RETAILS & FRANCHISE - Saigon Executive Exchange Luncheon

Join us for our June "Saigon Executive Exchange" luncheon for people who are interested in RETAILS & FRANCHISE.  Our events include speakers who are experts in their industries, who will speak for 20 minutes followed by a question & answer session.

Each Saigon Executive Exchange event feature our speakers and their presentations, a sit-down lunch with great menu items from the Hard Rock Café and time for business networking.

Date: June 17th, 2015

Time: 11:30 – 14:00 p.m

Venue: Hard Rock Café

JUNE TOPIC: RETAILS & FRANCHISE

SPEAKERS:

• Vaughan Ryan – Managing Director, Nielsen Vietnam

Topic : “When will we see you again" – Finding the growth again in Retail within Vietnam”

Despite healthy looking GDP growth in Vietnam, all is not as it seems. As two streams of the economy start to more clearly appear, export growth continues to be in double digits, but the domestic demand and retailing in general is really suffering.

In the historic super growth segment of FMCG, the market went into decline for the first time in 2014 in over 20 years of Nielsen recording the market, and despite some growth coming back, it remains well behind the GDP numbers and of the average growth over the last decade. We will investigate how to succeed in this tough environment and what this increasingly savvy consumer wants from us in the retailing world.

About Vaughan Ryan:

Vaughan has been with Nielsen since 2002 in which time he has held several jobs working with hundreds of companies across Australia, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. With a relentless focus on innovation, long-term sustainable growth and developing great leaders of the future. Managing large teams conducting consumer research across various industry practice groups including FMCG, Finance, Automotive, Telco and others, consulting with market leading companies with the best available understanding of their consumers and their markets.

Prior to Nielsen Vaughan worked within the liquor industry, with brewer Lion Nathan, Corby Distillery (Allied Domecq) in Canada and for Southcorp Wines in California with their joint venture in Seven Peaks Winery. While working, he has also completed a Masters of International Business from Calpoly University in San Luis Obispo, California and Swinburne University in Melbourne, to compliment his Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Asian Studies.

• Phi Nguyen – Managing Partner, Indochina, World Franchise Associates

Topic: “The Future of Franchising in Vietnam”

Franchising has been a preferred growth strategy for companies looking to expand domestically and internationally. Examples include global brands such as McDonald’s, Pizza Hut, Burger King, Starbucks, 7-Eleven, Knight Frank and Avis.

In recent years, Asian franchise brands are also starting to emerge. Brands such as Breadtalk from Singapore, Secret Recipe from Malaysia, Jollibee from the Philippines and Café Bene from South Korea, have achieved tremendous growth in the region using the franchising approach, which begs the question …What does the future hold for Vietnam as a franchise market?

In this session, Phi Nguyen will present opportunities for local investors to establish local businesses as Master Franchisees and for Viet enterprises to grow using the franchise growth model.

About Phi Nguyen:

Phi Nguyen holds an MBA from Queensland University, Australia majoring in marketing communication. Her experience spans over 15 years as a senior executive in brand, retail, and franchise development across global emerging markets, with the latest projects focusing on Asia. Her recent and latest role is Managing Partner – Indochina at World Franchise Associates with a portfolio of over 150 brands to launch in Indochina region. Phi is also board advisor at the Chief Marketing Officer Council (CMO), and editor & host of Insight Vietnam, a business talk show that is broadcast on VTV4.

• Hanh Tran – Country Partner, DFDL

Topic: "Starting a company or franchise / retail business in Vietnam (or the Mekong region) and what you need to know to be successful"

The Vietnamese government has recently introduced a range of regulations and policies aimed at stimulating economic growth and enhancing the investment environment in Vietnam. Some of such regulations are the Investment Law 2014 and the Law on Enterprise 2014.

As a part of this event, DFDL will discuss the key legal terms for the establishment of a company and franchise arrangements in Vietnam, particularly what you need to know to be successful! As a regional legal and tax firm DFDL will also present the broader picture of regional drivers which are affecting Vietnams regulations, policies and investment.”

About Hanh Tran:

Hanh is a leading Vietnamese lawyer, with more than 15 years’ experience advising leading multinational clients and financial institutions on complex corporate law matters in Vietnam and Cambodia.

Before joining DFDL in 2006, Hanh worked at the European Commission in Vietnam where she was responsible for the legal aspects of the EC’s development projects in Vietnam, and prior to that she was the head of the corporate secretary division of a Big 4 firm in Cambodia.

Hanh advises clients predominantly on complex Project Finance, Real Estate and Corporate and Commercial matters. Significant transactions include the Chinese state bank financing of a USD 421 million real estate project in Cambodia in 2011; a USD 300 million major port project; and most recently, the acquisition of a stake in a Cambodian hydropower project by a major Chinese SOE.

If you are a member of one of the chambers of commerce in HCMC you'll receive a discount on attendance by registering and showing us your chamber membership card when you check-in at our event.