Fast food chain Just Falafel plans to open 160 outlets in the United States and Canada in the next five years, building on a recent period of rapid growth that saw it expand in the U.K. and across the Middle East. This fast-growing franchise is already active in nine countries with nearly 50 restaurants and has agreements in place to develop 720 outlets in 18 countries. Dubai-based Just Falafel has been one of the region’s recent success stories in the retail space having started as a single restaurant in 2007 in Abu Dhabi, the United Arab Emirates capital. “Expanding in North America gives us the opportunity to capitalize on the growth of the world’s largest consumer market,” said Chief Executive Fadi Malas. Just Falafel is among a few Middle Eastern-based food chains trying to win over Western markets. One example is Dubai-based Shakespeare & Co., partly owned by a Kuwait private equity firm, which has already opened doors in Kentucky. Another is Noodle House, owned by Dubai hotel group Jumeirah, which is looking to expand in Europe. Meanwhile, foreign restaurant chains have gone the opposite direction opening up new locations in high numbers across the Persian Gulf countries, where they find rising populations and a growing appetite for fast food.
Just Falafel won’t have a monopoly on the popular Mideast snack: Maoz, a chain which opened in Amsterdam in 1991, is already serving customers in eight American cities while Mamoun’s has a presence in half a dozen locations. Just Falafel’s international plans will require fresh funds. Sources close to the company have said it is exploring a number of options, including a public listing of its shares on Nasdaq Dubai, a decision which could help back its ambitious with a more serious statement of intent.
Just Falafel won’t have a monopoly on the popular Mideast snack: Maoz, a chain which opened in Amsterdam in 1991, is already serving customers in eight American cities while Mamoun’s has a presence in half a dozen locations. Just Falafel’s international plans will require fresh funds. Sources close to the company have said it is exploring a number of options, including a public listing of its shares on Nasdaq Dubai, a decision which could help back its ambitious with a more serious statement of intent.
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