GOLDEN, Colo., May 31, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Boston Market®, the rotisserie chicken and contemporary home style cooking experts, today announced that its first Middle East restaurant opened this week in Kuwait. As previously announced in June 2016, Boston Market IP Company, Ltd., an affiliate of Boston Market Corporation, signed an area development agreement with Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. Ltd. that will open dozens of Boston Market restaurants in the Middle East. Under the terms of the agreement, Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. will develop Boston Market restaurants in Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar, and Jordan. The agreement is part of a plan by Boston Market to open 25 – 30 restaurants across the Middle East over the next few years. The first Boston Market restaurant to open in the Middle East is located in Jabriya of the Hawalli Governorate in Kuwait. The restaurant has indoor and outdoor patio seating, and also offers delivery to homes and catering for events. A second Boston Market restaurant is in the final stages of preparing to open in Kuwait. The second restaurant will open in Sabah Al Salem of the Mubarak Al-Kabeer Governorate in Kuwait. "We are thrilled to officially launch the Boston Market brand in the Middle East with our first restaurant opening in Kuwait," said George Michel, Chief Executive Officer of Boston Market, also known as 'The Big Chicken'. "Rotisserie chicken is a very popular food in the Middle East and as the leading restaurant offering high quality, all natural rotisserie chicken, rotisserie ribs and turkey, we see a significant opportunity to delight consumers and grow our brand in this region of the world." Michel continued, "We have a top flight partner in Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. and we are confident that with their local market experience and expertise, we will successfully enter and grow our presence in the Middle East." Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. Ltd. has vast experience developing and operating casual dining restaurants in the Middle East and South Asia. The multinational casual dining restaurant company owns and operates a variety of brands including Chili's®, Johnny Carino's Italian Grill®, The Pizzeria, The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf®, Cinnamonster®, and Which Wich®. Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. was named one of the top companies making an impact in Kuwait by Forbes Middle East at a ceremony held in Kuwait on May 31, 2016. "We anticipate a strong consumer response to the Boston Market concept as the clear leader in rotisserie chicken and American home style cooking," said Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. CEO Abdulghani Al-Ghunaim. "Boston Market brings a unique restaurant concept to the Middle East and its high quality food and diverse menu options will result in customer loyalty. We look forward to our continued partnership as we open the first restaurant in Kuwait, followed by expansion into additional countries throughout the Middle East." About Boston Market Boston Market Corporation, headquartered in Golden, Colorado, has given time back to busy families and individuals for 30 years with quality, home style meals at a convenient value in more than 450 U.S. locations. The expert in rotisserie cooking, Boston Market prepares its fresh chicken and all natural turkey in signature rotisserie ovens and features an extensive selection of home style sides and made-from-scratch cornbread. As one of the country's largest providers of catering services, Boston Market offers convenient, same-day orders and delivery for corporate and personal events of all sizes. In January 2017, Boston Market officially launched its "Quality Guarantee," which acts as a continued commitment to all guests that Boston Market will serve all-natural and fresh, never frozen, gluten-free, whole chicken with no added hormones, steroids, antibiotics or MSG. For more information, visit the company's website at www.bostonmarket.com. For the latest news and deals, follow @bostonmarket on Twitter or join us on Facebook. Media Contact Seth Grugle, ICR 646-277-1200 BostonMarketPR@icrinc.com SOURCE Boston Market Related Links https://www.bostonmarket.com

Boston Market CEO George Michel has signed a deal with Kuwait’s Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. Ltd. to bring the US-based fast casual dining concept to the Middle East. Up to 30 branches are planned initially for Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan - with the first due to open in Kuwait by early next year. This will be the first Boston Market outisde of the US in a decade, since former owner McDonald's sold the company and closed outlets in Canada and Australia, reports Associated Press. The company, which was initially called Boston Chicken when it launched 30 years ago, is best known for serving hormone-free rotisserie chicken. Al-Ghunaim Trading Co. already operates restaurants such as Chili’s and Johnny Carino’s Italian Grill, and Michel commented that he is working with the developer party due to its "credibility and the strong track record". Michel previously worked in the Middle East for Burger King and Brinker International, overseeing Chili’s and Macaroni Grills in the region.

McDonald’s started as a barbecue restaurant in 1940 by Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. The brand currently operates the biggest hamburger fast food network around the world. McDonald’s operates more than 35,000 restaurants serve almost 70 million customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. In January 2014, McDonald’s posted five straight quarters of disappointing overall sales indicating fiercer competition in and outside the US. The chain is suffering mainly inside the United Sales whereas its International operation continuous growth. McDonald’s has a strong presence in the MENA region with 766 branches. According to McDonald’s 2014 annual report, Saudi Arabia operates the highest number of McDonald’s branches in the Middle East and North African region with 191 branches followed by 181 branches in Israel. Israel was leading in the number of McDonald’s branches since 2000 but the fast growth of brand in Saudi placed its first in the Middle East. McDonald’s launched 32 locations in 2014 (link) that are mostly located in smaller cities in the central and northern region. Saudi Arabia registered a growth in the number of outlets by 18% in 2014 followed by Jordan and Egypt with a outlet growth rate of 10% and 9% respectively. It was north to note that the first McDonald’s in the Middle East was launched in Israel few months it was launched in the rest of the Arab countries in 1993.

McDonald’s started as a barbecue restaurant in 1940 by Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. The brand currently operates the biggest hamburger fast food network around the world. McDonald’s more than 35,000 restaurants serve almost 70 million customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. The brand has always been associated with the United States’ political ties around the world. For example, countries that had poor political relations with the United States did not operate any McDonald’s outlets in them such as Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Vietnam was removed from the list in early 2014 when the first store opened. The country was in war with the United States and their political relationship was in poor shape up until recently. The relationship has taken a positive turn recently and the opening of the first McDonald’s in the country is a good sign for that. On an opposite note, McDonald’s closed down several branches in Crimea after escalating tension between Russia and the United States. In January 2014, McDonald’s posted five straight quarters of disappointing overall sales indicating fiercer competition in and outside the US.

McDonald’s started as a barbecue restaurant in 1940 by Dick and Mac McDonald in San Bernardino, California. The brand currently operates the biggest hamburger fast food network around the world. McDonald’s more than 35,000 restaurants serve almost 70 million customers in more than 100 countries worldwide. The brand has always been associated with the United States’ political ties around the world. For example, countries that had poor political relations with the United States did not operate any McDonald’s outlets in them such as Iraq, Iran, and Syria. Vietnam was removed from the list in early 2014 when the first store opened. The country was in war with the United States and their political relationship was in poor shape up until recently. The relationship has taken a positive turn recently and the opening of the first McDonald’s in the country is a good sign for that. On an opposite note, McDonald’s closed down several branches in Crimea after escalating tension between Russia and the United States. In January 2014, McDonald’s posted five straight quarters of disappointing overall sales indicating fiercer competition in and outside the US.