Dubai, UAE 12 April 2014: UAE’s home-grown Hotbrands International (HBI), one of the fastest growing food services companies in the region today, has set its sights on expanding in international markets, as part of an ambitious growth strategy covering its popular multi-ethnic restaurant brands.
HBI, which rose to prominence with a chain of quick service and casual dining restaurants, is currently undergoing rapid expansion with a focus on opening more outlets in international and regional markets like the United States, India, and GCC region, in addition to building on its current strength of 31 quick service and two casual dining restaurants in the UAE.
The Dubai-based company is also aggressively planning to expand on the success of its first Chinese fast-casual restaurant, Wok Chi, which opened in Sarasota in the USA, with a new location secured in New York, and a third in Florida.
HBI is also eyeing expansion in the Indian market, where it operates four quick service restaurant outlets Shamiana and Santino’s. HBI will further boost its presence in the UAE with 6 more quick service restaurants and another casual dining restaurant this year. The HBI chain in the GCC region includes five restaurants in Oman, three restaurants in Bahrain and one in Qatar.
Avinash Bal, Vice Chairman and CEO of HBI, said: ‘As a company that has its roots firmly entrenched in the UAE, we are overwhelmed by the response to our first major launch in international markets with Wok Chi in the United States. HBI is currently in a high growth phase and aims to move into new locations worldwide through Joint Venture partnerships “.
The award-winning food services company remains committed to creating innovative food concepts that enhance the overall customer experience. HBI is particularly well known for its Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) format led by the Shamiana brand. Currently, HBI’s QSR concepts include Indian (Shamiana), Chinese (Magic Wok), Italian (Santino’s), Thai (Sala Thai) and Japanese (Sugoi!) cuisines, which reflect the flavours and cultures of the countries they represent. Its Casual Dining Restaurant (CDR) concept features Haru, which serves Japanese cuisine, and Pane Caldo for Italian cuisine.
Starting from humble beginnings in Dubai as a small proprietorship in May 1992, the company now has grown to over 50 outlets in the GCC, India and United States. When its first outlet, serving a selection of international cuisine, opened at the BurJuman shopping mall in Dubai 22 years ago, it achieved the distinction of being the first food court outlet in the UAE. HBI and its key executives are also members of the International Council of Shopping Centres, the Middle East Council of Shopping Centres, and the Franchising Association of India.