First International Dual-Branded Wendy’s and Arby’s Restaurant Opens in Dubai
Wendy’s/Arby’s International, Inc., a subsidiary of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group, Inc. (NYSE: WEN), today jointly announced with Al Jammaz Group, the opening of the first international dual-branded Wendy’s® and Arby’s® restaurant in Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
“We completed comprehensive research last year that shows we have the potential for more than 8,000 restaurants outside of North America”
“Reaching this milestone opens the door for more rapid international expansion,” said Roland Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Wendy’s/Arby’s Group. “We believe offering customers both of our quality brands under one roof in the international arena will generate higher sales volumes and better return on investment. This approach will provide customers with an outstanding array of signature menu choices -- from Wendy’s made-to-order hamburgers, chicken sandwiches, chili and fresh entrée salads, to Arby’s premium roast beef and flatbread sandwiches, curly fries and other delicious choices.”
The dual-branded Wendy’s and Arby’s restaurant is located in the Festival City Mall, in the Festival City area of Dubai. The restaurant features a single counter and menuboard for ordering and a dedicated seating area, as well as bistro-style seating around the perimeter of the restaurant space.
Al Jammaz Group’s first free-standing, dual-branded Wendy’s and Arby’s restaurant is scheduled to open this summer and will be located in the Emirate of Ajman. The restaurant will feature a pick-up window to serve drive-thru customers.
Ibrahim Abdulaziz Al Jammaz, Vice President of Al Jammaz Group, said: “We are honored to be the first company to open an international dual-branded Wendy’s and Arby’s restaurant. Launching our inaugural restaurant in the UAE is the first step forward in our regional expansion plans. Our aim is to expand in all the Emirates in the next few years. We are already planning for the opening of the Wendy’s and Arby’s restaurant in Ajman very soon.”
Significant Growth Opportunity
“We completed comprehensive research last year that shows we have the potential for more than 8,000 restaurants outside of North America,” Smith said. “We are confident that restaurants with combined Wendy’s and Arby’s menus will help us fully capitalize on this significant long-term growth opportunity by providing a compelling business model for prospective franchisees around the world.”
In June 2009, Wendy’s/Arby’s Group announced a 10-year development agreement with Al Jammaz Group to build dual-branded Wendy’s and Arby’s restaurants in portions of the Middle East and North Africa. A subsequently revised development schedule calls for the construction of approximately 80 dual-branded restaurants over the same time period, with an initial focus on development in the United Arab Emirates.
All Wendy’s and Arby’s restaurants located outside of North America are franchised.
