FREX Bengaluru 2025: India's Premier Franchise & Retail Expo at BIEC

30th August, 2025
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM	Registration & Networking Breakfast
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM	Opening Ceremony & Welcome Address Session Highlights: Welcome note by Organizers Lamp Lighting & Opening Remarks
10:30 AM – 11:15 AM	Inaugural Panel : The Future of Retail Franchising in India’s Consumer Economy Session Highlights: Rise of the Aspiring Middle Class & Rise of Tier 2 & 3 Cities as Franchise Growth Hubs Franchise Models Enable Faster, Asset-Light Expansion Brand-Conscious Millennials & Gen Z Fuel Demand Sectoral Boom in Fashion, QSR, and Value Retail
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM	Panel 2: India’s Franchise Growth Map: Scaling Franchise Models in smaller cities & Unlocking the Next 1,000 Towns Session Highlights: What drives successful franchise expansion in tier 2, 3 & 4 markets Challenges and solutions in logistics, talent, and consumer readiness. How government –led policies and incentives are empowering local franchising in smaller towns. Manage the volatile dynamics of an investment negotiation and how to balance the varied expectations of all parties Role of real estate in site selection — malls vs high street in small-town India. Hyperlocalization: Customizing brand experiences for non-metro audiences.
12:00 PM – 12:20 PM	Keynote: Designing for New India: Format Innovation & the Rise of the 10-Minute Store Session Highlights: Dark stores, Q-commerce & hybrid models New retail formats: kiosks, carts, mobile stores Adapting formats for low-rental micro markets Convenience-driven retail in Tier 2/3 India
12:20 PM – 12:45 PM	Networking Tea Break
12:45 PM – 1:30 PM	Panel 3: Retail Redefined: Where India Shops in 2026 Session Highlights: Future of retail experiences Merging tech, trust, and touch in customer journeys Reimagining store roles in a digital-first economy
1:30 PM – 2:30 PM	Networking Lunch & Expo Visit
2:30 PM – 2:45 PM	Keynote: Delivering Growth: The Logistics Backbone of India Session Highlights: How logistics innovation, last-mile delivery, and a robust partner network fuel scalability for franchise businesses in India and abroad.
2:45 PM – 3:30 PM	Panel 4: Beauty, Wellness & Fitness- Scaling the Feel-Good Economy with Franchising Session Highlights: The rise of salons, skincare chains, fitness studios, and wellness clinics as mainstream franchise categories. Franchise vs. licensing models: Choosing the right pathway for expansion in beauty and wellness services. How tier 2/3 markets are responding to premium self-care and preventive health formats. The power of product + service bundling in building customer loyalty and increasing AOV (average order value). Leveraging celebrity branding, influencer marketing, and tech platforms to scale visibility and bookings. Navigating training, SOPs, and standardization in people-led service businesses. The evolving role of wellness retail (nutraceuticals, ayurvedic products, fitness supplements) in franchise networks.
3:30 PM – 4:15 PM	Panel 5: How Tech is Reshaping Franchise Operations in India Session Highlights: Digitization of Operations: How cloud-based POS, ERP, and real-time dashboards are giving franchisors better control and visibility across outlets. Smart Franchisee Onboarding: Use of digital training tools, virtual SOP simulations, and LMS platforms to ensure faster, standardized onboarding. Data-Driven Decisions: Leveraging analytics for location planning, inventory forecasting, and personalized customer engagement. Enhancing Customer Experience: Integrating CRM, loyalty apps, and AI-driven feedback tools for seamless and consistent service. Supply Chain Efficiency: How tech is optimizing vendor management, cold chain logistics, and inventory flow for franchised networks.
4:15 PM – 5:00 PM	Networking Session Informal B2B meetups between franchisors, real estate heads, and franchise seekers
31st August, 2025
9:00 AM – 10:00 AM	Welcome Coffee & Expo Floor walk
10:00 AM – 10:45 AM	Panel 1: Franchising in Food: From Dine-In to Delivery-First Session Highlights: Scaling through multi-format kitchens (cloud, carts, kiosks, cafes) Regional food chains expanding across states Operational efficiency: Kitchen automation & delivery partnerships Menu engineering, profit margins & outlet-level P&L Franchisee profitability: Location planning & aggregator collaboration
10:45 AM – 11:30 AM	Panel 2: The Location Game: Choosing Between High Streets and Malls for Maximum ROI Session Highlights: Choosing the Right Rental Model: Pros and Cons of Revenue-Share vs. Fixed Lease Footfall vs. Sales: Understanding conversion rates across mall and high street formats 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
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM	Panel 3: The Franchise Backbone: People, SOPs & Performance Session Highlights: Hiring the Right People: Tips on how to find and hire employees who are the right fit for franchise stores in different locations. Training for Consistency: How leading brands onboard and upskill franchise staff to deliver a uniform customer experience. SOPs That Scale: Creating and implementing standard operating procedures that are easy to replicate and enforce across franchise units. Performance Management: Aligning team KPIs with brand standards to ensure operational excellence at every outlet. People + Process Integration: How to ensure that your human capital and process systems work together for seamless franchise growth.
12:15 PM – 12:35 PM	Legal note: Protecting Your Brand: Navigating Legal IPs in Franchising Session Highlights: This session will unpack how trademarks, copyrights, patents, and design rights form the backbone of franchise success. From safeguarding brand identity to avoiding costly disputes, attendees will gain practical insights into structuring airtight franchise agreements, ensuring compliance, and protecting their intellectual property in both domestic and international markets
12:45 PM – 1:30 PM	Panel 4: Multi-Unit Mastery: Driving Growth through Operational Scale Session Highlights: Master Franchisees & Area Developers: The true engines behind rapid brand growth. Models that Scale: Unit vs. territory-based expansion—what works best and why. Growth Stories: Regional players growing from 5 to 50 stores through strong backend systems.
1:30 PM – 3:00 PM	Lunch & Deal-Making Tables
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM	FREX Recognition Hour Awards for: Emerging Retail Franchise of the Year Innovative Business Format Most Promising Franchise Leader

Conference Overview

FREX In Numbers

Our Speakers

Director - Franchise Management, Aditya Birla Fashion and Retail Ltd.

CEO, Nuvora Retail

CEO, AJIO Business & Trends Footwear

Chairman & Managing Director, DTDC Express Limited

Lead – Retail, Mega Channel, Tanishq

President Retail, Cello World Limited

Brand Head – Devo- Siyaram Silk Mills Limited

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

Head of Development, Radisson Hotel Group for South Asia

CEO, YLG Salons

Founder & CMD, Naturals Salon & Spa

CEO, GOPIZZA India

President, Zepto

Partner and Consumer Industry Leader, Deloitte India

Director, Anytime Fitness India

Director, Beamer Food & Beverages

Serial Entrepreneur Multi-unit & Master Franchisee Titan Group, Max Fashion

Co- Founder & CEO - Junior Toes International Preschool

Associate VP, Rebel Foods

COO, Chess Klub

Agenda

10:30 am - 11:30 am

11:30 am - 12:15 pm

12:15 pm - 12:50 pm

12:50 pm - 13:20 pm

Networking Lunch

13:20 pm - 14:20 pm

14:20 pm - 15:05 pm

15:05 pm - 15:30 pm

15:30 pm - 16:15 pm

16:15 pm - 17:00 pm

10:30 am - 11:30 pm

11:30 am - 12:15 pm

12:15 pm - 12:35 pm

12:35 pm - 13:15 pm

14:15 pm - 14:45 pm

14:45 pm - 15:15 pm

15:15 pm - 16:30 pm

Our Partners

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