Dine Brands International has announced plans to open multiple Applebee’s Neighbourhood Grill + Bar and IHOP restaurants in the UAE. The first location is scheduled to open in Dubai later this year through an agreement with IHOP franchisee Mohamed Makawi. Tony Moralejo, president, international, Dine Brands Global, said: “Mohamed, as a long-time IHOP operator in the US, is an ideal franchisee to lead the new openings of Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants in the UAE market. His passion for our brands, cultural understanding of the Middle East market, paired with his focus on creating exemplary guest experiences, position him to succeed in this new endeavour. “We have seen success in this market through our ghost kitchen operations and are excited to be re-establishing brick-and-mortar locations for our two world-renowned brands. The UAE is one of the fastest developing nations in the world, and the country’s increasing tourism business and consumer demand for casual and family dining restaurants reaffirm it as an important growth market for Dine.” Makawi said: “For over 20 years, I’ve had the pleasure of developing the IHOP brand in the US. With this new venture, I look forward to gaining the support of the communities we plan to serve internationally. “We’re going to hire a local team and are confident guests in the UAE will love joining us in our restaurants for IHOP’s world-famous pancakes and familiar comfort foods, as well as Applebee’s craveable American fare.” Dine Brands International said it continues to place emphasis on growth in markets, including North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Based in California, Dine Brands Global operates about 3,440 restaurants in 16 countries and approximately 350 franchisees and is one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world.

Dine Brands International has announced plans to open multiple Applebee’s Neighbourhood Grill + Bar and IHOP restaurants in the UAE. The first location is scheduled to open in Dubai later this year through an agreement with IHOP franchisee Mohamed Makawi. Tony Moralejo, president, international, Dine Brands Global, said: “Mohamed, as a long-time IHOP operator in the US, is an ideal franchisee to lead the new openings of Applebee’s and IHOP restaurants in the UAE market. His passion for our brands, cultural understanding of the Middle East market, paired with his focus on creating exemplary guest experiences, position him to succeed in this new endeavour. “We have seen success in this market through our ghost kitchen operations and are excited to be re-establishing brick-and-mortar locations for our two world-renowned brands. The UAE is one of the fastest developing nations in the world, and the country’s increasing tourism business and consumer demand for casual and family dining restaurants reaffirm it as an important growth market for Dine.” Makawi said: “For over 20 years, I’ve had the pleasure of developing the IHOP brand in the US. With this new venture, I look forward to gaining the support of the communities we plan to serve internationally. “We’re going to hire a local team and are confident guests in the UAE will love joining us in our restaurants for IHOP’s world-famous pancakes and familiar comfort foods, as well as Applebee’s craveable American fare.” Dine Brands International said it continues to place emphasis on growth in markets, including North America, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America. Based in California, Dine Brands Global operates about 3,440 restaurants in 16 countries and approximately 350 franchisees and is one of the largest full-service restaurant companies in the world.

(Bloomberg) -- Kuwaiti conglomerate Alshaya Group is considering selling a minority stake in its Starbucks Corp. franchise that extends from the Gulf region to Russia, according to people familiar with the matter. Family-run Alshaya is working with JPMorgan Chase & Co. on a potential transaction, the people said, asking not to be named because the information is private. No final decision has been made and the owners could still decide against pursuing any deal, they said. A spokesperson for the Kuwait-headquartered company declined to comment on any specifics but said “we constantly look at potential strategic initiatives across the business, in line with Alshaya’s continued strong performance.” JPMorgan declined to comment. Raising cash through a private placement would help Alshaya move past a period of unprecedented disruption that saw the retail and food industry suffer from lockdowns during the global pandemic. While the sector has rebounded this year thanks in part to a shift to e-commerce and growing delivery sales, economic concerns remain a drag on consumer spending. Established in 1890 and believed to be Kuwait’s oldest company, Alshaya is one of the Middle East’s largest operators of popular retail brands such as Victoria’s Secret and the Cheesecake Factory. The Seattle-based coffee chain is Alshaya’s biggest franchise with around 1,700 outlets, a large number of which are in Turkey. Alshaya opened its first Starbucks in Kuwait in 1999 and later expanded the brand to Turkey in 2003 and Russia in 2007. It now offers Starbucks in 14 markets and expects to be operating 1,750 stores by end-2021. The group runs over 4,000 stores across the region from Dubai with its cavernous malls to Turkey and Russia, boasting a total of nearly 70 brands. Its digital footprint also includes more than 100 websites and apps. The company employs more than 50,000 people and counts H&M, P.F. Chang’s and The Body Shop in its regional portfolio, according to its website.

(Bloomberg) -- Kuwaiti conglomerate Alshaya Group is considering selling a minority stake in its Starbucks Corp. franchise that extends from the Gulf region to Russia, according to people familiar with the matter. Family-run Alshaya is working with JPMorgan Chase & Co. on a potential transaction, the people said, asking not to be named because the information is private. No final decision has been made and the owners could still decide against pursuing any deal, they said. A spokesperson for the Kuwait-headquartered company declined to comment on any specifics but said “we constantly look at potential strategic initiatives across the business, in line with Alshaya’s continued strong performance.” JPMorgan declined to comment. Raising cash through a private placement would help Alshaya move past a period of unprecedented disruption that saw the retail and food industry suffer from lockdowns during the global pandemic. While the sector has rebounded this year thanks in part to a shift to e-commerce and growing delivery sales, economic concerns remain a drag on consumer spending. Established in 1890 and believed to be Kuwait’s oldest company, Alshaya is one of the Middle East’s largest operators of popular retail brands such as Victoria’s Secret and the Cheesecake Factory. The Seattle-based coffee chain is Alshaya’s biggest franchise with around 1,700 outlets, a large number of which are in Turkey. Alshaya opened its first Starbucks in Kuwait in 1999 and later expanded the brand to Turkey in 2003 and Russia in 2007. It now offers Starbucks in 14 markets and expects to be operating 1,750 stores by end-2021. The group runs over 4,000 stores across the region from Dubai with its cavernous malls to Turkey and Russia, boasting a total of nearly 70 brands. Its digital footprint also includes more than 100 websites and apps. The company employs more than 50,000 people and counts H&M, P.F. Chang’s and The Body Shop in its regional portfolio, according to its website.

The online fashion retailer Boohoo has struck a deal with Kuwait’s Alshaya Group to sell its brands in franchised Debenhams stores and online in the Middle East. Alshaya, which already holds the franchise to operate Debenhams stores in the region, will have exclusive rights to operate its shops and websites in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman and Qatar. Boohoo, known for its fast-fashion dresses and going-out clothes, bought the Debenhams brand and website out of administration for £55m in January, after the 243-year-old chain collapsed in 2020. All Debenhams stores have since disappeared from the UK high street but it lives on in shopping centres across the Middle East. Boohoo’s brands will be available in Debenhams stores in the region from the autumn, and online from early next year. Boohoo’s chief executive, John Lyttle, said the deal was a further step in the integration of Debenhams into the group. “The Debenhams brand has been popular in the region for a number of years so this is a great opportunity to build on the existing brand awareness, while expanding the product ranges and brands available to customers,” he said. “It also offers a new route to market for brands within the Boohoo group, raising their profile in a growing new market.” John Hadden, the chief executive of Alshaya Group, said Debenhams was already a well-loved brand across the Middle East. “We look forward to enhancing customer choice by bringing exciting new fashion brands to the region and by expanding the Debenhams brand online,” he said. Debenhams was one of many former high street stalwarts snapped up by Boohoo during the pandemic. It now owns brands including Karen Millen, Coast, Warehouse and Oasis, and acquired the Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton brands that were previously part of Sir Philip Green’s collapsed Arcadia fashion empire. The company said it had 18 million active customers across all its brands globally at the end of February. Boohoo has enjoyed booming sales during the pandemic as shoppers shrugged off revelations about treatment of workers in factories making its clothing in the UK and overseas. News of the Alshaya deal comes days after Boohoo’s online rival Asos announced it had reached an agreement with the US department store chain Nordstrom to sell Topshop clothing in its 350 stores and on its website. Asos bought the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and activewear HIIT brands in March after the collapse of Arcadia.

The online fashion retailer Boohoo has struck a deal with Kuwait’s Alshaya Group to sell its brands in franchised Debenhams stores and online in the Middle East. Alshaya, which already holds the franchise to operate Debenhams stores in the region, will have exclusive rights to operate its shops and websites in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman and Qatar. Boohoo, known for its fast-fashion dresses and going-out clothes, bought the Debenhams brand and website out of administration for £55m in January, after the 243-year-old chain collapsed in 2020. All Debenhams stores have since disappeared from the UK high street but it lives on in shopping centres across the Middle East. Boohoo’s brands will be available in Debenhams stores in the region from the autumn, and online from early next year. Boohoo’s chief executive, John Lyttle, said the deal was a further step in the integration of Debenhams into the group. “The Debenhams brand has been popular in the region for a number of years so this is a great opportunity to build on the existing brand awareness, while expanding the product ranges and brands available to customers,” he said. “It also offers a new route to market for brands within the Boohoo group, raising their profile in a growing new market.” John Hadden, the chief executive of Alshaya Group, said Debenhams was already a well-loved brand across the Middle East. “We look forward to enhancing customer choice by bringing exciting new fashion brands to the region and by expanding the Debenhams brand online,” he said. Debenhams was one of many former high street stalwarts snapped up by Boohoo during the pandemic. It now owns brands including Karen Millen, Coast, Warehouse and Oasis, and acquired the Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton brands that were previously part of Sir Philip Green’s collapsed Arcadia fashion empire. The company said it had 18 million active customers across all its brands globally at the end of February. Boohoo has enjoyed booming sales during the pandemic as shoppers shrugged off revelations about treatment of workers in factories making its clothing in the UK and overseas. News of the Alshaya deal comes days after Boohoo’s online rival Asos announced it had reached an agreement with the US department store chain Nordstrom to sell Topshop clothing in its 350 stores and on its website. Asos bought the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and activewear HIIT brands in March after the collapse of Arcadia.