News

Raving Brands inks Canada, Middle East expansion deals

March 11, 2007

ATLANTA — Raving Brands announced March 12 plans to bring its flagship concept, Moe's Southwest Grill, to Canada.

According to a news release, Raving Brands has entered into a 40-store development deal with Canadian partner and Toronto, Ontario-based True North Brands Inc. The deal marks the first Canadian partnership for Moe's Southwest Grill, according to the company.

"Our move outside of America is the first step in a bigger global strategy for Raving Brands to establish those concepts which we feel will resonate as global brands," said Stephen M. LaMastra, president and chief operating officer of Raving Brands. "With a new and expanded infrastructure in place across real estate, sales, operations, marketing and training, we are in a solid position to focus and accelerate our growth, domestically and internationally."

Raving Brands also has signed a deal with A.A. Turki Corporation for Trading and Contracting (ATCO) to develop and open 115 restaurants in the in the Middle East.

The Middle East agreement spans five years and includes the development of restaurants in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.

Raving Brands' first international location, Doc Green's Salads & Grill, opened in Singapore in January 2007. Overall, 10 Doc Green's Salads & Grill restaurants are expected to be developed there through a Raving Brands master franchise agreement with Aspac F&B Pte. Ltd., a division of Fong Tat Group.

Collectively, the three independent deals will result in the development of 150 Raving Brands restaurants. Company officials say the deals will position the company for further growth into the region, especially China and Vietnam.