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.

Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group LLC (KOJ) announced this week that it has acquired The Body Shop Stores (UAE), the exclusive distributors of The Body Shop and operators of The Body Shop retail stores within the United Arab Emirates. The acquisition will allow KOJ to extend its successful The Body Shop business beyond its already-established Western Saudi Arabia territory. “With this expansion into the UAE, we are thrilled to offer The Body Shop products to a broader customer base across the GCC, and to reinforce our successful partnership with The Body Shop International,” said Hisham Al Amoudi, Group CEO of KOJ. “We founded our company almost 35 years ago with the launch of The Body Shop in Western Saudi Arabia. This investment now makes us the largest franchise operation for The Body Shop International in the MENA market, and extends our strong retail footprint on the brand into another dynamic GCC country.” “The Body Shop has enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group LLC (KOJ) for 35 years and I’m confident that this relationship will go from strength to strength as we embark on the next stage of our journey together. KOJ has a deep understanding of The Body Shop brand and a close alignment with our values and sense of purpose; I know that this, combined with the strong business momentum they have built in Saudi Arabia in recent years, will ensure that we reach new heights together in the UAE,” said David Boynton, the CEO of The Body Shop International

Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group LLC (KOJ) announced this week that it has acquired The Body Shop Stores (UAE), the exclusive distributors of The Body Shop and operators of The Body Shop retail stores within the United Arab Emirates. The acquisition will allow KOJ to extend its successful The Body Shop business beyond its already-established Western Saudi Arabia territory. “With this expansion into the UAE, we are thrilled to offer The Body Shop products to a broader customer base across the GCC, and to reinforce our successful partnership with The Body Shop International,” said Hisham Al Amoudi, Group CEO of KOJ. “We founded our company almost 35 years ago with the launch of The Body Shop in Western Saudi Arabia. This investment now makes us the largest franchise operation for The Body Shop International in the MENA market, and extends our strong retail footprint on the brand into another dynamic GCC country.” “The Body Shop has enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Kamal Osman Jamjoom Group LLC (KOJ) for 35 years and I’m confident that this relationship will go from strength to strength as we embark on the next stage of our journey together. KOJ has a deep understanding of The Body Shop brand and a close alignment with our values and sense of purpose; I know that this, combined with the strong business momentum they have built in Saudi Arabia in recent years, will ensure that we reach new heights together in the UAE,” said David Boynton, the CEO of The Body Shop International

Caffe Nero is on the brink of insolvency with the company blaming the second lockdown as it becomes the latest big High Street pandemic victim. The UK's third largest coffee chain, founded in London 30 years ago, was placed into a Company Voluntary Arrangement on Thursday as it scrambles to get its finances in order. It puts 6,000 jobs across 800 stores in jeopardy - though bosses hope any closures or staff losses will be minimal. Chief Executive Gerry Ford, whose Paladin Partners took over the business in 1997, expanding it outside the capital and across the UK, said the company had no other choice. Boris Johnson announced the England-wide one-month lockdown on October 31, restricting hospitality providers to takeaways only. With office workers largely being absent from town and city centres since March, coffee shops have seen a major portion of their customer base disappear. In attempt to combat the changes, Nero offered a click and collect service and home delivery. Mr Ford, 62, a former Hewlett-Packard analyser, has called on accountants KPMG to advise on the CVA, a type of insolvency that allows firms to continue trading in the short-term. The American-born entrepreneur hopes to renegotiate rent agreements to allow the franchise to re-emerge after the pandemic. "With our dine-in facilities now closed for a second time, we have little option but to launch this CVA to safeguard the future of our business," Mr Ford told the Daily Mail. He said the chain had been trading strongly before the pandemic but "like so many businesses in the hospitality sector, the pandemic has decimated trading". The CEO said the company successfully negotiated the "financial challenges" following the initial nationwide lockdown, the but the latest one "made it imperative that we take further action". He added the aim has always been "to continue to protect jobs". Will Wright, head of regional restructuring at KPMG, described the coffee company as an "iconic brand" with a "terrifically loyal customer base". imilar insolvency steps have been used by the likes of Debenhams, Clarks, Clintons and Homebase. Critics argue CVAs are often used to squirm out of debts and force landlords to drop rents. Mr Ford originally led a small group of investors in the purchase of five central London shops with the name Caffe Nero from Ian Semp who established the name in 1990.

New York (CNN Business)Dunkin' is permanently closing 8% of its United States locations, which amounts to roughly 800 restaurants. The company announced the changes in its second quarter earnings, released Thursday. Dunkin' described the closures as "real estate portfolio rationalization" and said the affected locations are in "low-volume sales locations" that only represent 2% of its US sales as of 2019. More than half of the closures are in Speedway convenience stores, a change it previously announced in February. These locations are set to be closed by the end of this year. Dunkin' (DNKN) also said approximately 350 locations "may permanently close" outside of the US. Earlier this week, McDonald's (MCD) also said it was closing about 200 "low-volume" locations with more than half being in Walmart (WMT) stores