Figaro’s Pizza Expands To Middle East

Franchise Wire:

Whether you’re in Pensacola, Fla., or Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, “the best pizza you can have at home� will soon be only a phone call away.

Sense Gourmet, a subsidiary of Abu-Dhabi-based Foodco Holding, recently signed an exclusive master franchising agreement with Figaro’s Pizza to open stores in eight Middle East countries beginning in 2007.

Plans call for the opening of 35 locations in the UAE alone, with the first five Figaro’s Pizza locations expected to open in March 2007 in Abu Dhabi (2), Dubai (2) and Sharjah. Additional locations are planned for Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Oman, Bahrain, Egypt and Lebanon.

Sense Gourmet was formed as a subsidiary of Foodco Holding to expand into restaurant franchising, catering and other retail operations in the hospitality sector. The company was established with the specific purpose of establishing high-potential restaurants across GCC (Gulf Cooperation Council) countries in partnership with renowned restaurant operators, as well as catering services.

“Our studies showed that there is an unfilled niche in the Middle East for high-quality products, especially for fresh pizzas that people can take home and bake for themselves,� said Foodco Holding’s Managing Director Ahmed bin Ali Khalfan Al Dhahry.