Operations

Pandemic not slowing German Doner Kebab's growth plans

Provided

October 19, 2020

German Doner Kebab is forging ahead with its growth plans during the pandemic, bringing nearly 500 jobs and opening 12 locations in the United Kingdom by year's end, according to a company press release. The 47-unit chain opened its first North America-based location last month in Canada's Ottawa and added a second a couple weeks later in Surrey, Vancouver. Now employing over 1,500 people throughout the country, the brand has opened 35 restaurants in the U.K. during the past three years and boasts a development pipeline of 350 franchise units over the next seven years.

Based in Glasgow, Scotland, German Doner Kebab has been agile and responsive to a fast-changing landscape during the pandemic, initially remaining open for delivery and click & collect, before re-opening its dine-in offering to participate in the U.K. government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which helped restaurants offer discounted menu items, CEO Imran Sayeed said in the release.

"We have found ourselves in very challenging times however there continues to be a huge demand for the German Doner Kebab experience throughout the U.K. and our international growth regions," he said. "We are excited to build further momentum in our plans for growth and to be creating hundreds of new jobs throughout the country as we maintain our mission of building the fast-casual brand of the future."

GDK, which id planning to add locations in Sweden and Saudi Arabia, reported that same-store sales in August were up 46% following its participation in the government's Eat Out to Help Out scheme. Total sales for August were also up 139% in August 2019. It also partnered with Deliveroo to make 30,000 free meals available to frontline workers and vulnerable people throughout the lockdown.

"We have always been primarily positioned as a dine-in consumer proposition, providing a new experience that appeals to a new generation of customers, who are attracted to our modern environment, healthy great-tasting food, and quick serving times," he said. "However, in line with the U.K. government's guidance during lockdown we quickly re-modelled our offering to expand our click and collect takeaway and have had a huge response to our participation in the Eat Out to Help Out scheme which has reflected in our sales performance during August."