deals that unlocked rapid expansion
Key Takeaway:
Master franchisees are the power players fueling multi-city growth, while strategic alliances and acquisitions are opening new frontiers in the franchise economy

Tanmay Bhargava

Master Franchisee

Shikhar Kohli

Master Franchisee - La pino'z, Tanishq, Carat Lane

Ashish Rathi

Shatambhari Retail

Pulkit Jain

Co-Founder InsightGeeks, TrackoField

12:30 – 01:15 PM

Session 3: Rewiring Education & EdTech: Skilling, Smart Learning & the New-Age Academy Boom

Discussion Points:

Rise of vocational & skill-based academies in Tier 2 & 3 markets
Hybrid learning, AI tutors & tech-enabled classrooms
Teacher training, regulatory shifts & building quality at scale
What parents, students, and employers expect from education in 2025

Key Takeaway:
Explore how tech-driven education and skill-focused academies are scaling beyond metros and reshaping India’s learning landscape