Southern France Franchise Forum: meet in Aix on 17 November

The Forum Franchise région Sud, a franchise event for southern France, will take place on Tuesday 17 November 2026 at the Pasino Grand in Aix-en-Provence. More than 50 national and regional brands will meet prospective franchisees. With a dedicated partner area and six conference sessions, the event will bring together a range of professionals to help visitors explore a business concept, plan their funding or consider developing a franchise network.

An event for entrepreneurs at different stages

Organised by the Chambers of Commerce and Industry (CCIs) of Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, the forum is not just for prospective franchisees who have already chosen a brand. It is also aimed at employees considering a career change, jobseekers, students and entrepreneurs. Visitors can therefore use the event either to discover franchising or to take an existing project further.

The event also targets franchisees looking to expand their businesses, as well as independent brands considering setting up their own networks. The programme caters for several stages of the entrepreneurial journey: joining a franchise network, expanding an existing business or exploring what it takes to establish a network.

Franchising already has a significant presence in the region. According to information published by La Provence on 2 November, Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur ranks third among French regions for the number of franchisees. This provides context for the event, but does not indicate the scope for opening a business with any particular brand or in any specific location.

Meet more than 50 brands directly

Visitors will be able to speak with representatives of more than 50 national and regional brands seeking new franchisees. A range of sectors will be represented, including food service, food and specialist retail, personal and business services, beauty, health and home-related businesses.

This variety will allow prospective franchisees to explore different concepts in a single day. For those still deciding which direction to take, it is an opportunity to compare their ambitions with the realities of the businesses on offer. For visitors with more developed plans, discussions can help clarify what both the candidate and the network expect from each other.

To prepare for these meetings, visitors can draw up a few questions to ask each brand: what kind of franchisee is it looking for, where does it want to expand, and what support does it provide? Using the same set of questions will make it easier to compare answers rather than relying on first impressions. This is a way to prepare effectively, not a guarantee of finding the right network at the forum.

Experts and six conference sessions to help develop your plans

A dedicated partner area will bring together bankers, lawyers, accountants and insurers. They will be on hand to offer tailored advice on the legal, financial and practical aspects of starting a business. Visitors can therefore complement their discussions with brands by putting questions to other professionals.

Six conference sessions will also take place throughout the day. Featuring first-hand accounts from franchisees, they will cover the main stages of a project: choosing a network, securing funding, contractual issues and opportunities to open a business in the Région Sud, the name used for Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur.

This combination of formats is central to the announced programme. Meetings with brands will allow visitors to examine their concepts, while the conference sessions and partner area will provide further opportunities to explore how to put a project together. Prospective franchisees should therefore allow time for all three elements rather than spending their entire visit at the brands’ stands.

Practical information for planning your visit

The Forum Franchise région Sud will be open on Tuesday 17 November 2026, from 9.30 am to 5 pm, at the Pasino Grand, 21 avenue de l’Europe, 13090 Aix-en-Provence, France.

In his introduction to the event, Daniel Margot, President of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur Chamber of Commerce and Industry, stresses that the appetite for entrepreneurship remains strong despite an uncertain economic climate. He also highlights changes within the franchise community, particularly the use of digital tools to support customer relationships and the transition towards more environmentally sustainable practices.

Key takeaway: prepare a short introduction to your project, your preferred locations and your main questions. The practical aim of the day should be to leave with answers you can compare and a clear list of next steps to explore.