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Wendy’s Returns to Argentina This Year

On January 27, 2011, In foreign investment, franchises, us companies, by InvestBA
Wendy's in South America

Hincha: If she's going to keep wearing the colors of the Seleccion, the girl belongs in Argentina.

The White House may be giving Argentina the cold shoulder today, but we can take comfort knowing a familiar redhead will definitely pay us a return visit this year. When the Wendy’s in Argentina rumor mill kicked into high gear during the last quarter of 2010, we started to have Cuadrada Cravings. Fortunately today we have confirmation of the franchise development agreement and a taste of what’s to come over the coming decade.

As anticipated, the franchise agreement is between Atlanta-based Wendy’s/Arby’s International Inc. and Desarrollos Gastronomicos S.A. (DEGASA), the private investment company that controls D&G, the operator of the successful Havanna Cafe franchise. “As part of an organization with a proven track record running successful food service operations, (DEGASA) has the strength and resources to rapidly build Wendy’s presence in Argentina,” said Wendy’s/Arby’s Group President and CEO Roland Smith.

That presence will begin with the first Wendy’s opening in Buenos Aires later this year and plans for 50 new restaurants in Argentina over the next 10 years, according to today’s announcement. The third largest quick-service restaurant company in the U.S., Wendy’s/Arby’s is aggressively pursuing growth opportunities in emerging markets like Brazil, China and Japan. And we can add Wendy’s/Arby’s to the growing list of Atlanta-based companies doing business in Argentina.

For more information about Argentina franchise opportunities, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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FranchiseBA: ProntoWash Eco Autospa Expanding to the Middle East

On January 20, 2011, In entrepreneurs, franchises, by InvestBA
ProntoWash

Argentina-based ProntoWash is cleaning up in the U.S. and new markets like the Middle East.

“The Argentines Who Want to Wash Cars in Kuwait.” That’s how one Mendoza paper described ProntoWash, the Argentine-owned car wash franchise which piggybacked on the government’s Middle East trade mission to launch a new MegaAutoSPA concept along with their Kuwaiti partner, Al-Wazzan.

Al-Wazzan plans to grow the franchise across 18 countries in the Middle East including the UAE, Qatar and Saudi Arabia. The new three-story MegaSPA offers car wash and detailing services along with coffee bars, gaming centers and VIP lounges.

The big box retail concept is a radical departure for a company that built its reputation with an eco-friendly business model based on a small footprint, utilizing previously under-utilized parking garage/lot space and using a pint of water or less for each car washed.

The smaller ProntoWash facilities can be found in high-profile parking spots from Fox Studios in L.A. to the Houston Galleria to the Lincoln Road garage in SoBe. The company signs agreements with the likes of Simon Malls, Carrefour and Wal-Mart before transforming 8-16 spaces of the retailer’s parking lot into an attractive ProntoWash AutoSPA.

While ProntoWash signage is primarily yellow, current and potential franchisees are seeing green. The company’s state-of-the-art car wash service is based on the Washing Kart technology that sprays a low-pressure mix of water and no-foam detergents and uses about a pint of water per car. The company offers both Master Franchise and Individual Franchise agreements, as well as Fleet Services for the likes of GM, Toyota, Coca-Cola, Audi and Kraft. (ProntoWash.com)

For more information about Argentina franchise opportunities, download the latest issue of InvestBA Privada.

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FranchiseBA: Chuck E. Cheese Eyes Expansion in Argentina, South America

On January 14, 2011, In franchises, us companies, by InvestBA
Chuck E. Cheese's

Chile was CEC's first South American market. Now Argentina, Brazil and Peru are on the mouse's radar.

Family, food and entertainment are the focus of Texas-based CEC Entertainment, the operator of Chuck E. Cheese’s restaurants in 48 states and 6 countries. Now the giant mouse from the Lone Star state is looking to Latin America, apparently lured by the same combination of population growth, economic strength and youthful demographics attracting the likes of Wendy’s and Pizza Hut.

Unlike the U.S., most neighborhoods in Buenos Aires and other major Argentine cities all have designated party and event planning centers, but these venues typically don’t offer a full-service restaurant, electronic games and rides all under one roof like Chuck E. Cheese’s. So they may have found an attractive niche.

According to Bloomberg, the company has been spending aggressively on overhauling existing stores in the U.S. during the recession to keep families coming back, a move that is paying dividends judging by the stock’s 18% rise in 2010.

News from Chile’s Diario Financiero suggests the Santiago-based owner of the Chuck E. Cheese’s franchise operator in Chile, Pie de Monte, is looking to Argentina, Brazil, Colombia and Peru as possible markets for expansion. A spokesman for the company says Chile will remain the hub and base of operations for Chuck E. Cheese’s in the region where they envision opening 155 stores over the coming decade. The company website says franchise partners are also being sought in Costa Rica, Mexico, Panama and Puerto Rico.

For more information about investment opportunities in Buenos Aires, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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FranchiseBA: Can Argentine Brands Find Success on Foreign Soil?

On September 27, 2010, In competitiveness, foreign investment, franchises, by InvestBA
Havanna Argentina

Argentina's Havanna found success abroad by staying upscale and focusing on leading Latin markets.

In the new issue of InvestBA Privada, branding expert Claudio Destefano tells our readers “Argentine consumers are very marquero (as we say here), because Argentines travel a great deal and want to enjoy the same brands here that they experienced abroad.”

That desire for quality and consistency helps explain the success of U.S. chains like McDonald’s, Howard Johnson’s and Starbucks, which just opened its 23rd store. But what about successful Argentina-based franchises? Do they have the name recognition, consistency and marketing savvy to be successful abroad?

La Nacion poses that question in “The Art of Exporting Franchises” and points to local coffee house/chocolatier Havanna as one of the few that has translated to foreign soil. Part of the challenge is that Argentina is associated with great generics like beef, leather, tango and the Patagonia, says local branding consultant, Marcelo Elizondo; however, he says there is tremendous potential for well-established Argentina franchises once they focus on a niche.

In the case of Havanna, that meant staying upscale and targeting high-end neighborhoods in leading Latin American markets like Costa Rica, Venezuela, Chile, Mexico and Brazil which accounts for half of the company’s foreign franchises. Clothiers Kevingston and Legacy are singled out as examples of Argentine franchises that have found success in Spain, while Pro Entertainment has successfully exported the Boca Juniors-branded futbol school to several foreign countries. (Full Story in Spanish)

For more information about franchise and other investment opportunities in Argentina, download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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After 20 Years, 200 Argentina Franchises to Choose From

On August 6, 2010, In competitiveness, entrepreneurs, franchises, by InvestBA
Cardon Argentina

Franquicia Nuestra: Luxury goods retailer Cardon began franchising in '97 and today has over 110 stores.

In Argentina, it can be difficult for a small business to get off the ground, given a variety of bureaucratic, financial and legal hurdles. As such, the franchise business model has become an attractive alternative for local entrepreneurs looking to launch their own business with the backing, resources and support of a well-established franchise brand.

Today the Argentina Association of Brands and Franchises estimates there are 400 franchises currently operating in the country, but Emprendedores News Director Marcelo Berenstein says when you take a closer look and weed out the wannabe franchises with only 1 or 2 locations, the number of businesses with a growing franchise network is closer to 200.

“We find ourselves with companies classifying themselves as franchises, and soon thereafter they begin to disappear from the market,” says Berenstein, adding a call for better industry standards, “It’s clear the absence of a law regulating activity (which exists in the E.U., the U.S., Mexico and Brazil) creates that opportunity for anyone who wants to call themselves a franchise.”

So what are the secrets of success of the 200 best franchise networks and individual franchisees? Berenstein says they work hard, they look at the business from all sides, they don’t believe money comes easily and they have a very long-term vision. The other 50%, he says, will fail and, rather than accepting responsibility, typically blame the market or “franchise network complexities” for their demise. (Full article in Spanish)

For more information about Argentina franchise opportunities, visit our archives and download the new issue of InvestBA Privada.

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