GuangzhouMay 14, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — On May 13, the three-day Guangzhou International Franchise & Chain Exhibition concluded successfully at Area D of the Canton Fair Complex. As a bellwether for the chain franchise industry in South China, this year’s exhibition, in conjunction with HOTELEX Guangzhou International Hospitality & Catering Expo and the 29th China Bakery Exhibition, leveraged a strong industrial aggregation effect to deliver an annual event integrating showcasing, matchmaking, exchange, and competition for the South China chain franchise sector.
01 A Gathering of Brands, Diverse Tracks Competing Side by Side
Over the three exhibition days, chain brands including Junbo Pizza, Luckin Coffee, Manling Congee, Lawson, Li Shang Huang, DQ, Mengziyuan, Bingxue Shiguang, Siweiluo, Yaro Ramen, Liulang Bubble • Self-Service BBQ, Gaozhuqiang, Guanglong Egg Tart King, Di 9 Wei Big Bone Soup Wonton, Jiangnan Youli Xiaocha, Wudai Tongtang, Jinri Bao Tangshui, Wang Jiao Jiao Benbang Noodle House, and Diliyabao all made appearances. Franchise projects from multiple tracks competed on the same stage, building a deeply vertical and precisely resource-matched platform connecting brand owners and investors.
The Franchise Filing Zone was also a highlight, with brands such as Guanglong Egg Tart King, Lin Lu Shi・Lu Wei Shao La, Sanjin Tangbao, Face Wash Bear, Yeste, and Yile Pet collectively appearing. This underscored the exemplary effect of compliant investment attraction, establishing a more transparent and trustworthy franchise ecosystem for investors.
02 Wisdom Clash: Forums Leading Industry Trends
During the exhibition, multiple high-value forums were held one after another, focusing on core topics such as industry trends, compliant operations, and brand growth, providing exhibitors and visitors with cutting-edge insights and practical know-how.
- The 15th Guangdong Franchise Development Conference
On May 11, the 15th Guangdong Franchise Development Conference was held in the forum area of Hall 20.1, Area D. With the theme “Compliance Gathers Momentum, Innovation Opens New Horizons,” the venue was packed and the atmosphere was lively.
At the conference, the “Guangdong Chain Operation Listed Companies Development Dynamics and Trends Report” was released for the first time, sparking significant attention. Meanwhile, seven chain brands—Junbo Pizza, Manling Congee, Lawson, Li Shang Huang, Mengziyuan, Liulang Bubble, and Bingxue Shiguang—were honored with the “2026 Gife Annual Chain Franchise Benchmark Brand” award.
- Chain Rebirth • South China Franchise Ecosystem & Omni-Channel Network Brand Empowerment Forum
On the morning of May 12, the “Chain Rebirth • South China Ecosystem & Omni-Channel Franchise Network Brand Empowerment Forum” was grandly held in Guangzhou.
At the forum, Lu Xuan, Project Director of the Shanghai Bohua International Exhibition Company’s Guangzhou Joint Exhibition, delivered the opening address, highlighting the current development trends in the chain industry.
Wang Jixin, Partner at Shangpu Consulting, shared deep insights into the dual-wheel drive of “Product Power” and “Scene Power” for chain brands, accurately interpreting future industry trends. Subsequently, He Xiaoxian, Co-founder of Jinri Bao Tangshui, took the stage, elaborating on the single-store profitability model based on practical experience, providing attendees with highly valuable operational ideas.
Finally, Yan Haihui, Founder of the Omni-Channel Franchise Network, hosted the Omni-Channel Investment Attraction Strategy Launch and delivered multiple brand-themed sharing sessions, injecting fresh ideas into the ecological construction and business empowerment of chain brands.
- Qiangguang Canmeng • South China Super Franchisee Conference
On the afternoon of May 12, the Qiangguang Canmeng • South China Super Franchisee Conference (Guangzhou Station) was grandly held in Hall 20.1, Area D of the Canton Fair Complex.
The conference was co-hosted by Shanghai Bohua and Changsha Qiangqiang United Co., Ltd., and co-organized by Qiangguang Canmeng. The venue was packed, with Lu Xuan, Project Director of the Shanghai Bohua International Exhibition Company’s Guangzhou Joint Exhibition, delivering the opening remarks. Over 300 veteran franchisees deeply rooted in South China, each managing hundreds of stores, gathered collectively, marking the official entry of the catering franchise industry into the “high-net-worth investor” era.
The conference was jointly launched by event initiators Sun Yu and Li Xiaoping, along with Qiangguang Canmeng initiator Li Qiang. In his speech, Sun Yu pointed out that the core mission of this conference was to build a “trust hub” for the catering franchise industry—by having professional bloggers identify pitfalls and veteran multi-store owners select products, squeezing the water out of investment attraction presentations.
- Chain Rebirth • Cross-Border Integration Empowering Franchise Brand Innovation Forum
On the morning of May 13, the “Chain Rebirth • Cross-Border Integration Empowering Franchise Brand Innovation Forum,” hosted by Shanghai Bohua International Exhibition Co., Ltd. and co-organized by strategic partner Special Forces AI Marketing, was held in Guangzhou.
The forum focused on topics such as AI traffic dividends, catering digitalization, and chain operation innovation. Guests including Chen Qiang, Co-founder of Heligou Technology, and Zhang Jiayuan, Managing Director of Huahuihuang, delivered themed sharing sessions on AI.
A highlight was the roundtable forum, moderated by Wang Zhigang, President of the Catering Committee of the Shanghai Chain Operation Association. Panelists including Wang Zichen, Co-founder of Bingxue Shiguang; Cai Yong, Investment Attraction Manager of Wang Jiao Jiao Benbang Noodle House; Liang Guoqiang, Investment Attraction Director of Mengziyuan; and Deng Zhen, Dean of the Jiangnan Youli Xiaocha Business School, jointly explored new strategies for “Traffic + Technology” in the catering industry, injecting cross-border integration momentum into franchise brands.
- 2026 First Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Food-Medicine Homology • Intangible Cultural Heritage Food Inheritance and Innovation Forum
On May 13, the 2026 First Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Food-Medicine Homology • Intangible Cultural Heritage Food Inheritance and Innovation Forum was successfully held.
Professor Sun Xiaosheng delivered the opening address, Chairman He Zhenquan outlined the industry vision, and three experts—Wei Kun, Zhu Shiping, and Nie Hong—shared in-depth insights from multiple dimensions. The roundtable forum explored high-quality development across the entire industry chain, with digital collaboration platforms and new overseas expansion models empowering enterprises. The event featured partner award ceremonies, the establishment of an expert committee, partner signings, and award presentations, progressing layer by layer, uniting government, industry, academia, and research forces in a vibrant and dynamic atmosphere.
03 Skill Competition: Top-Tier Events Ignite the Venue
- 2026 CHA Food Innovation Championship – Wenshi Chinese Native Chicken Cup • Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao “Ten Thousand Chefs, Ten Thousand Dishes” Skills Competition
On May 13, the three-day 2026 CHA Food Innovation Championship – Wenshi Chinese Native Chicken Cup • Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao “Ten Thousand Chefs, Ten Thousand Dishes” Skills Competition concluded successfully. Guided by the China Hotel Association and the Guangdong Food Culture Research Association, the competition was co-hosted by the Famous Chefs Professional Committee of the China Hotel Association, the Famous Chefs Professional Committee of the Guangdong Food Culture Research Association, Shanghai Bohua International Exhibition Co., Ltd., and the All-China Bakery Industry Union, and was title-sponsored by Wenshi Food Group Co., Ltd.
- 2026 World Coffee Roasting Championship China Selection – Guangzhou Regional Competition
On May 13, the 2026 World Coffee Roasting Championship China Selection – Guangzhou Regional Competition concluded successfully. The event saw a gathering of top-tier talent and intense skill competition, ultimately producing the winners: First place – Zhou Ying; Second place – Wu Anpeng and Zheng Weishen. Congratulations to the three contestants for successfully advancing, ready to embark on the next leg of their journey! See you again at Hotelex Chengdu on July 2-4 for the pinnacle showdown!
- 2026 Guangzhou International Coffee, Wine & Food Festival
On May 13, the 2026 Guangzhou International Coffee, Wine & Food Festival came to a close. Over the three exhibition days, renowned brands such as Luckin Coffee, Saigon Coffee, Decode Coffee, and Coffee Bean Warehouse took turns delivering delightful flavor surprises, from specialty pour-overs and creative concoctions to fine wines and trendy cultural creations, continuously unleashing the dual cross-border charm of taste and aesthetics. This immersive experience, blending tasting, socializing, and inspiration, concluded successfully. We look forward to meeting again next year.
04 Special Zones and Exhibition Groups
- Franchise Filing Zone
Specially created by Shanghai Bohua International Exhibition Co., Ltd. in collaboration with the Guangdong Chain Operation Association – the Commercial Franchise Filing Enterprise Zone provides a dedicated stage for precise investment attraction and compliant empowerment for chain enterprises that have completed commercial franchise filing with the Ministry of Commerce.
This zone offers five core advantages for filing enterprises: policy-driven essential attributes solidifying the foundation for investment attraction; directly addressing brand pain points to accelerate trust conversion; ecological linkage building a full-chain closed loop; authoritative honors empowering brand credibility; and precise franchisee invitations for efficient target audience reach.
Brands such as Guanglong Egg Tart King, Lin Lu Shi・Lu Wei Shao La, Sanjin Tangbao, Face Wash Bear, Yeste, Yile Pet, Shangpu Consulting, and Xinmei have settled in this zone.
- Omni-Channel Franchise Network Recommended Zone
Created by Shanghai Bohua International Exhibition Co., Ltd. in collaboration with the Omni-Channel Franchise Network, this recommended zone offers small and medium-sized brands opportunities for display, resource matchmaking, and brand empowerment support. Brands such as Jingwu Chen Zhen, Shao Ning, Can Yu Si Qing, and A Sai Xiao Mian are exhibited here.
- Guangzhou Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives Themed Exhibition Area
To advance the “Hundreds, Thousands, and Tens of Thousands Project,” the Guangzhou Federation of Supply and Marketing Cooperatives organized 20 enterprises to showcase time-honored brands and specialty agricultural products from paired assistance regions at the exhibition. Supply and marketing cooperatives from districts such as Haizhu, Liwan, and Tianhe collectively exhibited high-quality products including Simiao rice, bamboo salt golden pomelo strips, tangerine peel peanuts, dried tofu, barley noodles, softshell turtle soup, peach blossom tea, pumpkin noodles, and sturgeon fish cakes, promoting high-quality development of the supply and marketing system and expanding marketing channels for agricultural products.
- Xianning Supply and Marketing Group Themed Exhibition Area
From May 11 to 13, the Xianning Supply and Marketing Group, bringing 27 high-quality agricultural specialty enterprises, made its debut at Hall 20.1, Area D of the Guangzhou Canton Fair Complex, showcasing over 100 specialty products including Chibi Qingzhuan tea, Jiayu vegetables, and Xian’an osmanthus products.
During the three-day exhibition, buyers and professional visitors flocked to the area, stopping to taste and engage in in-depth negotiations. The production-marketing matchmaking achieved significant results, effectively promoting the deep connection between Xianning’s green ecological agricultural products and the high-end market of the Greater Bay Area.
The three-day exhibition has concluded successfully, but the pace of development in the chain franchise industry never stops. This exhibition not only built a precise and efficient matchmaking platform for brands seeking investment and investors looking for projects but also, through a series of forums, competitions, and performances, injected forward-thinking insights into the industry regarding compliant development, digital transformation, and healthy consumption.
In the future, nurtured by the valuable discussions and exchange outcomes from this event, the chain franchise industry will move towards a more standardized, innovative, and sustainable path of advancement.