Denver-based Garbanzo Mediterranean Grill, an eight-unit restaurant group, has announced the awarding of the company's first franchise deal to Doherty Enterprises Inc. The franchise group will open Garbanzo restaurants in the Northern and Central New Jersey, and Long Island, N.Y., areas.
Doherty Enterprises, the 14th largest franchisee in the United States, operates six dining concepts with a combined total of 92 restaurants. The group expects the first Garbanzo store to open in 2011 and has the rights to develop up to 50 stores.
"We are very pleased to be part of this exciting concept. Garbanzo's menu is fresh, unique and healthful and resonates extremely well with today's consumers," said Ed Doherty, president of Allendale, N.J.-based Doherty Enterprises. "Garbanzo‘s leadership team has the experience in launching prominent national brands within the fast casual restaurant space, and we look forward to another success."
Franchising is one of Garbanzo's key growth strategies, building on the success of its eight restaurant locations currently operating in the Denver-area. In addition to expansion through franchising, Garbanzo will continue its aggressive company store development in Colorado, including the opening of up to six additional stores this year.
Garbanzo offers guests a variety of healthy, high-quality Mediterranean items with an emphasis on flavor, freshness and authenticity. Guests can customize every meal with items such as pita, laffas, falafel, shwarma, hummus, seasoned rice, sauces and dressings. All Garbanzo salads and sauces are prepared on-site daily, and the pita are baked fresh on-site in every store. Additionally, several ingredients are bought locally, and some are imported directly from the Mediterranean region.
