Russian Franchise Association schedules open meeting in Moscow for 1 October

The Russian Franchise Association (RAF) has announced an open meeting in Moscow on 1 October 2026. The invitation is aimed at company founders and staff responsible for franchise networks. According to a notice published on Retail.ru on 24 September, the meeting is scheduled for Thursday, from 15:00 to 18:30, at the 1C building on Dmitrovskoye Shosse.

When and where the meeting will take place

The announcement gives the address as the 1C building, 9 Dmitrovskoye Shosse, Moscow, and identifies Timiryazevskaya metro station as a nearby landmark. The stated duration is three and a half hours, from 15:00 to 18:30. These details should help prospective attendees assess whether they can attend and plan their journey, although the notice does not provide a detailed schedule.

The notice appeared in Retail.ru’s ‘Company News’ section at 13:57 on 24 September 2026, one week before the scheduled meeting. This is an advance announcement: the source material contains no information about a completed meeting, its outcomes or any decisions taken. It is therefore too early to assess the substance of the forthcoming discussion or its implications for the franchising community.

One important practical distinction is between the event’s stated hours and the arrangements for entering the venue. The available text does not say when check-in opens, whether attendees must show identification or which room will host the meeting. These details should be confirmed before travelling, particularly by anyone planning to arrive just as the meeting begins.

Who is invited

The organisers address two groups: company founders and staff responsible for franchise networks. The invitation is therefore aimed at people involved in managing a business and developing its franchise model. However, the announcement does not specify whether company representatives are expected to attend together or may attend individually.

The event is described as an ‘open meeting’. That wording alone does not establish that entry is available without advance registration, that attendance is free or that places are unlimited. The source material does not set out the attendance conditions. Representatives of companies that are not RAF members should also check in advance whether any separate requirements apply to them.

Franchise network leaders may wish to choose an attendee according to their company’s priorities. If the aim is to discuss strategic matters, it would make sense to involve the founder in preparations. If day-to-day work with franchise partners is the priority, it may be useful to gather questions from the person responsible for the network. These are suggestions for preparation, not programme themes or delegation requirements announced by the organisers.

What is known about the agenda

Confirmed information is currently limited to the organiser, event name, intended attendees, date, time and venue. The available announcement does not name speakers, list presentation topics or describe how discussions will be conducted. There is also no information about a live stream, recordings or the publication of materials after the meeting.

There is therefore no basis for presenting the event as an announcement of legislative changes, a showcase for new franchises or a discussion of specific market figures. Such topics may interest the franchising community, but the source material does not confirm their inclusion in this meeting’s programme. The notice also contains no information about outlet openings, deals or new association members.

Readers should keep the scope of the news in perspective: RAF has announced a forthcoming in-person meeting and identified whom it is inviting. Any more detailed conclusions about the agenda will require further information from the organisers. Until then, it is better to rely on the published logistical details rather than fill the missing programme with assumptions about what must be discussed.

How franchise industry representatives can prepare

The first step is to confirm the attendance arrangements. Before adding the meeting to the work diary, prospective attendees should find out whether registration is required, whether there is a fee, how to obtain confirmation and what rules apply to entering the building. It is also worth requesting the latest programme to assess whether the meeting is relevant to the company’s current priorities.

The second step is to prepare a short list of questions. A company might, for example, raise questions about working with franchise partners, supporting its network or sharing experience within the industry. These should be treated as an attendee’s own preparation, not as confirmed items on RAF’s agenda. If the organisers allow time for discussion, preparing a question in advance will help the attendee put it clearly and specifically.

Finally, attendees should check the address and time again before setting off and, after the meeting, distinguish between views expressed and formally adopted decisions. The announcement itself creates no new obligations for franchise owners or their partners and does not indicate any change in operating rules.

Practical takeaway: company founders and franchise network managers may wish to put 1 October, 15:00–18:30, in their diaries, but should confirm the attendance conditions and programme for RAF’s open meeting before travelling.