Cloud kitchen platform Kitopi has acquired F&B group AWJ Investments – the holding company behind restaurants including Operation Falafel, Catch 22, Awani and Sushi Do, among others. The acquisition comes as part of Kitopi’s ongoing strategy to invest in and grow much-loved regional brands and take them global. The deal, which occurred for an undisclosed amount and is reportedly one of the largest F&B transactions in the GCC, will see the AWJ’s brands expand in new markets where Kitopi has a solidified presence and a vast network of locations, unlocking new opportunities and access to more customers. For perspective, currently Kitopi operates with over 100 brands in 200+ locations across five markets. Commenting on the acquisition, Manhal Naser, former Group CEO and Cofounding Director of AWJ said, “It has been an honour to establish, lead and work so closely with the AWJ team whom I consider as family. We have built on our core fundamentals, raising the bar and setting the business up for a sustainable future – thanks to our 1300+ team champions, our supporting shareholders, the unique brands we have created and the millions of consumers we serve. It is now time for a new chapter and having worked closely with Kitopi and Mohamed Ballout, Co-founder and CEO, I believe they are best positioned to take AWJ to the next level.” While AWJ will welcome a new CEO it will retain its original team and operate as a separate vertical to Kitopi’s on-demand business. “With a purpose to satisfy the world’s appetite to create joy we always strive to bring the best to our customers. To this end, we are incredibly proud to have acquired AWJ and its portfolio of brands. The co-founders and leaders of AWJ have done a remarkable job in building its iconic brands and growing them across borders – and it is going to be a privilege to continue to innovate, elevate and expand its success,” Ballout added.

You don’t have to settle for mediocre falafel again as Dubai brand Operation: Falafel is set to expand to New York, London and Paris, with the first brand in the Big Apple expected to open in Q2 of 2020, according AWJ Investments, which runs eight F&B concepts across 24 outlets in the Middle East. Operation: Falafel, which is known for its modern twist on casual Middle Eastern street food, will roll out 400 shops around the world with selected franchise partnerships by 2022. Manhal Naser, CEO and Co-Founder of AWJ Investments, said the homegrown UAE brand plans to take international markets by storm. “We’re incredibly proud of the regional success of Operation: Falafel and we know that the time is right to take the brand into unchartered international markets. Being a UAE homegrown brand and moving into the western market is almost unheard of and we’re excited to be one of the first. “In the region we see many global F&B concepts coming into Dubai but rarely see the opposite, a local brand taking international markets by storm. We’re proud to mark this change,” he said. Naser said the brand’s challenge was to find the right investors and operators to work with to ensure the quality of their products. “We have taken the time to get everything in the right place as we will never compromise on quality and consistency – when someone enjoys one of our falafels in New York, London or Paris it must be just as good as in Dubai,” he said.

Today marks another day of success for Awj Investments with the signing of the Franchise Development Agreement for Operation: Falafel in France 🇫🇷 Manhal Naser, Group CEO of Awj Investments and Andrew Wagner have signed the development of 20 units for Operation: Falafel in France. The first two units are expected to open by the end of 2019.

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Open 24 hours for dine-in and takeaway, the new outlet on Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Boulevard can accommodate 80 people. Its opening is part of the brand's ongoing expansion "to exceed 400 units in a couple of years across the world”, according to AWJ Investments CEO Manhal Naser, who founded the concept. During a recent interview with Caterer Middle East, he said: “Operation Falafel is a scalable concept and franchising is an important area that we are focusing on in 2016." Naser, whose UAE-based company also founded Arwani, Bahria, Filicori Zecchini, Smoky Beach, Surf Bite, and the soon-to-open Lulu & Murjan, added that he "will make every effort to make Operation Falafel a world-renowned brand". AWJ is on track to operate a total of nine Operation Falafels in Dubai alone by the end of 2016 and Naser revealed that regional expansion is imminent, with Europe and the US in his sights following this.