Food & Beverage Industry

The food and beverage sector is one of Europe’s most diverse, high-volume, and resilient franchise industries. From quick-service restaurants and coffee chains to premium dining concepts and niche specialty formats, F&B franchising has proven to deliver rapid expansion and strong returns across every European market.

Market Potential in Europe

• Industry size: The European foodservice sector is valued at well over €700 billion, covering restaurants, cafés, bakeries, bars, and catering.
• Consumer behaviour: Dining out remains one of Europe’s most popular leisure activities, with high per-capita spending in markets like Italy, France, and Spain.
• Coffee culture: Markets such as the UK, Nordics, and Central Europe have seen exponential growth in specialty coffee consumption, making café concepts one of the most scalable F&B models.
• Fast-casual growth: Demand for premium-quality food with quick service continues to increase, appealing to younger, urban demographics.
• Delivery & online ordering: More than half of European consumers regularly order food online, with aggregator platforms expanding F&B reach beyond physical locations.
• Health-conscious shift: Significant growth in plant-based, organic, and functional food segments.
• Tourism boost: Europe receives hundreds of millions of visitors annually, fuelling high turnover in hospitality and foodservice locations.

Recognisable and Growing Franchise Players in Europe

• PAUL: French bakery and café brand with over a century of heritage, franchised across Europe and abroad.
• Vapiano: German-born fresh pasta, pizza, and salad concept known for its open-kitchen dining experience.
• Coffee Fellows: Munich-based coffee shop and bagel café chain with locations across Germany, Austria, and beyond.
• Le Pain Quotidien: Belgian-origin organic bakery and café concept with a strong focus on communal dining.
• Moka & Co.: Italian coffee and pastry concept growing regionally in Southern Europe.
• Nordsee: German seafood-focused quick-service brand with a long-standing franchise system.
• YO! Sushi: UK-created conveyor belt sushi brand that’s expanded into multiple European markets.
• Le Kiosque à Pizzas: French kiosk-style pizza concept with hundreds of franchise locations in semi-rural and suburban areas.
• Baguette Express: Scotland-based sandwich and coffee brand with a footprint in the UK and expansion into Europe.
• Ditsch: German pretzel bakery brand with both company and franchise stores, including in transport hubs.
• Bert’s Café: French casual café with a modern, urban vibe expanding into key European cities.
• Big Fernand: French gourmet burger chain with a playful, premium positioning.
• Telepizza: Spanish-founded pizza delivery and takeaway brand with extensive reach in Iberia and Latin America.
• Black Sheep Coffee: London-founded specialty coffee and café brand with rapid UK and European growth.

Market Trends Driving F&B Franchising

• Localisation of menus: Adapting core offerings to reflect cultural preferences and dietary habits.
• Sustainability focus: Reducing packaging waste, sourcing locally, and offering eco-friendly operations.
• Digital integration: Online ordering, mobile loyalty apps, and click-and-collect as standard.
• Smaller formats: Compact store footprints for urban, high-rent locations.
• Hybrid models: Combining dine-in, takeaway, and delivery from one location.
• Experience-driven dining: Interiors and service styles designed to encourage longer visits and higher spend.

Why Franchising Works in F&B

• Brand familiarity builds trust and drives foot traffic.
• Economies of scale in supply chains improve unit profitability.
• Repeat purchasing behaviour ensures consistent revenue.
• Rapid scalability via multi-unit and master franchise agreements.
• Proven systems reduce operational risks for franchisees.

How FMS Europe Helps F&B Brands Expand

1. Market Feasibility & Entry Strategy
We analyse your concept’s readiness for Europe, identify priority countries, and develop a roll-out plan that maximises return on investment.

2. Franchise Development & Compliance
We prepare all franchise documentation, operational manuals, and support systems to ensure seamless replication in multiple markets.

3. Operational Optimisation
We adapt your kitchen layouts, service models, and supply chain to European regulations and consumer expectations.

4. Franchisee Recruitment & Sales
Our targeted campaigns bring in serious, qualified investors ready to take on multi-unit or master franchise territories.

5. Marketing & Lead Generation
We design multi-channel marketing strategies, from Google Ads and Meta Ads to influencer collaborations and PR, tailored to both franchise recruitment and customer acquisition.

6. Growth Support & Scaling
Ongoing strategic guidance to expand into new territories, optimise unit performance, and introduce new revenue streams like delivery, catering, and retail products.

The FMS Europe Advantage

• Deep category experience in QSR, coffee chains, bakery cafés, casual dining, and premium restaurants.
• Pan-European reach with market knowledge from the Nordics to Southern Europe.
• Proven marketing systems to generate leads and brand awareness simultaneously.
• End-to-end solutions: from feasibility studies to launch and network growth.

Whether you are a boutique coffee concept, a high-volume QSR brand, or a premium dining experience, FMS Europe delivers the expertise, systems, and network to help you scale successfully across Europe.

Thinking Beyond Europe?

For many European food and beverage brands, entering the United States is the ultimate milestone, a sign of market leadership and a gateway to a foodservice market worth over €950 billion annually.

Through our direct connection with FMS USA, we provide:

• US F&B Market Entry Strategy: Adapt your menu, service model, and operations for American consumer preferences, competitive QSR and casual dining landscapes, and portion-size expectations.
• Regulatory Compliance & Documentation: Navigate FDA food safety rules, US franchise disclosure requirements (FDD), and state-specific licensing.
• Market Introductions & Networking: Access established supplier networks, property developers, and master franchise candidates in the US hospitality sector.
• Brand Positioning & Launch Campaigns: Build market awareness quickly through targeted F&B marketing channels, PR, and influencer campaigns.
• Visa Entrance Consultation: Guidance on US visa pathways (including E-2 Treaty Investor visas) tailored for restaurant owners, executives, and culinary specialists.

Expanding into the US is not for every brand, but for those with the ambition and systems in place, it can be transformative. FMS Europe is your bridge from Europe to America.