Tagged Articles

IHOP Opens Three Restaurants in Ecuador

Dine Brands International opened three IHOP restaurants in Ecuador, continuing its expansion into Latin America. The openings represent the first for IHOP in South America. Two IHOP restaurants operate from the port city of Guayaquil and one from the city of Ambato.

Slapfish Nets First International Location

Slapfish has swum ashore in the United Kingdom, marking the fast-casual seafood chain’s first international location. The restaurant chain plans to open 25 more units across the U.K. by 2025 with franchise partner SME Group PLC, which operates nearly 100 franchise locations with various fast-casual concepts in the U.K.

Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers Opens First International Location

Fast-casual restaurant conceptFreddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgersopened its first international location in the Dubai Mall in the United Arab Emirates.

IHOP to Open in Pakistan

Dine Brands Global Inc. plans to bring 19 IHOP restaurants to Pakistan over the next nine years in partnership with Pakistan-based Gerry’s Group.

Scarpetta Team Opens Its First International Restaurant

The team behind Scarpetta, which debuted in New York City in 2008, has opened its first location outside the US, in the UK at the Bvlgari Hotel London.

The new location, named Sette, features signature dishes from the NYC locale as well as dishes exclusive to the new location. It also features a lower level cocktail lounge, Nolita Social.

Wing Zone to Open 12 New International Locations

Wing Zone plans to open an average of at least one new international location per month in 2019. The company operates 24 restaurants in 5 countries outside the U.S. Wing Zone will focus on Central America, Southeast Asia, the Caribbean and Europe for continued global expansion.

Starbucks Opens 4-Story Reserve Roastery in Tokyo

Starbucks Reserve Roastery Tokyo is home to the chain’s largest Teavana Bar and Japan’s first Princi Italian bakery location. It also marks the debut of the coffee behemoth’s first Inspiration Lounge, a full floor dedicated to community gathering.

Tim Hortons Opens First Restaurant in China

Tim Hortons opened its first location in China in the country’s largest city, Shanghai.

The ONE Group Hospitality Opens STK Restaurant in Doha

The ONE Group Hospitality opened an STK restaurant in Doha, Qatar. The restaurant resides on the 23rd floor of the newly renovated Ritz-Carlton, overlooking the Arabian Gulf and featuring city views. The ONE Group Hospitality opened this location in partnership with Katara Hospitality.

Domino’s Pizza Opens in East Africa

Ann Arbor, Mich.-based Domino’s Pizza opened its first store in Port Louis, Mauritius, via a partnership with local operator Island Living, the master franchisee for the small island nation.

Starbucks Opens Reserve in Bali, Indonesia

Starbucks opened its Dewata Coffee Sanctuary in Bali, Indonesia.

Starbucks Announces Global Greener Stores Commitment, New Roastery in Italy

Starbucks plans to open 10,000 “greener stores” by 2025. Over the next year, the coffee giant intends to develop an accredited program to audit all existing company-operated stores in the U.S. and Canada via a comprehensive framework for environmentally friendly design.

Smith & Wollensky to Enter the Asian Market

Smith & Wollensky Restaurant Group (SWRG) will open a location in Taipei, Taiwan. When this location opens in December, it will be Smith & Wollensky’s first licensed location outside the U.S.

Studio Movie Grill Takes Dine-In Theater Format Overseas

With 30 locations nationwide, dine-in theater concept Studio Movie Grill(SMG) is expanding globally with new locations recently opened in North Carolina, Florida and California as well as two new overseas locations in Saudi Arabia and South Africa.

How to Go Global

The call comes in. On the other end of the line is a deep-pocketed businessperson from Dubai — or Istanbul, Mexico City or     Shanghai — who experienced your brand on a recent trip to the U.S. and would love to bring it to his or her country. Flattery sets in, excitement mounts and visions of global expansion begin dancing in your head.

Starbucks Reserve Roastery Opens in Italy

Starbucks opened its first location in Italy, a Reserve Roastery in Milan, located inside the historic Poste building in Piazza Cordusio. The coffee behemoth plans to bring additional cafes to Milan beginning in late 2018.

BUILT Custom Burgers Debuts in West African Market

BUILT Custom Burgers opened its first location in Accra, Ghana.

Popeye’s Prepares Philippines Debut

Through a master franchise agreement with Kuya J Holdings Group, quick-service chicken concept Popeye’s is preparing to enter the Philippines.

Wetzel’s Pretzels to Open 50 Locations Across China

Wetzel’s Pretzels plans to open 50 units in China by 2021, with the first scheduled to open later this year.

P.F. Chang’s Makes its Debut in China

Full-service Asian chain P.F. Chang’sopened its first restaurant in China, at the No1 Mall in Shanghai.

Wayback Burgers Opens in Pakistan 

Wayback Burgers opened its latest unit in Johar Town, Lahore, Pakistan. It is the chain’s first location in Pakistan.

Arby’s to Develop 50 New Restaurants in Egypt

Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. reached a development agreement with Vantage Egypt for Tourism and Entertainment to build 50 new Arby’s restaurants in Egypt, with the first set to open in 2018.

Starbucks Opens Reserve Roastery in Shanghai

Starbucks Reserve Roasteryin Shanghai opens this week, the second to debut globally after the flagship location in Seattle. The concept boasts an experiential mix of cafe, bakery and coffee manufacturing on site.

Arby’s Debuts in Kuwait

Arby’s opened its first new restaurant in Jabriya, Kuwait.

Domino’s Opens First Slovakia Location

Domino’sopened its first store in Slovakia, in the capital city of Bratislava.

Marble Slab Creamery Opens in Bangladesh

Through a master franchise agreement with Shanta Holdings, Marble Slab Creamery opened its first location in Dhaka, the capital city of Bangladesh.

Taverna Pizzeria and Risotteria Features Slat Wood Ceiling

Multiconcept operator Lombardi Family Concepts recently debuted Taverna Pizzeria and Risotteria at The Shops at Buckhead in Atlanta.

Tech Case Study: foodlife Marries Technology and Service

foodlife, a single-unit, fast-casual concept of LEYE in Chicago’s Water Tower, does not have kiosks or tablets, but it has the same goal. It has a point-of-sale ordering system that relieves customers and chefs of handling cards or cash.

P.F. Chang’s Opens First UK Outpost

P.F. Chang’sdebuted its first UK location in August.

First IHOP Opens in India

The first IHOP opened in India in June. It is the first of 20 planned restaurants to open in Northern and Southern India in the next decade.