Kuwait City, Kuwait: Committed to its expansion strategy that aims to enrich the retail industry in Kuwait, Alghanim Industries, one of the largest privately owned companies in the region, announced that it will bring a number of the international brands it represents to Assima Mall, part of the Assima Project set to officially launch next year. The signing ceremony took place last Monday at the head office of Salhia Real Estate in Kuwait City, and was attended by the Chairman of Salhia Real Estate Company, Mr. Ghazi Fahad Al Nafisi, and CEO of Alghanim Industries, Mr. Omar K. Alghanim. Mr. Alghanim reiterated the company’s commitment to expand its partnerships across Kuwait, reaching a larger number of customers to provide them with the best-in-class products and services offered by the renowned international brands it represents. He added: “I’m pleased to announce Alghanim Industries’ partnership with Salhia Real Estate in the unique and impressive Assmia project. This future landmark, located in the heart of Kuwait City, affords us with the opportunity to reach more of our valued customers in a way that is easy, convenient and places their needs at the forefront. I’m confident our partnership through this project will have a big impact on the retail and cultural landscape of our beautiful city.” Alghanim Industries will provide visitors of the Assima Project with a number of unparalleled experiences in different segments, in a total space of 1,500 m2. Its biggest store in the mall will be a new X-cite branch, with a space of 1,150 m2, bringing over 300 international electronics brands to the visitors of the new mall in a dynamic, convenient and fun shopping experience. Alghanim will also bring Costa Coffee, London’s most popular coffee shop chain to the visitors of Assima Mall, with its wide array of quality beverages, pastries, and a new line of healthy items. Additionally, the company will open a branch of Wendy’s, everyone’s favorite burger chain, with its signature 100% Angus beef square burgers and wide range of sandwiches. Commenting on this partnership, Salhia Real Estate Chairman Mr. Ghazi Fahad Al Nafisi welcomed Alghanim Industries on board, noting the long successful history of the company and the broad spectrum of international brands that it represents. He also reiterated both companies’ aligned goals to enrich the Kuwaiti market. Developed by Assima Real Estate, a company owned by Salhia Real Estate, the 380,000 m2 Assima project is set to be completed in 2019, and is already considered to be the largest mixed-use project in Kuwait City. The Assima project comprises of three main projects: Assima Mall, which will feature the largest hypermarket in Kuwait City, retail shops, restaurants, entertainment activities, cinema halls and a health club; Assima Tower, a 54-story tower of impeccable architectural design, featuring more than 150 offices overlooking stunning sea views and cityscapes; and Assima Residence, an extended-stay hotel suitable for business travelers as well as tourists with 170 one bedroom suites and studios.

Kuwait’s Alghanim Industries is planning to open 30 new F&B outlets in the GCC next year under the Wendy’s and Costa Coffee brands, the company’s vice president of food and beverage, Phil Broad, told Caterer Middle East in a recent interview. “We’ll open three more Wendy’s in Dubai, and we’re looking at a couple of locations in Abu Dhabi, then we’ll open four or five in Kuwait. We’ll open another 13 or 14 Costa Coffees in Kuwait as well, and then we’re going to put five or six locations in Saudi Arabia. That will keep us busy next year — doing nearly 30 outleta is nearly one every couple of weeks,” Broad said. Alghanim Industries signed a master franchise agreement with The Wendy’s Company in February 2015, acquiring the exclusive rights to develop all Wendy’s operational outlets in the UAE and open additional stores across the Middle East and North Africa in the next decade. The deal reinforced Alghanim’s strategy to partner with international F&B franchises, and build on its 2013 acquisition of Costa Coffee Kuwait. Alghanim has since invested in refurbishing existing outlets, opening new ones and broadened the product range. It currently operates 34 Costa outlets in Kuwait. Speaking about the progress made, Broad commented: “We’re up against coffee brands that have been in Kuwait longer but we’re seen as one of the best operators of coffee now. We have our own training centre for our baristas and we’ve used celebrity chef Dean Brettschneider from New Zealand to develop a whole new range of cakes and pastries for us, and we’ll continually launch new food ranges [in Costa].” Continuing, Broad said: “It’s all about driving longevity, rather than a short-term profit hit, which historically is how I think they [Costa Kuwait outlets] may well have been run.” There have been a number of changes implemented by Alghanim since its acquisition of Wendy’s Middle East, as Broad explained: “Since buying the business in February last year, it’s taken us some time to start delivering the Wendy’s experience. Here in Dubai, you’ve seen refurbished stores and the launch of our value offer ‘4 for 14’, then the jalapeño freshco, and now the big Angus launch. "So, the traction of the brand is starting the build and our intention was always to open in our home territory of Kuwait.” Broad revealed that after six months of searching for the right location, Alghanim has secured “a fantastic spot where most of the other competitors play” that allows for a drive-through and features “a super new design”, to create what will be the flagship Wendy’s Kuwait. In terms of UAE growth for the fast-casual brand, Broad confirmed that Alghanim has purchased land on Jumeirah Beach Road, next to the Costa Coffee drive-through, to build “a billboard Wendy’s location”, and secured space in The Dubai Mall and the new Oasis Mall extension for two outlets. “We’re gaining momentum. There aren’t many people next year who are going to open 30 plus outlets, and we’re on the lookout for more brands,” Broad reveals. Read the full interview with Phil Broad in a future issue of Caterer Middle East.

Global burger chain Wendy’s, which has 17 restaurants currently operational in the Middle East and North Africa region, is planning to open 150 outlets over the next 10 years. The expansion is being carried out by regional partner Kuwait-based Al Ghanim Industries, which sealed a franchise deal for the brand in February last year. Al Ghanim acquired the MENA rights for Wendy’s restaurants from Alamar Foods, a Saudi-based company owned jointly by Al Jammaz Group and the Carlyle Group for an undisclosed sum. The Kuwaiti company spent the last year refurbishing stores, retraining staff and “getting the food right” and is now setting its sights on rapid growth, according to Al Ghanim’s vice president of food and beverage Phil Broad. “When we took it over, although the fundamentals of the brand are very strong, here they opened up in locations you wouldn’t know existed and they hadn’t been operated particularly well – at least not up to the Al Ghanim standards,” he said. “And so we looked at the whole team – everyone has gone through a new induction programme to understand what they are doing, we reviewed all the pay rates, we put in new uniforms etc. “We also looked at our products. At the start we were viewed as being expensive, but now we have introduced many value propositions, improved quality and also launched breakfast – which has proved very popular. “Fundamentally we have reached a stage where we have turned the business around and are now in a position where we want to be. Now that we have got it right, we will focus on growth,” he explained. According to Broad, the impact of the changes have already been felt. The existing stores have all experienced “positive growth” in the market, which they were not seeing in the past. Currently, the brand’s 17 regional restaurants are in the UAE, but Wendy’s plans to enter Kuwait this year and Saudi Arabia next year. There are also plans to open a new high-profile store in Dubai in the near future. “It’s more about the visibility and the location – which is almost like free marketing for us. We are not going to move our prices. It is about bringing more people through our doors now because they haven’t seen us and about positioning the brand in the right way. All our competitors have that,” Broad said. Despite growing competition – there are estimated to be nearly 50 burger store operators in Dubai alone – Broad said Wendy’s had the advantages of size and scale and could offer value for its products. “In terms of our pricing strategy, I don’t think we will go lower – it’s a big risk for our business.” He is also confident that the food and beverage market will emerge from the current slowdown in the economy. “I think you have got to be very optimistic in the F&B business because there are have been ups and downs ever since food was invented. And I have seen downturns – I was in Dubai in 2008. People who did a very good job at that time and offered value are still here today. People who were in it for a quick buck and who thought it’s very easy to make money have gone. “And so we are in it for the long term. If you get the foundation right and make sure the model works, you can get through the ups and downs,” he added.

يعتبر ظهران مول من أكبر وجهات التسوق في المنطقة الشرقية من المملكة وأكثرها رقياً. ويشغل متجر فوسل بالمول مساحة123 متر مربع. وستقوم مجموعة فوسيل بإفتتاح العديد من المتاجر في المملكة ومنطقة الشرق الأوسط خلال الأعوام القليلة القادمة. وستتنوع المعروضات في هذه المتاجر لتشمل تشكيلة واسعة من منتجات فوسيل من بينها الساعات، والنظارات، والإكسسوارات النسائية والرجالية.وتعد فوسيل علامة تجارية أمريكية عصرية تجمع بين الأصالة الكلاسيكية والملامح العصرية، وقد تمكنت العلامة، منذ عام 1984 من تطوير منتجات ذات جودة عالية محافظهً على عراقة الماضي وتطور وحداثة الحاضر، ونجحت في التحول من مجرد مشروع صغير لصناعة ساعات إلى علامة تجارية عالمية لها سمعتها في قطاع البيع بالتجزئة خاصة في مجال الإكسسوارات والساعات، وحقائب اليد، والمصنوعات الجلدية الصغيرة، والمجوهرات. وتفتخر فوسيل بسجلها الحافل والنجاح الذي حققته في 150 دولة حول العالم، فقد تمكنت العلامة التجارية من اجتذاب عشاق الساعات والتواصل معهم خلال زيارتهم للمتاجر وعبر وسائل التواصل الاجتماعي، والحفاظ على التصاميم الرائعه التي تميز علامة فوسيل التجارية. وقد صرح المدير عام لشركه اليسره فاشن في المملكة محمد أنور الحقي "أن ترسيخ وإنشاء مفهوم "فوسيل" في المملكه, يعكس إلتزام شركه اليسرة فاشن بتنوع منتجاتها وحرصها على التوسع والانتشار, إن نجاح شركتنا قائم على فهمنا العميق لتوجه السوق الحالي, ويقوم فريق متمرس من موظفينا بانتقاء منتجات فوسيل بعناية وذلك لإرضاء الرغبات المختلفة لعملائنا. وفي النهاية, فريقنا هو من اكثر العناصر أهميه للوصول إلى اهدافنا المتمثلة في ان نكون من رواد الجودة في الشرق الأوسط." ومن خلال الجمع بين تراث العلامة التجارية ومنتجاتها المبتكرة، تتميز تشكيلة The Curious Set بأنها قلب تصاميم فوسيل، وذلك بالتركيز على عدسات الساعات التي تمتاز بتصاميم وألوان فريدة ومبتكرة إلى جانب الملامح الأصيلة المائلة إلى التقليدية التي تميز علامة فوسيل.

SHUWAIKH, Kuwait, Feb. 14, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Alghanim Industries and The Wendy's Company ('Wendy's'®) (NASDAQ: WEN), announced today the signing of a Master Franchise Agreement aimed at expanding the Wendy's brand in the Middle East. This deal reinforces Alghanim Industries' strategy to partner with international food and beverage franchises and build on the company's previous successful acquisition of Costa Coffee (Kuwait) in 2013. Alghanim Industries acquired the rights to develop Wendy's restaurants across the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region from Alamar Foods, a Saudi-based company owned jointly by Al Jammaz Group and the Carlyle Group. The value of the deal remains undisclosed. Alghanim Industries has acquired all operational outlets in the UAE with plans to open additional stores across MENA over the next 10 years. Part of the expansion in the region includes opening stores in Alghanim Industries home market, Kuwait, which has among the highest consumption of fast food per capita in the MENA region. "Alghanim Industries has a strong track-record of developing successful businesses with huge growth potential that meet the needs of the region's expanding consumer base," said Kutayba Yusuf Alghanim, Chairman, Alghanim Industries. "We remain committed to continued growth, by introducing leading food and beverage offerings, and enhancing the consumer experience in this attractive sector." Wendy's joins Alghanim Industries' portfolio of leading global brands, including American Express, British Petroleum, Colgate-Palmolive, General Motors, Honda, Mars, Mondelez, Philips, Toshiba, Hitachi, and Whirlpool. Established in 1969, Wendy's -- whose slogan is "Quality is Our Recipe" -- is widely recognized for its great-tasting hamburgers with square beef patties. The restaurant chain also is known for its iconic Frosty™ dessert, along with an array of signature menu options including premium chicken sandwiches and salads. Wendy's prides itself on being "A Cut Above" when it comes to offering fresh, high quality products at affordable prices. "We are excited to expand and develop the world's third-largest quick-service hamburger company in our region. The Wendy's Company has a demonstrated track-record of leadership through product innovation that has contributed to its fast-paced growth," said Omar Kutayba Alghanim, Chief Executive Officer, Alghanim Industries. "Our presence in 40 countries, across multiple industries equips us with the reach and the know-how to develop Wendy's in the MENA region successfully. When it comes to exceeding customer expectations Alghanim Industries and Wendy's share the same philosophy – we do not compromise." "We are thrilled to partner with an outstanding organization like Alghanim Industries to accelerate the growth of the Wendy's brand in the important MENA region," said Darrell van Ligten, President, International, The Wendy's Company. "Alghanim Industries' leadership, resources and experience with leading consumer focused brands will be a tremendous asset as we work to build Wendy's presence in key markets around the world." About Alghanim Industries Alghanim Industries is one of the largest, privately-owned companies in the Gulf region. Originally founded in 1932 by Yusuf Ahmed Alghanim in Kuwait, the company has since grown into a multi-billion dollar conglomerate, employing over 14,000 people in 30 businesses, and present in 40 countries across the Middle East, Eastern Europe and Asia. Alghanim Industries is a market leader in almost every major sector of its operations. These sectors include engineering, retail, automotive sales and service, insulation and pre-engineered steel building structures, logistics and warehousing, fast moving consumer goods, food & beverage, oil & gas, office automation, advertising, insurance, consumer credit and travel. This range of business activities has allowed it to develop long-standing relationships with more than 300 global brands, including household names such as AC Delco, American Express, Avis, British Airways, British Petroleum, Cathay Pacific, Daewoo, General Motors, Honda, Saint-Gobain, Toshiba and Whirlpool. Alghanim Industries has also created successful regional businesses such X-cite by Alghanim Electronics, a leading electronics player in the region, and Safat Home, a lifestyle and home furniture concept. About The Wendy's Company The Wendy's Company (NASDAQ: WEN) is the world's third largest quick-service hamburger company. The Wendy's system includes more than 6,500 franchise and company restaurants in the United States and 28 countries and U.S. territories worldwide. For more information, visit www.wendys.com. SOURCE Alghanim Industries

The much beloved Caribou Coffee is returning to Qatar, with five shops planning to open this year, including three next month, an official at the Qatar Quality Foods Company (QQF) has said. A shop on the Pearl (near Spinney’s), one at Al Jazeera Petrol Station on Salwa Road and another branch at Abu Hamour Petrol Station are all primed for a February opening, Fadi Beyrouthi, QQF’s general manager told Doha News. The American chain used to be operated in Qatar by the Al Wataniya group, which shuttered its shops last year, much to the dismay of many Qatar residents. Caribou is now being managed under the Al Mana Group. Over the past few weeks, a few Caribou outlets have been offering free drinks to passersby, as the company awaits the proper licensing to begin operations. Other locations are expected to open in April, including a branch at Jarir Bookstore in Al Rayyan and one at City Center Mall (third floor), Beyrouthi said. If the excitement expressed by some bloggers are any indication, Caribou is about to get a very warm welcome.