Participants during the Norland International 7th anniversary celebrations at UMA Show Grounds
By Julius Businge
Norland International has marked its 7th anniversary in Uganda with a strategic shift into franchising, unveiling a new tea and coffee business model aimed at opening up entrepreneurship opportunities across the country and the wider region.
The launch, held at the UMA Show Grounds on March 21, signaled the company’s move to tap into Uganda’s growing appetite for structured, brand-led small businesses, particularly in the food, beverage and wellness space.
At the centre of the expansion is the Vmax365 Tea and Coffee Shops franchise, a model that allows individuals to invest in and operate standardized outlets offering a mix of teas, coffee and wellness beverages. The concept blends lifestyle retail with Norland’s broader health-focused portfolio, positioning it as both a commercial and consumer-driven venture.
BD Maclyn Musiime Itazya, founder of Norland East and Central Africa, said the introduction of franchising reflects a deliberate effort to make business ownership more accessible to ordinary Ugandans.
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Participants during the Norland International 7th anniversary celebrations at UMA Show Grounds
By Julius Businge
Norland International has marked its 7th anniversary in Uganda with a strategic shift into franchising, unveiling a new tea and coffee business model aimed at opening up entrepreneurship opportunities across the country and the wider region.
The launch, held at the UMA Show Grounds on March 21, signaled the company’s move to tap into Uganda’s growing appetite for structured, brand-led small businesses, particularly in the food, beverage and wellness space.
At the centre of the expansion is the Vmax365 Tea and Coffee Shops franchise, a model that allows individuals to invest in and operate standardized outlets offering a mix of teas, coffee and wellness beverages. The concept blends lifestyle retail with Norland’s broader health-focused portfolio, positioning it as both a commercial and consumer-driven venture.
BD Maclyn Musiime Itazya, founder of Norland East and Central Africa, said the introduction of franchising reflects a deliberate effort to make business ownership more accessible to ordinary Ugandans.
“The model we are using is franchisees, where you invest and own your own shop,” she said, explaining that the approach mirrors global systems used by major brands but is now being adapted for local entrepreneurs.
Maclyn Musiime Itazya
Industry observers note that while franchising has long existed in Uganda, it has largely been dominated by multinational corporations in sectors such as fuel retail and fast food. Norland’s entry into the space signals a shift toward extending the model to small and medium enterprises, particularly in emerging sectors like wellness and specialty beverages.
The company is positioning the franchise as a scalable business model that can be replicated across multiple locations, supported by a centralized brand, product supply and operational framework. This reduces the risks typically associated with starting independent businesses, while giving investors access to an established system.
The move also aligns with changing consumer trends in urban centres, where demand is growing for curated experiences around coffee, tea and health-conscious products. By combining these elements, the Vmax365 concept aims to capture a segment of the market that is increasingly driven by lifestyle and wellness preferences.
Johnny Chen, President of Norland International and Vice Chairman of Vmax365 Tea and Coffee, said the franchise model is part of a broader global expansion strategy that will see the brand rolled out across Africa and other regions.
“We are going to build up franchises all over the country and all over Africa and worldwide,” he said, pointing to the company’s existing international network as a foundation for rapid growth.
He added that the model will also integrate local value chains, particularly in sourcing agricultural inputs such as coffee and fruits, which could strengthen Uganda’s position in regional and global supply systems.
The franchise rollout comes at a time when Uganda is seeking to boost entrepreneurship and job creation, especially among young people. Structured business models like franchising are increasingly being viewed as a pathway to reduce startup failure rates by providing training, branding and operational support.
Participants at the event were introduced to the investment framework, with opportunities for immediate enrolment into the franchise system. Demonstrations and product sampling offered a glimpse into how the outlets will operate, from customer experience to product offerings.
Norland’s expansion into franchising also reflects a broader shift in how companies are entering African markets, moving beyond product distribution toward ecosystem-based models that combine retail, manufacturing and entrepreneurship.
As competition intensifies in Uganda’s beverage and wellness sectors, the success of the Vmax365 model will likely depend on its ability to balance affordability for franchise owners with consistency in quality and brand experience.
For now, the company’s 7th anniversary marks more than a milestone—it signals a new phase of growth built around franchising as a tool for scaling business, expanding markets and bringing more Ugandans into formal enterprise networks.
