Butlers, the chocolate producer and café operator, has signed a franchise agreement to open sites in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The deal between Prime Hospitality and Butlers Chocolates, the manufacturer that owns and operates Butlers Chocolate Cafés in Ireland and England, will see the first sites opening by the third quarter of this year.
It is thought the openings in the UAE will be the first step in an expansion plan across the Gulf region.
The company, which is owned by the Sorensen family, currently operates 23 cafés across the UK, Ireland, New Zealand and Pakistan.
Owen Sorensen, of Butlers, said: “The UAE has always been a market of immense interest to us. We have been carefully looking for a local partner with a successful track record and high reputation to represent our brand. Prime Hospitality was the ideal choice for us with their expertise, quality, and network to maximise the success of Butlers Chocolate Cafés in the UAE, and potentially the region.”
