Over 160 people attended the August National Franchise Conference in Hamilton, New Zealand to be enlightened, entertained, encouraged and enthused by a line-up of international speakers and representatives of some of the country's top franchise brands. The theme this year was Innovation, Integration, Resilience and a panel of franchisors met on the first day to speak openly and frankly about some of the innovations and challenges they have faced in the relation to the franchise brands they work with.

Interviewer, Simon Lord of Franchise New Zealand Media, drew the panel out on a number of questions such as:

- the biggest, best and worst performing innovations in their franchise systems in the past 5 years
- severe challenges and disasters faced, along with recovery strategies and learnings
- processes for generation, testing and measuring of innovative ideas in their franchise systems
- integration of new innovations in franchise systems, getting franchisees on board
- integration of good employment practices in franchise networks
- working with an increasing number of franchisees who have English as their second language
- funding initiatives and structures to support new franchisees in the system