Global Business Development

EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 91, Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Posted on Sep 18th, 2023 in World Economy | Comments Off

Edited and curated by: William (Bill) Edwards, CFE, CEO of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS)

Introduction: In this issue, problems brewing for Europe’s coffee supply, China seems to be turning a corner if the data is real, the French government is selling fuel at a loss (?), rice supply is having a bad year, Germany’s EVs are having trouble competing, the Middle East is an ATM, Japan is old, the UK is inactive, Mexico’s airlines appear safe again and the USA continues to have lots of job openings.

The mission of this newsletter is to use trusted global and regional information sources to update our 1,400+ readers in 20+ countries on key global and local trends that can impact the success of their businesses at home and abroad.

NOTE: Some of the sources that we provide links to require a paid subscription to access. We subscribe to 40 international information sources to keep our readers up to date on the world’s business.

To receive this biweekly newsletter that is read by over 1,400 people in 20 countries, click here:

First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others

“Opportunities don’t happen. You create them.” – Chris Grosser

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.” – Peter Drucker

“In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.” – Albert Einstein

Highlights in issue #91:

Beijing “Has Plenty Of Dry Powder”

Coffee Storm Is Brewing

Why aren’t more people being sacked?

France to Allow Selling Fuel at Loss to Curb Inflation

The Middle East Becomes the World’s ATM

Rice Crisis in the Philippines Sounds a Global Inflation Alarm

Brand Global News Section: Chick-fil-A®, Church’s Chicken®, Paradies Lagardère and Twisted by Wetzel’s®,

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Interesting Data and Studies

“Visualizing Costco’s Global Presence – Costco is a membership-based retail chain founded in 1983 in Seattle, Washington. Best known for its unique warehouse stores and high-quality products, Costco offers everything from electronics to groceries. Since its founding, Costco has become a major retailer in the U.S., while also greatly expanding its international presence. As of August 2023, the company has 859 locations globally, with a split of 69% domestic (591 stores) and 31% international (268 stores).”, Visual Capitalist, September 8, 2023

“Why aren’t more people being sacked? – How inflation has fallen without mass job casualties. If central bankers are to defeat inflation, they must cool the labour market. For two years rich-world wage growth has added to corporate costs, sending prices relentlessly upwards. But as they began raising interest rates to slow the economy, policymakers hoped for an even rosier outcome. They wanted to achieve a “soft landing”, which involves both bringing down inflation, and doing so without mass job losses. It is a lot to ask of a tool as blunt as monetary policy. Are they succeeding? And so far the evidence suggests that—against widespread expectations—labour markets from San Francisco to Sydney are co-operating.”, The Economist, September 17, 2023

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Global Supply Chain, Energy, Commodities, Inflation & Trade Issues

“Peak Oil Demand ‘Wilting Under Scrutiny,’ Aramco CEO Says – Nasser sees 2030 crude usage of 110 million barrels per day – CEO’s pared-back forecast still outstrips IEA projections. Last week, OPEC projected global oil markets would face a supply shortfall of more than 3 million barrels a day next quarter — potentially the biggest deficit in more than a decade. The IEA’s (International Energy Agency) prediction that oil consumption will peak this decade and grow at a slower rate in the near term as the energy transition gathers pace has been proven to be unrealistic, Nasser said Monday.”, Bloomberg, September 18, 2023

“Shipping giant Maersk is seeing tentative signs of a bounce back in global trade – Consumers in the U.S. and Europe have been key drivers in the demand uptick, Vincent Clerc (CEO of shipping titan Maersk) told CNBC’s Silvia Amaro, and those markets have continued to ‘surprise on the upside.’ The upcoming pickup would be fueled by consumption, he said, rather than the “inventory correction” which has featured heavily in 2023. ‘Barring any negative surprises, we would hope for a slow pickup as we get into 2024, a pickup that will not be a boom like what we have known in the past few years, but certainly … a demand that is a bit more in line with with what we see in terms of consumption, and not so much an inventory correction.’”, CNBC, September 15, 2023

“Rice Crisis in the Philippines Sounds a Global Inflation Alarm – Indonesia agrees on first deal with Cambodia in over a decade Malaysia implements purchase limit, starts enforcement checks. Rice inflation in the Southeast Asian nation increased at the fastest pace in almost five years in August, reviving memories of a 2018 shock that led to the end of a two-decade-old limit on imports. India’s restrictions have upended the market and prompted worried nations to secure supply as they try and contain the rising cost of rice, which is a vital part of the diets of billions of people across Asia and Africa.”, Bloomberg, September 8, 2023

“What ‘Friend-Shoring’ Means for the Future of Trade – Over the past few years, the world has experienced an escalating series of trade disruptions: the US-China trade war, the Covid-19 pandemic and its supply chain disruptions, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the sanctions and export controls that followed. Their cumulative impact has called into question the vision of a globalized economy. In response, some US officials pushed “friend-shoring” — a happy-sounding name for a policy that would lead to a world divided between free-market democracies and countries that align with the authoritarian regimes of China or Russia. It’s a world in which supply chains could be more robust and less subject to economic blackmail. It’s also likely a world that’s poorer and less productive.

“The World Is Struggling to Make Enough Diesel – Crude production cuts have been detrimental to diesel supply – Refineries have sought to satisfy demand surge for other fuels. While oil futures are rocketing — on Friday they were just below $95 a barrel in London — the rally pales in comparison with the surge in diesel. US prices jumped above $140 to the highest ever for this time of year on Thursday. Europe’s equivalent soared 60% since summer.”, Bloomberg, September 17, 2023

“Coffee Storm Is Brewing: Proving a Latte’s Sustainable Journey From Farms – How do you trace a journey of beans from millions of farms around the world all the way to cappuccinos and lattes sipped in cafes from Vienna to Rome? That’s the conundrum the coffee industry faces as it scrambles to get ready for Europe’s ground-breaking sustainability rules. Coffee is grown in about 70 countries, with five of them — including Brazil and Vietnam — making up about 85% of the world’s output. The rest comes from some 9.6 million growers in smaller producers, who often lack the resources to meet sustainability standards, according to Ethos.”, Bloomberg, September 15, 2023

Annual % change in consumer price index

“Global inflation tracker – Inflation is easing from the multi-decade highs reached in many countries following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. The latest figures for most of the world’s largest economies show the wholesale food and energy prices that soared during 2022 are now falling back.”, The Financial Times, September 14, 2023

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Global & Regional Travel Updates

“US raises Mexico air safety rating in boost for country’s airlines – US raises Mexico air safety rating in boost for country’s airlines. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said on Thursday it has upgraded Mexico’s air safety rating, a move that will allow Mexican carriers to expand U.S. routes and add new service. Mexico was downgraded by the U.S. regulator in May 2021 after the agency found the country did not meet safety standards. The downgrade was a major blow to Mexico carriers, as U.S. airlines were able to scoop up market share.”, Reuters, September 14, 2023

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Country & Regional Updates

China

“China May Dodge Deflation, After All – But it will probably be a near miss, and economic data still hints at a bottom rather than a strong rebound. After a grim June and July, China’s main August economic data, released Friday, contained clear hints of improvement. The news from the critical housing sector, which is mired in a protracted slump, was less encouraging: Price falls accelerated in lower-tier cities. But growth in retail sales accelerated to 4.6% from a year earlier, from just 2.5% in July. Unemployment ticked down marginally.”, The Wall Street Journal, September 15, 2023

“China expects ‘golden week’ holiday journeys to beat pre-pandemic figures – China Railway said it had recorded a record single day’s sales, with 22.9 million tickets being bought in one day. Airline tickets are also selling well as the National Day holiday coincides with Mid-Autumn Festival. That is roughly double the 72 million trips made during the same holiday last year and well above the 138 million trips made in 2019 before the Covid pandemic.”, South China Morning Post, September 17, 2023

“Beijing “Has Plenty Of Dry Powder” – Can Manage Economic Stresses: U.S-China Business Forum. China’s economy is facing two sources of stress at the same time – cyclical and structural, yet the government ‘has plenty of dry powder’ and is ‘able to manage this situation,’ U.S.-China Business Council President Craig Allen said in a recent interview in New York. Authorities recognize ‘the problems that they face and are working on those problems in an incremental manner — (through) incremental stimulus and incremental reform,’ Allen said. ‘But it’s slow and steady and not as dramatic as many people would like to see.’”, Forbes, September 13, 2023

Egypt

“Egypt Inflation Soars as Higher Food Costs Add to Currency Angst – Egyptian inflation soared to a fresh record, with consumer costs now increasingly at the mercy of whether authorities will allow the pound to weaken again. Price growth in urban parts of the country accelerated to an annual 37.4% in August from 36.5% the previous month, according to figures released Sunday by the state-run CAPMAS statistics agency. On a monthly basis, inflation was 1.6%, compared with 1.9% in July. A 71.4% increase in the cost of food and beverages, the largest single component of the inflation basket, was a major contributor to last month’s price pickup.”, Bloomberg, September 9, 2023

France

“France to Allow Selling Fuel at Loss to Curb Inflation – Prime Minister Borne announces plan in Le Parisien Newspaper. The French government plans to allow gas stations to sell fuel at a loss, overriding a law from 1963, as it struggles to find new ways of containing inflation without adding to vast sums of public money already spent. Such a move would in theory allow greater competition between distributors, who could cut prices below costs and aim to make up lost margin with sales of other products and services.”, Bloomberg, September 17, 2023

“France’s Carrefour puts up ‘shrinkflation’ warning signs – French supermarket Carrefour has put stickers on its shelves this week warning shoppers of “shrinkflation” – where packet contents are getting smaller while prices are not. Lipton Iced Tea, Lindt chocolate and Viennetta ice cream are among the products being named and shamed. Shoppers are being told if bottles are smaller or pack contents lighter. Carrefour has identified 26 products that have shrunk, without a price reduction to match, made by food giants including Nestle, PepsiCo and Unilever.”, BBC News, September 14, 2023

Germany

“VW Lays Off Workers at Key EV Factory Over Cratering Demand – Volkswagen is having a tough time selling enough mostly made-in-Germany electric cars to challenge Tesla Inc.’s global dominance. Lackluster economic growth as well as higher energy, living and borrowing costs in Europe have weighed on demand for its ID fleet of EVs.”, Bloomberg, September 14, 2023

India

“Apple to Sell Made-in-India iPhones on Launch Day for First Time – Devices from India to debut at same time as China-made ones IPhone 15 marks a milestone for India’s electronics ambitions. It would also underscore India’s growing production prowess and reflect a significant departure from Apple’s previous strategy of selling mostly Chinese-made new devices to frenzied customers across the world.”, Bloomberg, September 12, 2023

Japan

“One in 10 Japanese Now Aged Over 80, Population Report Shows – Japan’s persistently low birthrate and long lifespans have made it the oldest country in the world in terms of the proportion of people aged over 65, which this year hit a record of 29.1%. Ballooning social security spending has added to Japan’s massive debt and the shortage of young people has left many industries short of labor — not least carers for the elderly.”, Bloomberg, September 17, 2023

The Middle East

“The Middle East Becomes the World’s ATM – Flush with cash from an energy boom, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf monarchies have a moment on the world’s financial stage. Middle East monarchies eager for global influence are having a moment on the world’s financial stage. They are flush with cash from an energy boom at the very time traditional Western financiers—hampered by rising interest rates—have retreated from deal making and private investing. The region’s sovereign-wealth funds have become the en vogue ATM for private equity, venture capital and real-estate funds struggling to raise money elsewhere.”, The Wall Street Journal, September 7, 2023

Saudi Arabia

“Why Saudi Arabia is the Future Frontier for Global Entrepreneurs – The Saudi horizon is vast, and it’s gleaming with golden opportunities for the discerning entrepreneur. Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 is a clarion call for diversification. The nation is proactively steering away from its oil-dependent past, investing heavily in entertainment, tourism, technology and sports sectors. For budding entrepreneurs, this evolution translates into a broader spectrum of business avenues, a more varied market and an ever-evolving consumer base. Recent years have witnessed a startup explosion, with young Saudis taking the entrepreneurial plunge, driven by passion and the promise of a supportive ecosystem. But perhaps the most heartening aspect of this entrepreneurial surge is the rise of female founders and business leaders.”, Entrepreneur, September 7, 2023

Sweden

“Sweden is the No. 1 country for affordability, safety and overall quality of life – To rank the 87 countries listed, U.S. News and World Report, WPP and the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania surveyed more than 17,000 people worldwide. According to Numbeo, the cost of living in Sweden is, on average, 20.9% lower than in the United States, while renting is 57.5% lower. Sweden’s people boast one of the longest life expectancies, with an average age of 82.8 years, according to the CIA World Factbook.”, CNBC, September 17, 2023

United Kingdom

“Remote working to require ‘total rewiring of UK – The shift means people drove 19 billion fewer miles last year as the pandemic continued to redraw how Britons live. Last year cars travelled a total of 244 billion miles, according to the Department for Transport. While this is higher than the pandemic years of 2020 and 2021, it remains 7 per cent lower than the 263 billion miles driven in 2019. It is the lowest non-pandemic year for almost a decade. Data also shows a shift from traffic peaks before 9am on weekdays, to later in the day and at weekends. Bloom said the changes brought in by the pandemic had now been “baked in”, and companies that tried to force a return to the office full-time would struggle to recruit and retain workers.”, The Times of London, September 13, 2023

“Why Britain has a unique problem with economic inactivity – A series of policy blunders is to blame. In contrast to most other rich countries, benefits for those of working age were rather stingy. Meanwhile, rates of labour-force participation were admirably high. The inactivity rate—the proportion of working-age people not working or actively seeking a job—was among the lowest internationally and on a downward path from the mid-1990s until 2019.’, The Economist, September 14, 2023

United States

“The U.S. economy is chugging along while the rest of the world falls behind – Driving the division among the world’s most powerful economies: a slowdown in trade that is hurting some much more than others. At the losing end are “extroverted” economies that have traditionally recorded trade surpluses and are now seeing their growth lag behind those of the U.S. and India, for instance, vast markets that have historically relied more on domestic demand for growth relative to their peers. “Global trade will be less global” in the future, with exchanges occurring more within regional blocs, said Holger Schmieding, chief economist at Berenberg Bank. It will also shift away from goods and toward services, he added, providing a boost to economies like the U.S. and India that specialize in IT and other services at the expense of manufacturing powerhouses like Germany and China.”, The Wall Street Journal, September 9, 2023

“Leisure and Hospitality Job Openings Remain Disproportionately High – Job openings for the leisure and hospitality segment of the U.S. economy remain disproportionately high compared to other industries, which could slow the travel industry’s growth as the country considers its future following its post-pandemic recovery period. While employment in this country is at its lowest level since March 2021, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics finds that employment in leisure and hospitality is 1.7 percent lower now than it was in February of 2020, before the pandemic. That’s a lack of 290,000 people, but the disparity deepens when you consider the number of hotels and resorts in the U.S. continues to grow at a fast pace.”, Travel Pulse, September 12, 2023

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Brand & Franchising News

“6 Shifting Consumer Trends Affecting Quick-Service Restaurants – According to industry data, food spending is expected to rebound through 2024 and into 2025. Consumers’ preferences are shifting like never before, due to a variety of societal and economic dynamics. How can quick-service restaurants adjust to maintain—and potentially increase—foot traffic during these transformative times? The good news is that consumers aren’t trading out of foodservice; however, many are trading down within the segment. According to industry data, food spending is expected to rebound through 2024 and into 2025 as the country moves into a recovery phase following a mild recession.”, QSR Magazine, September 15, 2023

“Chick-fil-A to re-enter UK market – Chick-fil-A, the American fast-food brand, is renewing its attempt to enter the UK market, four years after its debut pop-up closed amid a row over its ties to anti-gay beliefs. The first restaurants will open in early 2025, the first permanent outlets outside North America. The 55-year-old family-owned business runs more than 2,800 restaurants across the US, Canada and Puerto Rico. It is aiming to open five restaurants in the UK in the first two years of launch, creating between 80 and 120 jobs per branch.”, The Times of London, September 15, 2023

“Paradies Lagardère Swoops On Airport Dining Specialist Tastes On The Fly – The French parent company of North American travel retailer Paradies Lagardère has signed an agreement to acquire airport restaurateur Tastes on the Fly. Tastes on the Fly operates about 25 concepts across five major airports, including San Francisco, Denver, New York’s JFK, Boston, and Vancouver in Canada. Added to Paradies’ existing portfolio, Tastes on the Fly’s addition takes the number of F&B brands to more than 100, ranging from full-service to fast-casual and quick-serve.”, Forbes, September 7, 2023

“Southlake man couldn’t get job at Church’s Chicken years ago. Now he owns 140 locations – Aslam Khan’s life story is often described as rags to riches. Which he finds ironic because he was actually wearing a suit and tie when he was turned away from his first job interview with Church’s Chicken nearly four decades ago. He thinks it might have been because he was overdressed. It was for a fast-food restaurant, after all, he said. Now, at 69, he is the largest franchisee in the organization of the fast-food restaurant with his company, Falcon Holdings, operating over 140 stores.”, Star Telegram, September 14, 2023

“How Twisted by Wetzel’s is planning to disrupt the snack category – The streetside restaurant concept is bigger than a traditional Wetzel’s and features a broader, more creative menu. In the spring, Wetzel’s Pretzels opened a new concept called Twisted by Wetzel’s that is quite different from anything the company has done in its nearly-30-year history. The company describes Twisted as a ‘street concept that takes Wetzel’s fun-loving brand and timeless menu and elevates it to a whole new level.’”, Nation’s Restaurant News, September 15, 2023

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Our Mission, Information Sources & Who We Are

Our biweekly global business update newsletter focuses on what is happening around the worldthat impacts new trends, health, consumer spending, business investment, the franchise sector, economic development and travel. We daily monitor 30+ countries, 40+ international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing environment. Our GlobalTeam™ on the ground covering 25+ countries provides us with updates about what is actually happening in their specific countries.

William “Bill” Edwards: Global Advisor Is Uniquely Qualified to Steer Sr. Executives Successfully Through the Complex Waters of Going Global. With four decades of successful international business experience spanning virtually every corner of the world and many business sectors, Bill Edwards understands the global business landscape like no other. He has been a County Master Franchisee in five countries in Asia, Europe and the Middle East; the Senior VP for a franchisor operating in 15 countries and a full-service consultant taking 40 franchisors global.

For a complimentary 30-minute consultation on how to take your business global successfully, contact Bill Edwards at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896.

www.edwardsglobal.com

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EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 90, Tuesday, September 5, 2023

Posted on Sep 4th, 2023 in World Economy | Comments Off

Edited and curated by: William (Bill) Edwards, CFE, CEO of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS)

Introduction: In this issue, The BRICs countries ‘proposed’ expansion, a history of franchising, the state of AI in 2023, no more plastic water bottles at LAX. Updates the economy in Brasil, Indonesia, the Philippines, Turkey, the United Kingdom, and the USA. Krispy Kreme® and Popeyes® celebrate news. Popeyes tries to justify the almost US$10 billion sale price. And China’s grain problem. Finland issues digital passports.

This is one of the longest issues so far. Perhaps partly due to my having excellent Internet access on my 13-and-a-half-hour flight back from Sydney, Australia this past weekend. I spent almost a week in both Australia and New Zealand on business on this trip. In New Zealand I gave a keynote talk on the state of global franchising covering 20 countries. In Australia, I found the new investment climate strong.

To receive this biweekly newsletter that is read by over 1,400 people in 20 countries, click here:

First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others

“If knowledge is power, knowing what we don’t know is wisdom.” – Adam Grant

“However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.” – Stephen Hawking

“People begin to become successful the minute they decide to be.” – Harvey MacKay

Highlights in issue #90:

Visualizing the BRICS Expansion

McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2023

The state of AI in 2023: Generative AI’s breakout year

AI Fused With Trade Data May Finally Smooth Clunky Supply Chains

A History of Franchising

This Country Just Became the First to Introduce Digital Passports

UK economy bigger than before Covid, revised ONS figures show

UBS breaks record with $29bn profit after Credit Suisse deal

Brand Global News Section: Body Fit Training (BFT), Krispy Kreme®, Pizza Hut®, Popeyes® and Subway®

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Interesting Data and Studies

“Visualizing the BRICS Expansion – BRICS is an association of five major countries including Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa. Distinguished by their emerging economies, the group has sought to improve diplomatic coordination, reform global financial institutions, and ultimately serve as a counterbalance to Western hegemony. On Aug. 24, 2023, BRICS announced that it would formally accept six new members at the start of 2024: Saudi Arabia, Iran, Ethiopia, Egypt, Argentina, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE).”, Visual Capitalist, August 24, 2023

“McKinsey Technology Trends Outlook 2023 – Which technology trends matter most for companies in 2023? New analysis by the McKinsey Technology Council highlights the development, possible uses, and industry effects of advanced technologies. After a tumultuous 2022 for technology investment and talent, the first half of 2023 has seen a resurgence of enthusiasm about technology’s potential to catalyze progress in business and society. Generative AI deserves much of the credit for ushering in this revival, but it stands as just one of many advances on the horizon that could drive sustainable, inclusive growth and solve complex global challenges. To help executives track the latest developments, the McKinsey Technology Council has once again identified and interpreted the most significant technology trends unfolding today.”, McKinsey & Co., July 20, 2023

“The 50 Most Valuable Companies in the World – Market capitalization, or market cap, is one measure of a company’s value as determined by the stock market. It is easily calculated by multiplying the company’s outstanding shares by its current share price…..as of Aug. 16, 2023. From this data, we can see that there are only a handful of trillion dollar companies in the world, including Apple, Microsoft, Saudi Aramco, Amazon, Alphabet, and Nvidia. Altogether, the 50 most valuable companies represent over $26.5 trillion in shareholder value. Visual Capitalist, August 20, 2023

“The state of AI in 2023: Generative AI’s breakout year – As organizations rapidly deploy generative AI tools, survey respondents expect significant effects on their industries and workforces. Less than a year after many of these tools debuted, one-third of our survey respondents say their organizations are using gen AI regularly in at least one business function. Amid recent advances, AI has risen from a topic relegated to tech employees to a focus of company leaders: nearly one-quarter of surveyed C-suite executives say they are personally using gen AI tools for work, and more than one-quarter of respondents from companies using AI say gen AI is already on their boards’ agendas.”, McKinsey & Co., August 1, 2023

“Friday is just a dead day’: how a summer perk became a year-round staple. More white-collar employees are clearing the decks at the end of the week after pandemic upended in-office work. Corporate America’s working rhythms have been evolving since the start of the pandemic. In late 2020, as employers started pushing for a return to the office, some insisted on workers showing up in-person on Fridays to avoid a slide into effective three-day weekends, said Nick Bloom, a Stanford economics professor who studies workplace data. But as a labour shortage shifted the balance of power towards workers, some employees have been able to negotiate working from home on Fridays in particular, and increasingly giving themselves more flexible working hours on that day.”, The Financial Times, August 31, 2023

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Global Supply Chain, Energy, Commodities, Inflation & Trade Issues

“AI Fused With Trade Data May Finally Smooth Clunky Supply Chains – AI models may help make trade more transparent, predictable. The dawn of artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT may revolutionize the way both the public and private sector use data to ferret out risks and opportunities in the $32 trillion global trading system…..AI tools are helping many organizations simplify trade-data analysis in ways that may help smooth cross-border commerce — a notoriously labor-, spreadsheet- and carbon-intensive engine of the world economy.”, Bloomberg, September 2, 2023

“Global Economics Intelligence executive summary – Mixed economic picture with patchy positives; consumers cautious but confidence rising; inflation in developed economies decelerates, while producer prices decline; trade volumes down. July’s World Economic Outlook Update from the IMF projects global growth to fall from an estimated 3.5% in 2022 to 3.0% in both 2023 and 2024. Meanwhile, the IMF expects global headline inflation to fall from 8.7% in 2022 to 6.8% in 2023 and 5.2% in 2024. It anticipates that underlying (core) inflation will decline more gradually, with forecasts for inflation in 2024 revised upward.”, McKinsey & Co., August 21, 2023

**Annual % change in consumer price index**

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Global & Regional Travel Updates

“Tourists’ slow return to China post-Covid causing headaches for travel industry – China recorded a 70 per cent drop in international travellers in the first half of this year compared with pre-Covid levels. Lasting damage of the pandemic as well as China’s negative image amid geopolitical tensions have been blamed for the poor recovery. Analysts and industry figures attributed the poor figures to the lasting damage from the pandemic as well as China’s negative global image and loss of business confidence amid geopolitical tensions.”, South China Morning Post, September 3, 2023

“Los Angeles Airport Has Now Banned This Common Item – You’re going to have to figure out a new way to hydrate at LAX – In security queues at airports, there are signs asking passengers to get rid of their water bottles. Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) has banned single-use plastic bottles at the Los Angeles International Airport and the non-commercial Van Nuys Airport. All restaurants, vendors, lounges, and vending machines are required to eliminate plastic bottles, but they will still be available on flights.”, Fodor’s, September 2, 2023

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Country & Regional Updates

Australia

“School’s in: Sam Kerr to launch her own Australian academy for future Matildas and Socceroos – Just days after the Matildas finished their Cup campaign, Kerr will unveil her own academy for the next batch of players – complete with her signature backflip celebration as part of its branding. The program will be fronted by Australia’s record goalscorer and include opportunities for business people to buy a Sam Kerr Football franchise, as well as allowing coaches to lend their expertise. Having spoken about wanting to leave a legacy after the Matildas finished fourth in a home World Cup – the highest finish for an Australian men’s or women’s team – Kerr has opted to set up her own development pathway.”, The Sydney Morning Herald, August 23, 2023. Compliments of Jason Gehrke, Franchise Advisory Centre, Brisbane

Brazil

“An economic evaluation for Lula – Brazil welcomed higher-than-expected growth figures on Friday. The economy expanded 0.9% in the second quarter, more than forecast, thanks to a bullish domestic market. The news follows a 1.9% rise in the first quarter, driven by a bumper harvest. That is good news for Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s president. Lula took office in January amid fears of a spending spree like the one that characterised his party’s last stint in government (which ended in a recession in 2016). Instead, the economy looks rosier than before. The inflation rate, which hit 12% in 2022, is at 3.99%. Unemployment, at 7.9%, is at its lowest level since 2014. But analysts remain sceptical about the longer term. Predictions for GDP growth for 2024 and 2025 remain stuck below 2%.”, The Economist, September 1, 2023

China

“Why is China’s economy slowing down and could it get worse? China’s economic growth is slowing down as policymakers try to fix a property market downturn, with troubles at major developer Country Garden in focus. Concerns are mounting over whether the world’s second-largest economy is coming closer to a crunch point. Unlike consumers in the West, Chinese people were left largely to fend for themselves during the COVID-19 pandemic and the revenge spending spree that some economists expected after China re-opened never took place. Moreover, demand for Chinese exports has been softening as key trading partners have been grappling with rising living costs. And with 70% of Chinese household wealth tied up in real estate, a big slowdown in the sector is trickling through to other parts of the economy.”, Reuters, August 31, 2023

“China’s Richer Diet Is Straining the Agricultural Industry – For years China had more than enough wheat and rice to feed its 1.4 billion people. But since the nation grew richer and diets shifted to more meat and dairy, the world’s second-most populous country is running out of enough arable land to keep up with the demand for high-protein food. As household incomes increase, average Chinese meat consumption is expected to rise 38% from the current 55 kilograms per year to 76 kilograms in 2035. As production of animal products such as meat, eggs and milk requires a large amount of grain as feed, the rising consumption of such foods means that China will have to produce more grain for animal feed — or expand imports.”, Caixin Global, August 30, 2023

Finland

“This Country Just Became the First to Introduce Digital Passports – Could physical passports soon be replaced by an app? This pilot program aims to find out. Finland is changing the way it handles border security—specifically by doing away with physical passports. During the trial period, which runs until February 2024, the digital passport will only work on Finnair flights between Finland’s Helsinki Airport and three U.K. airports: Edinburgh, London, and Manchester.”, AFAR, September 1, 2023

Indonesia

“Indonesia Introduces Golden Visa to Draw Foreign Investors – Five year visa requires investment of at least $350,000. Government is targeting quality investors. Indonesia will issue so-called golden visas allowing foreigners who make substantial investments to remain for between five and 10 years, in an effort to boost the country’s economic development. Last year, the Southeast Asian nation rolled out a second home visa for wealthy tourists with at least 2 billion rupiah ($130,000) in their bank account.”, Bloomberg, September 3, 2023

“PepsiCo returns to Indonesia, breaks ground for snack factory – U.S. food and beverage maker PepsiCo (PEP.O) began building a snack factory in Indonesia’s West Java on Wednesday, marking its return to Southeast Asia’s largest economy after splitting with a local partner two years ago. The factory, part of PepsiCo’s $200 million commitment to invest in Indonesia over a 10-year period, is expected to start producing snacks by 2025. Building the new factory without a local partner, PepsiCo pledged to source most raw materials for its snacks, including corn and palm oil, from sustainable sources and to use renewable power sources.”, Reuters, August 29, 2023

The Philippines

“The promise of the Philippines: A retail success story – Retail in the Philippines has been showing great promise, with players encouraged by its high growth rate across various retail categories. This is particularly true in luxury goods, with the Philippines set to be the fast-growing market in Southeast Asia for this sector, a 30 percent increase from 2021 to 2022. In addition, retail e-commerce growth rates in the Philippines are set to surpass all other markets in the region. This retail success is driven primarily by increased supply chains and distribution, leading to greater accessibility to consumer products and services. Affluence translates into higher consumer spending. Beauty and personal care also offers opportunities in the Philippines.”, Retail Asia, late July 2023

Switzerland

“UBS breaks record with $29bn profit after Credit Suisse deal – Swiss bank plans to complete integration and make $10bn of cost cuts by 2026. The Swiss lender announced the figures on Thursday as it said it would press ahead with absorbing Credit Suisse’s domestic business despite local and political opposition to a deal that is expected to result in thousands of job cuts and branch closures. UBS agreed to rescue its ailing rival five months ago and its record $29bn pre-tax profit was almost entirely thanks to the accounting gain it recorded on the $3.4bn takeover.”, The Financial Times, September 1, 2023

Turkey

“Turkish Consumers Suffer Biggest Confidence Drop of Erdogan Era – The consumer confidence index plummeted to 68 points in August from 80.1 a month earlier, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute. That’s the biggest drop since records began in 2004, months after Erdogan first became prime minster. The precipitous slump follows a series of tax hikes, several increases in interest rates and a sharp upward revision in official inflation expectations for the year. The central bank’s new governor, Hafize Gaye Erkan, and Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek are orchestrating a return to orthodox policy after years of growth-at-all-costs measures.”, Bloomberg, August 23, 2023

United Kingdom

“UK economy bigger than before Covid, revised ONS figures show – Official data has revealed that the recovery from the pandemic was far faster than thought. It means the economy is no longer the worst performer among the world’s richest nations as the growth rate is likely to have surpassed Germany’s. Analysts said that the perception of the UK as the G7’s laggard was ‘no longer valid’. Jeremy Hunt, the chancellor, welcomed the data, which he said was more evidence that those talking down the British economy ‘have been proved wrong’. GDP performed much better than initially thought during the Covid-19 crisis and was 0.6 per cent larger in the final three months of 2021 than before the onset.”, The Times Of London, September 1, 2023

“The fall in house prices accelerated in August – House prices fell by a larger than expected 5.3 per cent year-on-year in August, accelerating from the 3.8 per cent fall recorded in July. It was the biggest annual decline since July 2009 and the seventh consecutive annual drop reported by Nationwide. City economists had forecast a 4.7 per cent fall. Month-on-month house prices fell by 0.8 per cent. The average house price is now £259,153 (US$327,546), down from £260,828 in July.”, The Times of London, September 1, 2023

United States

“US Jobs Report Signals Smooth Downshift in Labor Market – Still-solid hiring, slower wage growth gives Fed room to pause More people returned to the labor force but couldn’t find jobs. The latest US job data showed a labor market undergoing a controlled cooling, illustrated by solid hiring, slower earnings growth and more people returning to the workforce. Employers in August added 187,000 jobs in a broad-based advance, following downward revisions to payrolls in the prior two months, government figures showed Friday. Hundreds of thousands more joined the labor force, though a growing number was unable to find work right away.”, Bloomberg, September 1, 2023

“Study Finds Consumers Remain Concerned About Economy – 59% of consumers have a high level of concern regarding the economy, up from July. 65% of consumers feel as though the country is in an economic recession, and the same amount think the US economy will worsen in the next few months. 76% think inflation will increase in the next few months. Over the next few months, 38% of consumers say their primary concern will most likely be personal finances. 77% of consumers say rising prices on essential goods and services is their main economic concern (+5 points from July), followed by rising prices on gas/fuel (70%, +9 points from July).”, Franchising.com, August 31, 2023

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Brand & Franchising News

“A History of Franchising – From a Founding Father’s Printing Press to Fast Food Chains In honor of Franchise Appreciation Day on September 2, we look at the history of franchising. Benjamin Franklin is often credited as one of the pioneers of franchising in America, having established the first franchise-like agreement in 1731 through a printing business partnership. Martha Matilda Harper, who, in 1891, introduced the Harper Method Shops, including standardized training, proprietary branded products, and advertising support, was another franchising trailblazer. The decades following World War II witnessed a franchising boom, giving birth to legendary brands like McDonald’s, KFC, and Dunkin’ Donuts.”, Entrepreneur magazine, September 1, 2023

“Franchise Opportunities In An Unconventional Economy – The current economy is characterized by an interesting mix of optimism and anxiety. Franchises are a significant segment of the economy and despite a challenging economy, growth is expected to continue. For example, the International Franchise Association forecasted that franchises in the U.S. would grow by 3.0% in 2023, adding 254,000 jobs, reaching a total of 8.7 million employees. But while growth among franchisors is expected to continue, rising interest rates are impacting their growth and expansion outlook according to a confidence survey just released in Franchise Times by financial technology company Boefly.”, Forbes, August 30, 2023

“Australia’s BFT expands across South-East Asia and Spain as gym chains face an economic workout – The chain opened its first Hong Kong franchise this month and has recently sold its first two franchises in Malaysia, plus an additional two franchises across Madrid and Barcelona. The additions will complement BFT’s 175 Australian studios, and an additional 75 spread across New Zealand, the US, Canada, England, and Singapore. BFT’s franchise expansion comes in a difficult economic environment for many gym businesses, which are balancing the post-lockdown return to group physical activity against mounting operating costs.”, Smart Company (Australia), August 22, 2023

“Krispy Kreme celebrate 20 years in Australia with free doughnuts – To celebrate 20 years since they opened their first Aussie store in Penrith in 2003, Krispy Kreme will be slinging one of their famous glazed doughnuts to anyone that has the courage to shout the iconic Aussie birthday chant “Hip Hip Hooray” in store during their birthday weekend, from September 7 to 10.”, Kitchen Nine, September 1, 2023

“Will Pizza Hut be next giant to disappear from the (UK) High Street? Future of restaurant in doubt after 50 years in the UK with soaring prices pushing it further into losses. The UK franchise of the fast-food chain admitted that they were heavily affected by the pandemic, which limited the demand for people dining in their restaurants. And this has only been worsened by the war in Ukraine, which caused prices of energy, food and transportation to rocket. The chain was founded in the US state of Kansas in 1958 and the first UK outlet opened in Islington, north London, in 1972. Since then, Pizza Hut has soared in popularity and at its peak employed 10,000 workers in more than 260 restaurants up and down the country, serving three million guests a month.”, The Daily Mail, August 28, 2023

“Popeyes Announces Major Plans For Reopening In China – The popular chicken conglomerate, which last year announced plans to build locations across North America, has now added China to its list once again. As of Monday, Popeyes is planning the opening of 1,700 outposts across China, at least 10 of which will be in Shanghai. The expansion announcement comes on the heels of the chain’s purchase by Tims China, owner of Canada’s beloved Tim Hortons, which made the acquisition in March.”, The Tasting Table, August 22, 2023. Compliments of Paul Jones, Jones & Co., Toronto

“Restaurant Brands appoints Arif Khan as permanent CEO – Khan has been acting group CEO since April and had spent several years in management at the business in his early career. In 2018, he returned to oversee the Restaurant Brands New Zealand business as CEO after serving as global chief operating officer from November to April of last year. Restaurant Brands is a corporate franchisee that manages multi-location branded food retail franchises. It operates the KFC and Taco Bell chains in Australia and KFC, Pizza Hut, Taco Bell and Carl’s Jr in New Zealand.”, Inside Retail (Australia), September 1, 2023

“Subway’s New Owner Faces Tough Decisions on Sandwich Chain’s Massive Size in US – Company still has about 20,000 locations in the US alone Sandwich chain says existing management will stay in place. Subway’s restaurant count currently stands at nearly 37,000 worldwide, with around 20,000 in the US. That’s even after the company aggressively pared back in recent years amid fierce competition and locations in close proximity to each other that cannibalized sales and squeezed franchisees. Management shuttered more than 6,500 US locations between 2015 and 2022, according to food-service research firm Technomic. But per-store sales still trail rivals’, the data show.”, Bloomberg, Aufust 24, 2023

To receive this biweekly newsletter, click here : https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

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Our Mission, Information Sources & Who We Are

For a complimentary 30-minute consultation on how to take your business global successfully, contact Bill Edwards at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896.

www.edwardsglobal.com

Download our latest chart ranking 40+ countries as places to do business at this link:

Our latest GlobalVue™ 40 country ranking

EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 89, Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Posted on Aug 21st, 2023 in World Economy | Comments Off

Edited and curated by: William (Bill) Edwards, CFE, CEO of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS)

Introduction: In this issue, Barbie on the menu in restaurants? A new McDonald’s® brand, Subway® sold? The world’s 50 most valuable companies, travel to be US$15 trillion by 2035, more flights to China soon, Latin American banks lowering interest rates, inflation remains high in the UK, Germany sees a slowdown while the US heads for 5%+ GDP growth (?).

To receive this biweekly newsletter that is read by over 1,400 people in 20 countries, click here:

First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others

“The best way to predict the future is to create it.”, Abraham Lincoln

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.”, Wayne Gretzky

“If you really look closely, most overnight successes took a long time.”, Steve Jobs

Highlights in issue #89:

The 50 Most Valuable Companies in the World in 2023

Travel Will Represent a $15.5 Trillion Economy by 2033

This Fed GDP forecast has the U.S. growing 5.8% in the third quarter.

Barbie momentum expands beyond the box office and into restaurants

Brand Global News Section: CosMc®, Jollibee®, Marrybrown®, Potato Corner®, Rally’s & Checkers®, Subway®, Wendys®

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Interesting Data and Studies

“The 50 Most Valuable Companies in the World in 2023 – Market capitalization, or market cap, is one measure of a company’s value as determined by the stock market. It is easily calculated by multiplying the company’s outstanding shares by its current share price. In this graphic, we present a treemap chart that visualizes the world’s top 50 publicly-traded companies by market cap, using data as of Aug. 16, 2023. Altogether, the 50 most valuable companies represent over $26.5 trillion in shareholder value. At a sector level, Information Technology is the most represented in the top 50, with $9.3 trillion in combined market cap. The next biggest sectors are Consumer Discretionary ($4.0 trillion) and Health Care ($3.3 trillion).”, Visual Capitalist, August 20, 2023

“The Rise and Fall of WeWork – Despite its recommitment to core business fundamentals in the last few years, WeWork’s management—which saw a shakeup in May 2023 when CEO Sandeep Mathrani departed—is setting off a signal flare about the company’s future. WeWork was founded in 2010 by Adam Neumann and Miguel McKelvey with the primary objective of providing shared workspaces catered to freelancers, startups, and companies seeking ‘flexible office solutions.’ The business model, which rested on renting space from developers long-term, renovating and parceling the property, and subsequently leasing it out to short-term clients, thrived in a decade of low interest rates.”, Visual Capitalist, August 16, 2023

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Global Supply Chain, Energy, Commodities, Inflation & Trade Issues

“U.S. Importers Are Absorbing Higher Shipping Costs This Summer – Container lines have reversed a big drop in freight rates this year, but experts say the price increases may be short-lived. Costs to ship goods from Asia to the U.S. are turning sharply upward, but American importers appear to be absorbing the higher prices after watching freight rates plummet this year from record highs. The average spot rate to ship a 40-foot container from China to the U.S. West Coast rose 61% during the six weeks through Aug. 15 to $2,075….”, The Wall Street Journal, August 16, 2023

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Global & Regional Travel Updates

“Travel Will Represent a $15.5 Trillion Economy by 2033 – Data from the World Travel & Tourism Council points to global tourism’s significant growth in the next decade. That includes the US, where travel will soon be worth $3 trillion. As a whole, the industry will employ up to 430 million people by 2033, compared with 334 million in 2019. That accounts for roughly 1 of every 9 jobs globally. In 2033, China’s travel sector is forecast to contribute $4 trillion and will make up 14.1% of the Chinese economy. By contrast, the US industry is projected to reach $3 trillion and will represent 10.1% of the US economy.”, Bloomberg, August 21, 2023

“Hilton bets on China’s middle class as it eyes about 730 hotels in next 10 years – The operator of Waldorf Astoria and Conrad hotels said its performance received a boost from Chinese travellers this year. Hilton said its properties in Asia-Pacific stood out in the second quarter, with revenue-per-room surging 79 per cent year on year. Hilton, which was previously majority owned by HNA Group until 2019 before the Chinese conglomerate fell into financial difficulties, currently manages 512 hotels in 170 destinations across China. It had closed 60 per cent of its properties across Asia-Pacific at the height of the pandemic that ravaged the industry for three years between 2020 and 2022.?, South China Morning Post, August 20, 2023

“Delta Air Lines to Expand China Flights For Winter Season – Delta Air Lines is gearing up for an extensive flight schedule expansion to China. The airline will introduce 10 weekly China flights to Shanghai-Pudong International Airport from its Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport hubs. These new services will kick off on Oct. 29, featuring daily flights from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport and three weekly flights from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport. Delta Air Lines is reinstating a four-times-weekly Shanghai Pudong International Airport route from its Los Angeles hub in March next year. In doing that, the company brings back a route that was last operational in February 2020.”, Travel Noire, August 19, 2023

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Country & Regional Updates

China

“New Indicator Shows China’s Consumers Are Spending — on Services. Retail sales of services jumped 20.3% year-on-year in the January to July period compared with 7.3% growth for overall retail sales. Spending on services now accounts for more than 40% of the nationwide per capita consumption expenditure. The surge in retail sales from services this year was fueled by pent-up demand for culture, sports, health care and business services.”, Caixing Global, August 18, 2023

“China’s 40-Year Boom Is Over. What Comes Next? The economic model that took the country from poverty to great-power status seems broken, and everywhere are signs of distress. Economists now believe China is entering an era of much slower growth, made worse by unfavorable demographics and a widening divide with the U.S. and its allies, which is jeopardizing foreign investment and trade. The International Monetary Fund puts China’s GDP growth at below 4% in the coming years, less than half of its tally for most of the past four decades. Capital Economics, a London-based research firm, figures China’s trend growth has slowed to 3% from 5% in 2019, and will fall to around 2% in 2030.”, The Wall Street Journal, August 20, 2023

Germany

“Can Germany fix its economy? Ukraine war, higher rates and sluggish trade aggravate longstanding structural problems in EU powerhouse. The IMF and OECD both expect Germany to be the worst-performing leading economy in the world this year. A big reason is the global downturn in manufacturing, which hits Germany disproportionately hard as the sector contributes a fifth of its overall output — a similar level to Japan, but almost double that of the US, France and the UK.”, The Financial Times, August 20, 2023

Latin America

“Latin American Central Banks Take Lead in Cutting Rates as Inflation Cools – Recalling past hyperinflation, region’s central bankers raised rates before Federal Reserve acted. As inflation eased in Chile, the country became the first major emerging market to reduce interest rates during the current cycle. Latin America’s pivot to trim back high interest rates comes as a region rich in oil, copper and lithium struggles to rebound after posting some of the world’s biggest economic contractions during the pandemic. The easing of monetary policy doesn’t mean Latin American officials are anywhere close to reviving sluggish economies, according to analysts. Instead, they are gradually moving to what economists call neutral interest rates in line with countries’ typical inflation targets….”, The Wall Street Journal, August 17, 2023

Singapore

“Singapore workers are the world’s fastest in adopting AI skills, LinkedIn report says – Workers in Singapore are the world’s fastest when it comes to adopting artificial intelligence skills, according to LinkedIn’s latest Future of Work report.The report, which drew data from 25 countries, found that Singapore has the highest “diffusion rate” — the share of members adding AI skills to their profiles grew 20 times from January 2016. That’s significantly higher than the global average of eight times, LinkedIn told CNBC Make It.”, CNBC Make It, August 20, 2023

Thailand

“Thai economy likely grew 3.1% in Q2 on higher tourist arrivals – On a quarterly basis, gross domestic product (GDP) was forecast to have grown by a seasonally-adjusted 1.2%, a slowdown from the 1.9% growth in the preceding quarter, according to a smaller sample of forecasts in the Aug. 14-17 poll. While the country’s tourism-driven economy is expected to improve gradually, visitor numbers are still well below pre-pandemic levels. Thailand is predicted to receive 29 million tourists this year, down from 40 million visitors in 2019, the last full year before the COVID pandemic.”, Reuters, August 18, 2023

Turkey

“Turkish Inflation Outlook at Its Worst in 21 Years on Weak Lira – Central bank survey puts year-ahead inflation estimate at 42%. Turkey finding it hard to curb prices after cheap money era. The lira is projected to lose more than 20% of its value against the dollar during the same period, fueling price increases, according to forecasts published by the central bank on Friday. The central bank expects inflation to decelerate after peaking in the second quarter of next year, as policymakers continue to gradually increase the cost of money.”, Bloomberg, August 18, 2023

United Kingdom

“UK inflation falls to 6.8% – Inflation fell to 6.8 per cent in the year to July, down from 7.9 per cent in the year to June. The consumer prices index reading from the Office for National Statistics was in line with expectations. It means that UK inflation has fallen to its lowest level since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Falling gas and electricity prices were the main reason that price growth fell. Food inflation, while still rising, has moderated, leading to an easing in the annual inflation rate. However, this was offset to some extent by upward pressure from the cost of hotels and air fares. The key measure is now surpassed by wage growth, which is running at a record 7.8 per cent.”, The Times of London, August 16, 2o23

United States

“This Fed GDP forecast has the U.S. growing 5.8% in the third quarter. Higher interest rates have not spawned a much predicted recession. Could the economy be growing even faster despite rising interest rates? Sure seems so. The Atlanta Federal Reserve’s GDPNow forecast for the third quarter was just raised to a heady 5.8% annual rate. The Atlanta Fed’s forecast was lifted from 5% after the government on Wednesday reported an increase in new house construction and industrial production in July. Most Americans who want a job can find one and lots of companies are still hiring. The unemployment rate sits near a 55-year low of 3.6% and wages are rising faster than inflation for the first time in a few years.

That’s kept consumer spending — the main engine of the economy — motoring ahead.”, MarketWatch, August 17, 2023

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Brand & Franchising News

“Buyout firm Roark Capital to buy Subway sandwich chain for US$9.6bn – The secretive private equity group, which specialises in buying restaurants, had been competing for months with Sycamore Partners and TDR, among others, for the fast-food chain. Subway’s board is expected to meet later this week to determine the auction winner, but Roark was the lead candidate as of Monday, said those informed about the talks.”, The Financial Times, August 21, 2022

“Barbie momentum expands beyond the box office and into restaurants – Some concepts that embraced Barbie-themed menu promotions are reporting new customers and double-digit sales lifts. Cold Stone Creamery, for instance, is offering an All That Glitters is Pink flavor, with pink cotton candy ice cream, graham cracker crust, dance party sprinkles and whipped topping, while Pinkberry launched a Barbie Land Berry Pink Swirl, featuring dragon fruit and strawberry flavors and topped with “dream sprinkles.” The Barbie Frappuccino – a secret menu item at Starbucks – proliferated on social media shortly before the movie’s release.”, Nation’s Restaurant News, August 17, 2023

“Beyond Borders — How Successful Franchises Thrive in Diverse Markets. Successful franchises can adapt and deliver their products and services in any corner of the world. Adaptability is Crucial: Whether it’s McDonald’s adjusting its menu to suit local tastes in India, Egypt, or Japan, or understanding regional preferences even within the United States, franchises that succeed globally recognize the importance of tailoring their offerings. The Brand isn’t Just the Product: While products might differ across countries, the underlying brand promise should remain consistent.”, Entrepreneur, August 14, 2023. From a book by Mark Siebert entitled, “The Multiplier Model”.

“Filipino Franchise Brands Aim For Rapid International Growth – Here in the UK, two Filipino franchise brands are starting to make their mark amongst British consumers. In the past few years, both fried chicken chain Jollibee and Potato Corner – famous for its flavoured fries – have established presences in various locations across the UK and have plans to expand further both this side of the pond and into other newly-developed international territories. It’s all part of a significant drive by the Philippine franchising industry to push their home grown brands out across the globe…..At present, around twenty Philippine-based franchises have an international reach, the majority in the fast food sector.”, Forbes, August 19, 2023

“Marrybrown – The Malaysian fast-food giant recently entered the Australian market – Marrybrown is ready to challenge the fast-food market in Australia and it isn’t planning on changing a thing on its menu. In a quick interview with QSR Media, Joshua Liew, CEO of Marrybrown, said that though he believes that localising the menu is very important, they do not currently plan on doing so in Australia. Marrybrown is currently in sixteen markets. Usually, 20% of their menu is localised. Their reason for localising is so that consumers won’t feel that Marrybrown is a foreign brand. However, recent consumer behaviour in some of their markets made them realise that this isn’t true 100% of the time.”, QSR Media AUS, August 3, 2023. Compliments of Jason Gehrke, The Franchise Advisory Centre, Brisbane

“Who on Earth is CosMc? B-list McDonald’s character gets name-checked in spinoff chain. McDonald’s announced during its second-quarter earnings call on Thursday that it will unveil a spinoff restaurant brand in 2024 that goes by the name of CosMc’s. “CosMc’s,” CEO Chris Kempczinski explained, ‘is a small-format concept with all the DNA of McDonald’s, but its own unique personality,’ adding that a ‘small handful of sites” would roll out “in a limited geography beginning early next year.’”, Fast Company, July 27, 2023

“Rally’s and Checkers are using AI chatbots for Spanish-language food orders – The not-yet-reliable automation is designed to cut down on labor costs. Checkers and Rally’s restaurants have launched the first Spanish ordering system that uses AI, Checkers restaurants announced. The system from a company called Hi Auto is already in use at 350 of those restaurants, following two months of beta testing at five locations. The system takes orders via a virtual assistant and detects the customer’s language spoken, automatically switching between English and Spanish.”, August 18, 2023

“Wendy’s to develop 200 restaurants in Australia – A new master franchise agreement for Australia has been announced by The Wendy’s Company and Flynn Restaurant Group, with the aim to open 200 restaurants in Australia by 2034. Flynn Restaurant Group is the largest restaurant franchise operator in the world and will serve as the exclusive master franchisee in Australia. It also operates restaurants for Applebee’s, Taco Bell, Panera, Arby’s and Pizza Hut throughout the US. ‘Wendy’s sees Australia as a high priority, strategic growth market and the collaboration with Flynn Restaurant Group showcases Wendy’s ambition to expand its international footprint using its franchising model,’ explained The Wendy’s Company.”, New Food Magazine, August 17, 2023

To receive this biweekly newsletter, click here : https://bit.ly/geowizardsignup

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Our Mission, Information Sources & Who We Are

Our biweekly global business update newsletter focuses on what is happening around the worldthat impacts new trends, health, consumer spending, business investment, economic development and travel. We daily monitor 30+ countries, 40+ international information sources and six business sectors to keep up with what is going on in this ever-changing environment. Our GlobalTeam™ on the ground covering 25+ countries provides us with updates about what is actually happening in their specific countries.

For a complimentary 30 minute consultation on how to take your business global successfully, contact Bill Edwards at bedwards@edwardsglobal.com or +1 949 224 3896.

www.edwardsglobal.com

Download our latest chart ranking 40+ countries as places to do business at this link:

Our latest GlobalVue™ 40 country ranking

EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 88, Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Posted on Aug 7th, 2023 in World Economy | Comments Off

Edited and curated by: William (Bill) Edwards, CFE, CEO of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS)

Introduction: In this issue, AI driving employees back to the office, Zoom tells employees to come back to the office (?), investors once again positive about Brazil, global shipping up and down, Europe flights delays this summer but few visiting China yet, the latest ‘Economist’ Big Mac Index and an excellent report on franchising in Australia to download.

To receive this biweekly newsletter that is read by over 1,400 people in 20 countries, click here:

First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others

“Don’t sit down and wait for the opportunities to come. Get up and make them.”, Madam C.J. Walker, first female self-made millionaire, 1905

“You have to be burning with an idea, or a problem, or a wrong that you want to right. If you’re not passionate enough from the start, you’ll never stick it out.” , Steve Jobs, CEO and co-founder of Apple Inc.

“Do what you love and success will follow. Passion is the fuel behind a successful career.”, Meg Whitman, CEO of Quibi

Highlights in issue #88:

Inflation Is Cooling. Food Inflation Could Get Worse

Global Shipping Costs Creep Higher After 16-Month Freefall

AI is driving the return to office

Zoom asks employees to return to office for first time since COVID-19 pandemic

Canada sheds jobs in July, unemployment ticks up to 5.5% as evidence of slowing economy mounts

McDonald’s Breakfast In Hong Kong Is Truly Deluxe

Brand Global News Section: Applebee’s®, Chipotle®, Firehouse Subs®, IHOP®, McDonalds®, Outback®, Papa Johns®, Pollo Tropical®, Starbucks®, Subway® and Taco Bell®

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Interesting Data and Studies

“AI is driving the return to office – AI workers want to be in the office—and it just might solve the real-estate crisis. Artificial intelligence could be the savior of the office building. Unlike many tech companies that are actively downsizing office space and waffling on RTO timing and policies, AI companies are seeing the need for physical office space to do their suddenly desirable work. The real estate services firm JLL estimates that by the end of 2023, AI companies will occupy 17.2 million square feet of office space across the country. To put that number in perspective, it’s equivalent to more than half of the amount of office space that’s been leased or subleased between July 2022 and June 2023, according to JLL’s latest U.S. Office Outlook report.”, Fast Company, August 5, 2023

“The dollar is now better value, says the Big Mac index – But not against the Japanese yen. Since 1986 The Economist has tracked the price of a McDonald’s Big Mac around the world as a light-hearted guide to the fair value of currencies. Our index shows that the median price of the burger in its home market rose to $5.58 in July, an increase of over 4% since January and 8.3% compared with a year earlier. That is the beefiest rate of American McFlation recorded in our index since July 2012. Compared with the rest of the world, however, Americans have escaped lightly. From January to July the price of a Big Mac has risen more than twice as fast in the euro zone and Britain, and nearly four times as fast in Canada (see chart).”, The Economist, August 3, 2023

“Global Debt Projections (2005-2027) – Total global debt stands at nearly $305 trillion as of the first quarter of 2023. Over the next five years, it is projected to jump even further—raising concerns about government leverage in a high interest rate and slower growth environment. After rising steadily for years, government debt first ballooned to almost 100% of GDP in 2020. While this ratio has fallen amid an economic rebound and high inflation in 2021 and 2022, it is projected to regain ground and continue climbing. World government debt is now projected to rise to 99.5% of GDP by 2027. Here’s data going back to 2005, as well as the forecast for global public debt-to-GDP:” Visual Capitalist / IMF, August 1, 2023

“Zoom asks employees to return to office for first time since COVID-19 pandemic – Zoom has told its employees to return to the office for the first time since the coronavirus pandemic led employees to use video communications to speak with coworkers. Zoom is asking all employees within 50 miles of a company office to return for at least two days a week. ‘We’ll continue to leverage the entire Zoom platform to keep our employees and dispersed teams connected and working efficiently,’ the spokesperson said.”, Fox Business, August 6, 2023

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Global Supply Chain, Energy, Commodities, Inflation & Trade Issues

“The ‘Weak Dollar’ Is Overvalued By 15.2% – The ‘weak dollar’ is so strong it is estimated to be 15.2% overvalued against a basket of 34 currencies, according to economists at the Coalition for a Prosperous America and Blue Collar Dollar Institute. The two produce a monthly index on dollar valuation called the Currency Misalignment Monitor (CMM). The index is designed to provide a rough approximation of the degree of movement of exchange rates that would be required to bring the U.S. into a better trade balance with partner countries over a five-year stretch. Why is the dollar always overvalued against most currencies, including the second most used currency in world trade – the euro? Basically, it’s because of the securities market. Stocks and bonds (and real estate) are America’s most important product.”, Forbes, July 31, 2023

“Inflation Is Cooling. Food Inflation Could Get Worse – Food prices have been rising rapidly for longer than central bankers had expected, and recent setbacks may prolong the agony. A combination of disrupted exports, unusually hot weather and Russia’s continuing pounding of Ukraine, one of the world’s largest grain producers, is likely to add fresh momentum to the main source of global inflation. U.K. food prices rose 17.4% in the year through June, while Japanese prices were up 8.9% and French prices were up 14.3%. While food inflation has slowed slightly in the U.K. and France, it has picked up in Japan. The U.S. has fared better, with food prices up 4.6% from a year earlier in June, more than double the rate of inflation targeted by the Federal Reserve but well down on the August 2022 peak of 13.5%.”, The Wall Street Journal, August 4, 2023

“Global Shipping Costs Creep Higher After 16-Month Freefall – Drewry world container index climbed for fourth week. Rates from Shanghai to LA, Rotterdam also increasing. Spot rates for shipping containers jumped by the most in more than two years, a sign that a 16-month slump in ocean-freight costs that helped ease the sting of goods inflation is over. The Drewry World Container Index composite increased 11.8% to $1,761 for a 40-foot container, the fourth straight advance and biggest week-on-week percentage gain since June 2021. The composite — which reflects short-term rates across eight trade routes connecting Asia, Europe and the US — had fallen in 15 of the 16 months through June.”, Bloomberg, August 3, 2023

“World Trade Forecast Cut as Maersk Flags Fears for Economy – Outlook signals supply shock has turned into demand decline. Maersk controls about one-sixth of world’s container trade. Shipping giant A.P. Moller-Maersk A/S, a bellwether for the world economy, lowered its estimate for global container trade, indicating that weak demand continues to hamper economic activity after years of supply shocks. Global container trade will probably contract as much as 4% this year, down from Maersk’s previous prediction of as much as 2.5%, the Copenhagen-based company said in a statement on Friday, as there are no substantial signs that volumes will recover this year.”, Bloomberg, August 3, 2023

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Global & Regional Travel Updates

“China’s Latest Problem: People Don’t Want to Go There – As geopolitical tensions rise, fewer visitors are traveling to the world’s No. 2 economy, widening the East-West divide. Half a year after China lifted Covid-19 restrictions and reopened its borders, few international travelers are coming—another sign of decoupling between China and the West that could have negative repercussions for a long time. Foreign travelers’ absence is particularly evident in major cities like Beijing and Shanghai, where the numbers of foreigners who visited in the first half of the year totaled less than a quarter of comparable figures in 2019, before the Covid pandemic. Nationwide, just 52,000 people arrived to mainland China from overseas on trips organized by travel agencies during the first quarter, the latest period for which national data is available, compared with 3.7 million in the first quarter of 2019.”, The Wall Street Journal, August 3, 2023

“Going to Europe This Summer? Brace for Flight Delays – Wildfires, air-traffic control shortages, strikes and the war in Ukraine have led to more delays than last year’s summer of disruption. Passengers traveling across the region have so far experienced more delayed flights this summer than a year ago, when the flying season was marred by long lines, lost baggage and regular cancellations as a rebound in demand overwhelmed airports. This summer airlines and airports are wrestling with an array of challenges. A shortage of air-traffic controllers has impacted the number of flights that can be handled during the day. The war in Ukraine has closed off airspace previously used regularly, and workers, including cabin crew and pilots, are striking across the region.”, The Wall Street Journal, August 7, 2023

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Country & Regional Updates

Australia

“Growth spurt ahead for small and micro businesses – Small business growth has rebounded to pre-pandemic levels despite significant issues such as labour shortages, according to the findings from the latest Quarterly Small and Micro Business Index. The index, compiled by the Council of Small Business Organisations Australia (COSBOA) and payment platform Square, shows a promising outlook for the business landscape despite the current economic climate. Growth rates at Australian businesses have returned to pre-pandemic levels.”, Kochie’s Business Builders, August 7, 2023

“Growth to slump as high rates smash households, RBA warns – The Reserve Bank downgraded its near-term growth forecasts on Friday as the economy cools in response to the fastest interest rate tightening cycle in decades. The central bank expects real gross domestic product to expand by just 0.9 per cent in the 12 months to December 2023 as a result of a weaker-than-expected March quarter national accounts, down from its previous forecast of 1.2 per cent and below the current rate of 2.3 per cent.”, Australian Financial Review, August 4, 2023

Brazil

“Investors are increasingly optimistic about Brazil’s economy – An efficient finance minister and the favourable international backdrop are helping. In a recent poll of 94 Brazilian fund managers and analysts, just 44% had an unfavourable view of the government, down from 90% in March. On July 26th Fitch, a ratings agency, upgraded Brazil’s long-term foreign-currency debt for the first time since it was downgraded in 2018.”, The Economist, August 2, 2023

Canada

“Canada sheds jobs in July, unemployment ticks up to 5.5% as evidence of slowing economy mounts – The Canadian economy unexpectedly shed jobs in July while the unemployment rate ticked higher for the third straight month, providing further evidence that the economy is losing momentum in the face of higher interest rates. The country lost a total of 6,400 jobs and the unemployment rate rose to 5.5 per cent, up from 5.4 per cent in the previous month, Statistics Canada reported Friday. Bay Street analysts were expecting a gain of around 21,000 jobs in July, according to Reuters polling.”, The Globe and Mail, August 5, 2023

China

“China’s Private Sector Is Losing Ground. The State Is Gobbling Market Share – Private companies, which enjoyed a 40-year explosion as a proportion of China’s economy, are now ceding market share to the dinosaurs of state enterprises. Among the 100 largest listed companies, measured by market capitalization, the share of companies that are majority-owned by the Chinese state rose to 61% from 57.2% in the first half of 2023, according to the institute. The share of the private sector, defined as firms with less than 10% state ownership, in the same period dropped below 40% for the first time since the end of 2019.”, Barron’s, August 6, 2023

“China eases entry visa and hukou rules in all-out push to save the economy – More businesspeople will be able to get visas on landing and more rural residents should qualify for urban residency. The changes unveiled by the Ministry of Public Security are meant to foster freer movement of people and data. In addition, the ministry will make it easier for overseas business travellers to apply for landing visas, including those wanting to visit China for business meetings, exhibitions or investment but are unable to secure the permission before their trip.”, South China Morning Post, August 4, 2023

Turkey

“Deutsche, HSBC See Turkish Lira Diving to New Lows on Inflation – Annual price increases have accelerated to almost 50%. Central bank is keeping to “gradual” tightening cycle. The Turkish central bank, under new Governor Hafize Gaye Erkan, recently acknowledged price pressures and significantly revised up its inflation forecast to 58% by year-end, peaking at 60% in the second quarter of 2024. Deutsche Bank analysts cited the trajectory of price increases and the “challenges confronting policymakers in returning inflation to a more sustainable path” for its revisions. It also said it sees the lira sliding further to 35 per dollar at the end of 2024.”, Bloomberg, August 4, 2023

United Arab Emirates

“Dubai Tourist Arrivals Top Pre-Pandemic Levels, Room Rates Surge – Dubai reported a record number of tourist arrivals in the first half of the year, topping levels last seen before the Covid-19 pandemic took hold and helping push hotel room rates to a fresh high. The city reported 8.55 million international overnight visitors, up 20% from the first half of last year and more than the 8.36 million tourists who visited during the same period in 2019. Average daily hotel rates came in at 534 dirhams ($145.40), up by a fifth from 2019 levels.”, Bloomberg, August 6, 2023

United Kingdom

“First-time buyers flee London for more affordable mortgages – In the pandemic, young Londoners moved out of the city in search of space and freedom. Now they are being forced out by rising mortgage costs, according to research. First-time buyers made up 30 per cent of Londoners buying homes outside the capital in the first half of this year, the highest proportion recorded by Hamptons estate agency since it started collecting the data in 2007. Unaffordability is the driving force.”, The Times Of London, August 6, 2023

United States

“Restaurant employment levels inch back up in July – After losing jobs in June for the first time in nearly two and a half years, the restaurant and bar sector gained over 13,000 positions in July. The restaurant workforce remains below pre-pandemic levels by about 64,000 jobs, or 0.5%. In a statement, National Restaurant Association Chief Economist Bruce Grindy said, ‘restaurant operators who are looking to boost staffing levels may find a somewhat less competitive recruiting environment in the months ahead. Job growth in the industry remained in July but remained well below the gains registered during the early months of the year.’”, Nation’s Restaurant New, August 6, 2023

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Brand & Franchising News

“Applebee’s Is Shrinking & Closing Dozens of Restaurants This Year – The chain has closed hundreds of restaurants in recent years. The casual dining chain announced this week that it expects to end the year with 25 to 35 fewer restaurants than it had at the start. This will be an even bigger decrease than the 10 to 20 net closures that Applebee’s initially expected to see in 2023. Applebee’s net unit count hasn’t taken such a major hit since 2020, when it ended the year with 67 fewer restaurants, according to Restaurant Business Magazine.”, Eat This! Not That, August 4, 2023

“State of (Australia) Franchise Report – Franchise Council of Australia – Despite the multiple challenges of recent times, our 2023 State of Franchise Report shows the ongoing benefits of the resilience and flexibility of franchising in Australia. Our members are predominantly small businesses with fewer than 20 employees. With more than 94,000 franchise outlets across Australia employing almost 600,000 Australians and generating $174 Billion into Australia’s economy.”, Franchise Council of Australia, August 2023

“Outback Steakhouse Is Investing In New Tech To Improve Its Food And Dining Experience – Outback Steakhouse has implemented new tableside technology in all 691 of its U.S.-based restaurants and continues to install new “advanced” grills and ovens in its kitchens this quarter. The purpose? According to Bloomin’ Brands CEO Dave Deno on the second-quarter earnings call on August 1, ‘improved product quality and overall meal pacing.’ And profit growth, of course.”, The Daily Meal, August 4, 2023

“McDonald’s Breakfast In Hong Kong Is Truly Deluxe – McDonald’s offers a fairly extensive breakfast menu in the U.S., but most of these tend to be grab-and-go a la carte items like its signature Egg McMuffins or McGriddles. Perhaps this is because its two Big Breakfast platters may not do so well with the drive-thru customers who could be the chain’s wheelhouse, as it were, since such orders can make up 70% of the chain’s sales in certain markets. McDonald’s in Hong Kong, however, goes all-in on platters when it comes to breakfast. It offers two deluxe versions, one with eggs, English muffins, sausage, and hash browns and the other with pancakes (aka hotcakes), sausage, and hash browns. There’s also a jumbo breakfast featuring all of the aforementioned items.”, Mashed, August 1, 2023

“Papa Johns franchisees see comparable-store sales dip – Papa Johns will provide guidance to franchisees after North American comparable-store sales declined 1.4% in the second quarter ended June 25. Comparable sales increased 2.2% in domestic company-owned restaurants but fell 2.3% in North American franchises restaurants. International comparable-store sales were down 1%, largely attributable to inflation in the United Kingdom, although international comparable-store sales improved 5% from the first quarter.”, Food Business News, August 7, 2023

“Pollo Tropical Restaurant Chain to Be Sold – Authentic Restaurant Brands to buy Fiesta Restaurant Group for $225 million. The Dallas company owned and operated 137 Pollo Tropical restaurants, plus 30 that are franchised, across the U.S., Puerto Rico, Panama, Guyana and the Bahamas as of April 2, according to securities filings. Miami-based Pollo Tropical is known for serving heaping portions of Latin American-inspired cuisine, including marinated and grilled chicken, rice and black beans.”, The Wall Street Journal, August 6, 2023

“Starbucks Q3 revenue increased by 12% to US$9.2 billion, and the Chinese market achieved a growth rate of 60% – Global same-store sales increased by 10%, mainly driven by a 5% increase in same-store transaction volume and a 4% increase in average order value. Among them, same-store sales in North America and the United States increased by 7%, driven by a 1% increase in same-store transaction volume and a 6% increase in average customer price. In terms of regions, the net revenue in the Chinese market reached US$821.9 million, an increase of 60% year-on-year (excluding the impact of exchange rate changes), and an increase of 10% from the previous quarter. Same-store sales increased by 46% , same-store transaction volume increased by 48% , and average customer unit price decreased by 1%, which was a significant increase compared to the second quarter.”, Caijing.com.cn, August 2, 2023. Article and translation compliments of Paul Jones, Jones & Co., Toronto

“Subway’s $10 Billion Price Tag Is Tough to Swallow – The sandwich chain’s growth-at-any-cost strategy didn’t work so well, and now it’s having a hard time selling itself. At a time when the value of an increasing number US companies are exceeding the once unthinkable $1 trillion mark, it feels odd to ask whether businesses can be too big to be profitable. And yet that’s the very question sandwich chain Subway Restaurants Inc. is asking itself right now — and it may not like the answer. Subway doesn’t own any of its outlets, which means that to increase profits it either has to add new franchisees or raise fees charged to those franchisees.”, Bloomberg, August 4, 2023

“Taco Bell’s Digital Sales Got A Sizable Boost From In-Store Kiosks – Taco Bell is reaping the return on its investment, and we aren’t just talking about those favorite Mexican pizzas. The Yum! brand food chain recently announced that its digital sales have not only seen a 35% growth, but the chain can back it with the swagger that 100% of its quick service eateries have kiosks, according to QSR Magazine.”, Tasting Table, August 5, 2023

“Here’s what it’s like eating at an AI-generated restaurant: ‘Almost dreamlike’ – When you hear of an AI-generated restaurant, you would probably think of a clean, sterile environment which two bites of food served by robot waiters. But Luminary by RAFI, Australia’s first-ever AI-generated restaurant, is anything but. Luminary, a pop-up restaurant being held for one week only at RAFI in North Sydney, from July 29 to August 5, was first conceptualised with the help of artificial intelligence.”, Honey Kitchen (Australia), August 2, 2023

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EGS Biweekly Global Business Newsletter Issue 87, Tuesday, July 25, 2023

Posted on Jul 24th, 2023 in World Economy | Comments Off

Edited and curated by: William (Bill) Edwards, CFE, CEO of Edwards Global Services, Inc. (EGS)

Introduction: In this issue, Japan’s inflation rate is higher than in the USA, what is the difference between types of AI, the pandemic’s impact on commercial real estate, China’s growth turns down, globalization remains high, New Zealand ranks #1 in the world in work-life balance, McDonalds® sees global growth and Americans will need a visa to go to Europe soon.

To receive this biweekly newsletter that is read by over 1,400 people in 20 countries, click here:

First, A Few Words of Wisdom From Others

“Communication is the key for any global business.”, Anita Roddick

“It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive, but those who can best manage change.”. Leon C. Megginson

“Mistakes are the growing pains of wisdom.”, William George Jordan

Highlights in issue #87:

The State of Globalization in 2023
New Zealand ranked best in world for work/life balance
Will China ever get rich? A new era of much slower growth dawns
The Difference Between Generative AI And Traditional AI: An Easy Explanation For Anyone
Meet a Company Pioneering Work-Life Balance
Brand Global News Section: Anytime Fitness®, Applebee’s®, Chipotle®, Firehouse Subs®, IHOP®, McDonalds® and Sizzler®

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Interesting Data and Studies

“The Difference Between Generative AI And Traditional AI: An Easy Explanation For Anyone – Artificial Intelligence (AI) has been a buzzword across sectors for the last decade, leading to significant advancements in technology and operational efficiencies. However, as we delve deeper into the AI landscape, we must acknowledge and understand its distinct forms. Among the emerging trends, generative AI, a subset of AI, has shown immense potential in reshaping industries. But how does it differ from traditional AI? Let’s unpack this question in the spirit of Bernard Marr’s distinctive, reader-friendly style.”, Forbes, July 24,2023

“The State of Globalization in 2023 – Global (Trade) flow have mostly returned to above pre-pandemic levels. The latest DHL Global Connectedness Index shows how the international flows of trade, capital and information were already above pre-pandemic levels by 2021. In 2022, the recovery of international people flows accelerated.”, Harvard Business Review, July 11, 2023

“McKinsey Releases Report on the Pandemic’s Lasting Impact on Real Estate – Hybrid work is here to stay. As a result, office attendance has stabilized at 30% below prepandemic norms. The ripple effects of hybrid work are substantial. Untethered from their offices, residents have left urban cores and shifted their shopping elsewhere. Demand for office and retail space in superstar cities will remain below prepandemic levels.”, Franchising.com, July 23, 2023

Average full paid days working from home per week by country between April and May 2023

“Britons spend less time in the office than the rest of Europe – Only Canada scores higher for remote hours, study of 34 countries finds. The research, which surveyed 42,400 full-time employees in 34 countries, found that those in France spent less than half as many hours at home as Britons, at only 0.6 days a week. Those in Italy are at home only 0.7 days a week while in Spain the number is 0.9. Britons also show up to the office significantly less than workers in east Asia. However, Britain’s working practices are more similar to other English-speaking nations. In America, workers spend 1.4 days a week at home, while in Australia the number is 1.3. In Canada, the home-working capital of the world, office staff spend 1.7 days a week working remotely.”, The Sunday Times of London, July 18, 2023

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Global Supply Chain, Energy, Commodities, Inflation & Trade Issues

“UK signs Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership – The new agreement will simplify import and export process between the UK and Chile, improving the business environment between the two countries as members of the bloc. Being part of CPTPP will mean that more than 99 per cent of current UK goods exports to CPTPP countries will be eligible for zero tariffs.”, GOV.UK, July 17, 2023

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Global & Regional Travel Updates

“Americans Will Need a ‘Visa’ to Visit Europe in 2024—Here’s What to Know – The new program requires an online application and a minor fee, and is required for all travelers regardless of their age. The new regulations are called the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS). When the system launches in early 2024, it will require all visitors who currently travel to Europe visa-free, such as citizens from the US, Canada, Australia, and New Zealand, to apply for travel authorization and receive approval prior to their departure.”, Conde Nast Traveler, July 19, 2023

“Singapore Passport Is World’s Most Powerful, Replacing Japan – Singapore has replaced Japan for having the world’s most powerful passport, allowing visa-free entry to 192 global destinations, according to the latest Henley Passport Index. The US, which once topped the ranking nearly a decade ago, slid two places to eighth place. The UK, after a Brexit-induced slump, jumped two places to fourth, a position it last held in 2017.”, Bloomberg, July 18, 2023

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Country & Regional Updates

Canada

“Mid-Year Canadian Dollar Outlook – 2023 – The loonie is lifting off. – Fiscal support, stabilising financial conditions, and a historic surge in immigration are helping the Canadian economy – and the loonie – defy bearish expectations. Continued labour market tightness, rebounding housing markets, and high levels of consumer consumption have combined to deliver remarkably-robust growth rates. Yield differentials might narrow – or even flip. But household consumption looks fragile.”, MAPLE Business Council, July 21, 2023

“Waiting for the factory building boom in Canada – The amount spent on the construction of manufacturing facilities in the United States in May jumped 73 per cent to a record US$15.6-billion from the year before, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. Canada’s federal budget this spring aimed to be Ottawa’s response to Washington’s economic activism, with $12-billion in tax credits and incentives for cleantech manufacturing, among other measures. But new data on factory construction investment from Statistics Canada this week shows just how far manufacturers in this country have to go to catch up.”, The Globe & Mail, July 20, 2023

China

“Chinese Consumers Pinch Pennies on Staples as Pandemic Habits Linger – Chinese consumers are being frugal when buying everyday items from toothbrushes to shampoo, a worrisome trend for a country that is trying to shake off the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. A broader retail sales recovery in China this year has masked some of the penny-pinching, which economists say points to underlying weakness in consumer confidence.”, The Wall Street Journal, July 22, 2023

“Will China ever get rich? A new era of much slower growth dawns – China is entering an era of much slower economic growth, raising a daunting prospect: it may never get rich. ‘It is unlikely that the Chinese economy will surpass that of the United States within the next decade or two,’ said Desmond Lachman, a senior fellow at the American Enterprise Institute. And China’s workforce and consumer base are shrinking while the cohort of retirees is expanding.”, Reuters, July 17, 2023

European Union

“High hopes despite high prices: An update on European consumer sentiment – Consumer confidence has grown dramatically across the continent—but geopolitical concerns and price increases continue to affect how consumers intend to spend. A sunnier outlook emerges in Europe. German consumers report the highest increase in net confidence, at 13 percentage points (up from –34 in September 2022), as well as the highest level of optimism—31 percent of respondents say they expect their country’s economy to rebound within two to three months and grow just as strong or stronger than it was before the conflict in Ukraine began.”, McKinsey & Co., July 14, 2023

Latin America

“What could a new era mean for Latin America? The pandemic hit Latin America hard, inflation has raised pressure on the continent’s low-income groups, and polarizing political tensions have been escalating. In Latin America, as in the rest of the world, these are volatile and uncertain times. Increasing trade with China and the rest of the world has shifted the balance away from the United States.”, McKinsey & Co., July 20, 2023

Japan

“Meet a Company Pioneering Work-Life Balance – Japanese trading houses like Itochu Corp., Mitsui & Co., Mitsubishi Corp. and Sumitomo Corp. have underpinned our country’s postwar economic miracle. But they also embody our corporate culture, characterized by male dominance, long working hours and pressure to join drinking parties with bosses and clients after work. So when Masahiro Okafuji became chief executive officer of Itochu in 2010, he made improving productivity a top priority to compete against rivals in Japan and made drastic changes to its employees working hours, his approach was counterintuitive. he banned working in the office after 8 p.m. with rare exceptions and had security guards and human resources staff scout Itochu’s office building in Tokyo, telling people to go home. Those clinging to their desks were told to come in early the next day to get their work done — and get paid extra. A decade later, the company — whose businesses range from the FamilyMart convenience store chain to metals trading — reported a change that even surprised management. The fertility rate among full-time employees had doubled in the years since Okafuji became CEO, reaching almost two children per female in the fiscal year ended March 2022. That far exceeds Japan’s current national rate of about 1.3.”, Bloomberg, July 17, 2023

“Japan’s inflation outpaces US price rises for first time in 8 years – Asia’s most advanced economy is no longer an outlier in inflation. Japan remains the world’s only central bank with negative interest rates, and any reversal of this strategy would have massive implications for global financial markets. Annual inflation of the consumer price index and core CPI, which excludes fresh food, rose from 3.2 per cent in May to 3.3 per cent in June, according to data released on Friday.”, The Financial Times, July 20, 2023

Malaysia

“Nasdaq ranks Malaysia best place in Asia to retire ahead of Vietnam, Indonesia – Malaysia was the safest place to retire in Asia, based on its peace score and average monthly cost of living, according to US-based financial services corporation Nasdaq. Malaysia ranks first in a list of the 10 safest places to retire in Asia, according to US-based financial services corporation Nasdaq. “Malaysia takes the number one spot with a cost of living index of 22.9 and a GDP of US$481.9 trillion. With average monthly expenses at just over US$1,000, it’s an excellent place for retirees to consider,” it said. Runner-up in the list is Kuwait, with a global peace index of 1.739 and an average monthly cost of living of US$1,741.”, South China Morning Post, July 16, 2023

New Zealand

“New Zealand ranked best in world for work/life balance – The global index study by Remote, a global payroll, tax, HR and compliance supplier for distributed teams, assesses the quality of life-work balance in the world’s top 60 GDP countries, ranking each nation out of 100. The overall score is determined through factors including minimum wage, sick leave, maternity leave, healthcare availability, public happiness, average working hours, and LGBTQ+ inclusivity. The top 5 places on the list were filled by New Zealand, Spain, France, Australia and Denmark. The United States is ranked a lowly 53rd in the index owing to a lack of statutory annual leave or sick pay, and the absence of a universal healthcare system.”, Franchise New Zealand, June 29, 2023

United Kingdom

“UK banks lead global rivals in passing on interest rate benefits to savers – US and European lenders come under pressure to share more of their haul with customers. UK banks have handed more of the benefits of interest rate rises to savers than their counterparts in Europe or the US, as politicians, regulators and clients push for a greater share of the haul. Global banks are coming under pressure to pass on the benefits of higher interest rates to their customers — but lenders in less competitive markets have proved far less generous than others, according to an analysis by rating agency S&P.”, The Financial Times, July 23, 2023

“British inflation may not be as sticky as thought – Inflation figures covering the year to June showed that the rate of price growth is not proving as stubborn as it had previously appeared. The headline rate of inflation fell from 8.7% in May to 7.9% in June, a bigger drop than the fall to 8.2% that economists had been expecting.”, The Economist, July 19, 2023

United States

“Vistage CEO Confidence Index Report Q2 – Using ITR Economics rate-of-change methodology, analysis has revealed that the Vistage CEO Confidence Index is a leading indicator of the U.S. Industrial Production Index 9 months in advance. This report captures CEO economic sentiment and strategic intent for the next 12 months. Vistage July 2023

“Americans in Their Prime Are Flooding Into the Job Market – Share of people between 25 and 54 working or seeking jobs rose this year to highest level since 2002. The resurgence of midcareer workers is driven by women taking jobs. The labor-force participation rate for prime-age women was the highest on record, 77.8% in June. (US) Men, however, tend to be employed at higher rates. The overall prime-age participation rate rose in June to 83.5%, the highest since 2002.”, The Wall Street Journal, July 22, 2023

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Brand & Franchising News

“Applebee’s and IHOP head to Japan—virtually – The brands will also make their debuts in France, Belgium and the Netherlands through a partnership with Franklin Junction, which matches brands with “host kitchens” that sell their food for delivery only. Dine’s first virtual location with Franklin Junction is scheduled to open in Japan in the fourth quarter. It will add to a growing international footprint at both brands: At the end of last year, Applebee’s had 109 non-U.S. units, up from 102 the prior year, and IHOP had 104 compared to 94 in 2021.”, Restaurant Business, July 19, 2023

“Chipotle: First International Agreement Intriguing but Unlikely to Move the Financial Needle – We don’t expect wide-moat Chipotle Mexican Grill’s CMG first international development agreement to prove financially material, and we continue to view the shares as pricey. Nevertheless, we appreciate the strategic rationale behind the deal with Alshaya Group and will keep a close eye on its success; reasonable uptake in the Middle East and Africa could augur well for a deeper foray into larger and more strategically important markets in Western Europe while increasing the chances of entry into markets like China that global restaurant peers have traditionally approached through franchise agreements.”, Morningstar, July 18, 2023

“Firehouse Subs Starts Global Expansion With New Swiss Location – Restaurant Brands International (RBI), the parent company of Firehouse Subs, confirmed that the Swiss restaurant opening is the beginning of the brand’s journey to expand internationally across a number of territories, next stop being Mexico where a deal has already been signed. It appears as if the Zurich location is a company-owned one, with RBI confirming that it will be used to as a showcase for future international developments and will be harnessing technology such as self order kiosks and mobile ordering as well as offering click-and-collect and table service options.”, Forbes, July 24, 2023

“McDonald’s to Spend Over A$1 Billion on Australian Stores – McDonald’s Corp. plans to spend more than A$1 billion ($673 million) on opening and renovating stores in the company’s biggest expansion plans for Australia since the 1990s, according the Australian Business Review. The fast food giant plans to spend about A$600 million on 100 new stores in the country over the next three years, and about A$450 million refurbishing over half of its current network, the paper said, citing Australian CEO Antoni Martinez.”, Bloomberg, July 22, 2023

“McDonald’s Franchisee Surges 50% in 3 Months – (The world’s largest independent McDonald’s franchisee) Arcos Dorados stock climbed as much as 56% off its April 6 low this month amid a growing Latin American appetite for QSR food. Growth drivers include a rising adoption of digital ordering platforms, the expansion of its footprint and the introduction of new menu items. Also the largest restaurant chain in Latin America, Arcos Dorados’ growth story goes beyond technological advancement. Adding more restaurants and drive-thrus to the footprint is also a big focus. This month, the company opened its 223rd McDonald’s location in Argentina. It also launched a Japanese-themed McDonald’s in Brazil to recognize the growing Japanese community there.”, Market Beat, July 20, 2023

“Minor International acquires Sizzler for $23.38m – The group will gain control of over 64 restaurants in Thailand and 10 in Japan. As a 31-year franchisee of Sizzler, MINT has established a fruitful partnership with the seller, Collins Foods Limited (Collins Foods) and played a pivotal role in Sizzler’s success, contributing to its growth and reputation in western casual dining in Asia. MINT is one of Asia’s largest restaurant companies with over 2,500 outlets system-wide in 24 countries under The Pizza Company, The Coffee Club, Riverside, Benihana, Thai Express, Bonchon, Swensen’s, Sizzler, Dairy Queen, Burger King, Coffee Journey and GAGA brands.”, QSR Media, July 1, 2023. Compliments of Jason Gehrke, The Franchise Advisory Centre, Birsbane

“Self Esteem Brands Signs Anytime Fitness Master Franchisee in France – With France, Self Esteem Brands will now have Anytime Fitness clubs operating in 41 countries and territories around the globe. Anytime France is owned by Benoit Hanssen and Matt Burgess, who operate Anytime Fitness clubs across Italy. Under the agreement, they will open and operate Anytime Fitness clubs across Paris, Ile-de-France, Auvergne, Rhone-Alpes, Provence-Alpes, and Cote d’Azur.”, Franchising.com, July 19, 2023

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