IFA and Franchise Update Media Announce Intent to Expand Partnership to Better Serve the Franchise Community

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World’s top franchise trade association and premier franchising media and event company will join under one entity

WASHINGTON – The International Franchise Association (IFA) and Franchise Update Media today announced an agreement to expand on the groups’ years of working together to deliver on events, content, and education to better serve the entire franchising community while carrying out each organization’s mission. IFA and Franchise Update Media intend to join under a single entity, while maintaining each organization’s individual brands, events, advisory groups, and organizational structures.  

“This expanded partnership will allow IFA and Franchise Update Media to best serve the franchise community and preserve what Franchise Update Media has built over nearly 40 years, while enhancing IFA’s mission to protect, enhance and promote franchising,” said Matt Haller, IFA President and CEO. “Franchise Update Media has been an incredible partner to IFA, and their events, content platforms and relationships across all segments of the franchise community are second to none. We believe this partnership is truly a win-win for everyone in franchising.”

“IFA was the only partner that made sense as we evaluated how to preserve the integrity of what Franchise Update Media has built to serve the franchise community, in particularly the community of multi-unit franchisees,” said Gary Gardner, Chairman, and Therese Thilgen, CEO, founders of Franchise Update Media. “IFA’s staff and volunteer leadership are committed to preserving Franchise Update Media’s legacy and brands, and the partnership ensures we and our teams will remain involved to serve our communities and our longstanding customers and clients.”

“This partnership brings together two of the greatest organizations in franchising to advance our business model and strengthen the voice of franchisees,” said Rob Branca, multi-unit franchisee, member of the IFA Board of Directors, and Multi-Unit Franchising Conference Past Chairman and Advisory Board Member. “With IFA representing the entirety of the business model and Franchise Update Media as an integral force within the multi-unit franchisee community, each group brings something new to the other that can advance their goals. This announcement is welcome news for franchisees everywhere with all they will be able to offer as one organization and the value they will provide for our businesses.” 

“I believe the union of Franchise Update with IFA will undoubtedly create greater opportunities for franchisees, franchisors, and suppliers while helping to strengthen, protect, and grow the franchising model which has created tremendous success for innumerable entrepreneurs and their families,” said Gary Robins, multi-unit franchisee, member of the IFA Board of Directors, and Multi-Unit Franchising Conference Past Chairman and Advisory Board Member.

Announced today, IFA intends to acquire Franchise Update Media with both organizations keeping their respective brands, platforms, events and organizational structures intact. Franchise Update Media has been one of the longest-serving IFA supplier members and a strategic partner to the IFA in the last three years, creating and expanding two events together – the Franchise Leadership and Development Conference (FLDC) and Franchise Customer Experience Conference (FCXC). 

This alignment will bring together more audiences within franchising to grow educational and development resources and meet the needs of all those in franchising, while bolstering advocacy efforts to protect franchising. Aligned on culture and values, this new partnership will expand on each organization’s existing missions to support the growth of the franchise model and promote Responsible Franchising for generations to come. 

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About the International Franchise Association:

Celebrating over 60 years of excellence, education, and advocacy, the International Franchise Association (IFA) is the world’s oldest and largest organization representing franchising worldwide. IFA works through its government relations and public policy, media relations, and educational programs to protect, enhance and promote franchising and the approximately 806,270 franchise establishments that support nearly 8.7 million direct jobs, $858.5 billion of economic output for the U.S. economy, and almost 3 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). IFA members include franchise companies in over 300 different business format categories, individual franchisees, and companies that support the industry in marketing, law, technology, and business development.

About Franchise Update Media:

Franchise Update Media has been a leader in the franchising space for more than 30 years. Founded in 1988, the company produces online franchise opportunity and educational websites, two quarterly print magazines, six newsletters, four annual conferences, independent research, and books, entirely focused on franchising. Targeting franchise audiences online, in print, and in person, Franchise Update Media delivers a unique combination of educational and lead generation sources to help franchisors, multi-unit franchisees, opportunity seekers, and suppliers achieve their growth objectives. For more information, visit franchising.com.

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