Franchising
NBA's Giannis Antetokounmpo opening Greek From Greece Cafe
July 10, 2020
Greek From Greece Cafe Cuisine is partnering with 2019 National Basketball Association MVP and NBA All-Star Giannis Antetokounmpo and his family to bring Greek cuisine and culture to America.
Known to professional basketball fans as the "Greek Freak" for his combination of ball-handling skills, size and speed, Antetokounmpo was born in Athens, Greece, to Nigerian parents. He connected with GFG Cafe Cuisine's authentic flavors and strong family values.
"What won me over is that GFG puts family above all else," Antetokounmpo said in a company press release. "They believe in the same values as me and my family, like loyalty and lifelong relationships. They embody delicious tastes, enticing smells, and a joyful culture that neither me nor my brothers can resist."
GFG Cafe Cuisine CEO Georgios Drosos and a group of businessmen founded the first location in 2017.
"We feed our customers 'the Greek Way' as we would feed our family at home," Drosos said. "All of our foods are based exclusively on 776 authentic Greek products carefully curated from the best farmland for olive and citrus groves, vineyards, wheat fields and beehives. We know good food, and we are here to share it with the world."
For GFG Cafe Cuisine, the first half of 2020 included a merger and rebranding of its largest competitor in Manhattan; a 31-unit expansion across Long Island and Stamford, New York; and the announcement of its first franchise location in Philadelphia. The recent expansions will increase GFG Cafe Cuisine's footprint to more than 41 locations, making them the dominant brand in Greek cuisine. With more deals in the pipeline, the concept projects more than 100 units will either be open or in progress by the end of the year.
"They are a freight train barreling across the country," said Dan Rowe, founder and CEO of Fransmart, GFG Cafe Cuisine's franchising partner. "GFG continues to sign deals, build, and open locations, even during this unusual time for the restaurant industry. Their team is highly motivated and is creating incredible opportunities for all-star franchisees."
GFG Cafe Cuisine seeking experienced multi-unit foodservice operators and scouting potential markets across the country and internationally, Rowe said.
"For years I have been looking for a way to go back to Greece at any moment and now I have found it," Antetokounmpo added. "GFG gives me the opportunity to share with America everything we love in Greek everyday life and which knows no boundaries. For many years, America has been giving me and my family opportunities to sample and appreciate so many different experiences and cultures. Now it's time for us to return the favor. I'm sure that America will love our culture and our flavors and will adopt them as a way of life."
