On the 18th and 19th of September 2025, Mercedes-Benz World in Weybridge, Surrey, played host to a two-day gathering of strategy, celebration, and forward momentum at the World Options Annual Conference.
The event was hosted by Managing Director Michael Gratton and expertly MC’d by Hani Altalli (Finance & Controlling Manager,
Mail Boxes Etc. UK). It brought together franchisees, sales reps, HQ leaders, and global partners for two days packed with insight, innovation, and inspiration.
A Growing Network, A Sharpened Edge
The 2025 conference marked a clear milestone for the network, with 23 new partners joining the World Options family this year alone, a powerful indicator of World Options’ growing reputation and robust offering.
From strategic tech upgrades to on-the-ground sales support, this year’s theme was clear: smarter systems, stronger support, and scalable success.
Key Updates & Announcements
The leadership team unveiled several major initiatives designed to empower franchisees and improve end-to-end user experience:
- New Head Office Support Systems – streamlining the customer journey and enhancing visibility across the shipping lifecycle.
- UX Enhancements to the Franchise Portal – better dashboard tools, performance tracking, and quotation flow.
- Improved Carrier Partnerships – enabling franchisees to offer more competitive pricing and service levels.
- Sales Enablement Investments – new lead generation tools, field-based sales coaches, and on-site training at HQ in Accrington.
Franchisees also explored high-growth verticals during interactive Q&A sessions on eCommerce, freight, and high-volume shipping, hosted by internal specialists and carrier partners.
Gerardo Di Filippo, Chief Transformation Officer at Fortidia
Global Insight from Fortidia Leadership
This year’s event was elevated by a series of strategic presentations from Fortidia Group executives, including:
- Simone De Giuseppe, Group CIO, on the future of shipping tech.
- Richard Baker, Regional VP of IT, on secure scalability and platform innovation.
- Valeria Mennella, CMO, unveiling new brand alignment and digital campaigns.
Awards & Recognition
No World Options Conference would be complete without recognising the standout performers of 2024.
Award Winners
| Award | Winner(s) |
|---|---|
| YoY Growth Champion 1 | Lynn Dignan |
| YoY Growth Champion 2 | Alex Marr |
| New Business Champion | Tristan Shaw |
| Margin Master Award | Alex Crawley |
| 100 Club Award (Highest Gross Margin) | Lewis Smith Alex Sikorski Andy Wright Matt Patten Ata Mohammed |
| Franchisee of the Year (Network Growth, HQ Support, Peer Feedback) |
Matthew Mansfield & Cameron Wilkey |
Looking Ahead: 2025 and Beyond
With new tools, fresh talent, and enhanced field support, World Options is primed to scale smarter and grow faster.
Special thanks to Annika Spieler (Brand & Communications Specialist) and Lauren Radcliffe (Learning & Development Manager) for their outstanding efforts in bringing the event to life.
Stay updated on news, case studies, and upcoming events via the World Options website.