Coffee Republic, the coffee and deli bar operator, has announced it has signed a franchise agreement to open a minimum of 14 sites in Kuwait over the next five years.
The company has signed the agreement with the Aquila Food Company, a wholly owned subsidiary of Jassim Al-Sayegh Sons & Co, which will recruit franchisees to operate Coffee Republic delis in the country.
Steven Bartlett, chief executive, said: “We are pleased to be partnering Aquila to develop Coffee Republic delis in Kuwait. They have the necessary skills and expertise to make a success of the Coffee Republic brand there.
“This brings to nine the total number of countries under international franchise agreements. Discussions are in hand with counterparties seeking rights in other countries which may lead to further agreements.”
The group currently operates four units under international franchise agreements in the Middle East and is in the early stages of talks to expand its presence into India and Dubai.
In December it said that it had finalised eight international master franchisees during 2007, including agreements to open in Spain and Turkey, and that its opening of international sites would be accelerated this year.
Last week it opened its 100th site in the UK, in Glasgow.
The company opened its milestone outlet, which is its largest to date, in the Silverburn shopping centre under a franchise agreement with McLeish Brothers.
