CELEBRATING FRANCHISING

FANZ offers new opportunities to learn, celebrate and recognise franchise excellence this year.

The Franchise Association of New Zealand (FANZ) joined its counterparts around the world in celebrating the inaugural World Franchise Day on 11 June. This new day, created by the World Franchise Council, celebrates the contribution of franchising to economic growth, employment, entrepreneurship, and local communities.

FANZ co-hosted a celebration in Auckland with partner Westpac on the day. The Minister for Small Business and Manufacturing, Hon Chris Penk shared his priorities for small business and addressed the government’s ongoing direction for areas such as infrastructure, productivity, and economic growth. The event was a great celebration of all things franchising as well as being an opportunity to engage with a key government minister.

Beyond the Auckland event, the franchising community was encouraged to acknowledge their teams and franchisees and celebrate their own successes in their own way. If you missed this first one, be sure to diarise the second World Franchise Day in June 2026.

Unlocking franchise success

The world of franchising is fast-paced, ever-evolving, and filled with opportunities – if you know where to look. The key to thriving in this competitive landscape lies in continuous learning and strategic insights. This year’s National Franchise Conference, to be held at Claudelands, Hamilton from 3 – 5 August promises exactly that, bringing together some of the most influential voices in the industry to share their expertise.

With keynote insights from industry leaders like Jim Goniea (Purpose Brands, Anytime Fitness), Tim Cartwright (FreshChoice), and Karla Brennan (McDonald’s Restaurants), attendees will gain valuable perspectives on innovation, growth, and the future of franchising. Beyond inspiring talks, participants can engage in dynamic Round Tables, Concurrent Sessions, and Franchise Panels, ensuring meaningful discussions and networking opportunities.

If you’re serious about shaping the future of your franchise, this is an event you can’t afford to miss. Register for Conference at https://conference.franchiseassociation.org.nz/

Inaugural Franchise Legal Symposium

Before the National Franchise Conference 2025 kicks off, FANZ are setting the stage for an exclusive deep dive into the legal framework that shapes franchising in New Zealand.

The inaugural FANZ Franchise Legal Symposium has been planned for franchise professionals, legal experts, and anyone eager to navigate the complexities of franchise law with confidence.

Why Attend?

• Gain valuable insights from renowned international and national legal experts.

• Explore key legal topics that impact franchising today and into the future.

• Network with industry peers and enhance your legal knowledge in a dynamic, interactive setting.

• Legal professionals will be eligible to earn CPD points.

Three decades of excellence

This year, FANZ celebrates three decades of franchising excellence at the 30th Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards. The Awards provide a platform to recognise innovation, leadership, and success in the franchising community. Whether you’re an entrant or a supporter of the franchise community, the Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards are an opportunity to applaud the remarkable contributions shaping New Zealand’s franchise landscape.

Without franchisees there would be no franchise networks, so this year FANZ are recognising long tenure franchisees. Franchise systems can nominate franchisees who have a 15+ year tenure, and this recognition will be celebrated at the Awards Gala Dinner taking place 1 November at the Cordis in Auckland.

The 2025 Westpac New Zealand Franchise Awards will be a milestone event honouring the best in the business, showcasing the achievements of outstanding franchise systems, franchisees, and service providers across the country. Tickets for the Gala Dinner are on sale from 5 September and award finalists will be announced 19 September.

New online series to build franchise knowledge

Knowledge is the foundation of franchise success. In 2025 FANZ have introduced a new series of online learning sessions, the Knowledge Builder Series. The first two sessions, held in May and June this year addressed common questions about the awards entry process and best

The next Knowledge Builder session, to be held 22 July and presented by Vanessa Wilmott of Geotech Information Services, will be exploring the latest trends from the most recent Census, and what this means for franchise systems in New Zealand. Discover how demographic shifts and changing consumer behaviours are reshaping the business landscape, and where the opportunities lie for network growth, network optimisation, and territory expansion in New Zealand. This session offers practical, data-driven insights and touches on some of the more innovative data sets and tools that franchises are currently using.

New members

A warm welcome to all new FANZ members from the first half of 2025:

Team Fusion, Dream Bathrooms, Sushi Sushi, Pets in the City, Clean Planet, CDM Commercial Design & Management, Quantum Law, Cashpoints New Zealand, Steindle Williams Legal, Bidfood NZ.

FANZ members are clearly marked in the Directory starting on page 60.