GFE — International Franchise Expo

GFE is the long-running franchise investment and chain development platform in South China, positioned for direct matchmaking between brands and investors through structured, on-site consultations and signing sessions. The 2026 spring edition runs March 4–6, 2026 at the China Import & Export Fair Complex (Canton Fair Complex), Pazhou. The organizer presents GFE as an event held for over two decades, historically twice per year, which explains the accumulated buyer network and repeat attendance from multi-site operators, convenience and specialty retail, F&B chains, education and services. For procurement-driven visitors, the show’s format reduces search and screening time: brand pavilions are arranged to facilitate fast profile checks (initial fee, payback model, support stack, territory policy) and immediate follow-ups with development directors. For brands, GFE concentrates qualified traffic from Guangdong and neighboring provinces that are ready to open, relocate or multi-brand their portfolios, translating meetings into signed LOIs faster than dispersed roadshows. The official pages explicitly state the 2026 dates and venue, which we reference here to anchor travel and stand planning.

Content spans mainstream F&B franchising (tea/coffee, fast casual, specialty snacks, bakery), convenience and specialty retail, education and training, beauty/health/lifestyle services, and chain enablement including payment, POS, supply-chain, site-selection, decoration and store-in-store solutions. For investors and multi-unit operators, GFE’s program emphasizes due-diligence checkpoints—unit economics, royalty and ad fund structure, store count momentum, supply readiness and operations support—so that discussions move beyond brand stories to verifiable launch plans. Brands use the show to calibrate local sourcing and distribution, pilot city picks, and to recruit master, regional or city partners under defined development schedules. The event’s long tenure and spring schedule align with landlords’ leasing cycles and China’s post-holiday hiring windows, which helps compress timelines from first meeting to soft opening. Official positioning describes GFE as a professional franchise expo led by FORO Exhibition, recognized locally for its chain investment focus.

Expect a practical mix: domestic and international franchise brands seeking single-unit and master partners; investors ranging from first-time entrepreneurs to multi-brand portfolio owners; property and mall leasing teams scouting anchor and traffic builders; and service providers covering legal, finance, site selection, fit-out, POS/CRM and supply. Meetings typically start with a five-to-ten-minute pitch on brand differentiation, target AUV and cash-on-cash payback, then shift to unit specs, CAPEX bands, sourcing, staff ramp-up and training SLAs. Qualified investors arrive with target districts and budget envelopes, which shortens time from discussion to area development mapping. For brands new to South China, GFE provides immediate ground truth on consumer price points, labor availability and compliance steps (food business permits, safety, hygiene), allowing realistic launch roadmaps. The organizer’s materials and partner listings indicate a curated approach to buyer recruitment and media, supporting faster conversion from footfall to signed term sheets.

On the floor, visitors evaluate franchise concepts side-by-side with the infrastructure needed to scale: POS and payments, delivery integration, loyalty/CRM, IoT for cold chain, kitchen equipment, display and signage, design/fit-out, training content and audit tools. F&B brands show standardized menus, operating manuals, kitchen layouts and SKU sourcing with compliance certificates; retail and service brands present assortment plans, staff training frameworks and local marketing toolkits. Due diligence can be advanced on site: fee schedules, pilot store financials, required certificates and key clauses (territory exclusivity, store transfer, brand standards, termination). For multi-unit operators, a day at GFE is often enough to assemble a multi-brand slate with non-overlapping dayparts and price tiers, optimizing labor and logistics. Exhibitor and “About” pages from the organizer confirm the event’s scope around franchising and chain operations rather than generic SME fairs.

The Canton Fair Complex provides multi-hall capacity, heavy-duty move-in windows, ample meeting rooms and hospitality options, making it suitable for high-traffic franchise matchmaking. Its Pazhou location is integrated with Guangzhou Metro and hotel stock, which keeps investor agendas dense: brand pitches, contract reviews, venue tours and quick off-site mall visits can be scheduled in one day. The venue’s predictable contractor ecosystem and access procedures reduce install risk for brands building full mock-ups and tasting stations. For international teams, the Canton Fair area’s transport and lodging density cuts travel friction. The official date/venue statement is available on the FORO English page and a dedicated date notice, both specifying March 4–6, 2026 at the Canton Fair Complex.

The show is organized by Guangzhou Fuzhong Exhibition Co., Ltd. (FORO Exhibition), a Guangzhou-based organizer established in 2001 with a portfolio centered on franchise and chain development events. Organizer pages list FORO as GFE’s owner/operator with published contacts (telephone and address) and a stated mission to run professional, internationally oriented franchise exhibitions. This continuity explains GFE’s twice-yearly rhythm and the depth of its buyer file in Guangdong and neighboring provinces. For exhibitors, a single point of contact across brand recruitment, visitor organization, media and on-site services simplifies planning and post-show follow-up. For investors, the organizer’s screening and registration workflows improve signal-to-noise, making meetings concrete around CTQs, location plans and launch timelines. The official site and contact page confirm the entity and contact lines.