Tampa, Fla. — World of Beer, the Tampa, Fla.-based craft tavern concept featuring 550+ craft and international beers, has signed a franchise agreement to expand internationally for the first time. The new tavern will be located in Shanghai, China, and is slated to open in the second quarter of 2016. Franchisee Cong Yin and his two partners plan to open at least three locations in Shanghai over the next 3 years.
Yin’s company, Zhejiang Suige Trade Company, LTD, will employ about 40 people at the first location, which will be located in the Shanghai French Concession area, a popular shopping and dining district for residents and tourists. The tavern will be similar to U.S. locations with slight variations to the design and menu.
“We’ve been looking to expand internationally for a couple of years, but we wanted to wait for the perfect partner and ideal location to launch World of Beer’s international expansion on the right foot,” says Paul Avery, CEO and president of World of Beer. “The new Shanghai tavern demonstrates how World of Beer’s devotion to local craft beer and its tavern fare menu translates well across cultures. We are confident that the concept will continue to grow overseas and look forward to introducing our brand to residents in Shanghai and markets such as India and the Philippines later this year.”
Since opening the doors to its first location in Tampa, Fla., in 2007, World of Beer has grown to 75 locations in 20 states across the U.S. In 2015, the company entered several new markets, including New Orleans and Kentucky. The company’s executives bring a diversity of knowledge and experience from past roles with organizations such as Outback Steakhouse, Carrabba’s Italian Grill, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro and MillerCoors. With Avery spearheading the brand’s future growth, World of Beer plans to have more than 100 taverns open worldwide by the end of 2016. The craft tavern concept also announced it will open its first taverns in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania and Las Vegas this year.
Founded in 2007, World of Beer (WOB) offers the best craft variety on the planet to the beer aficionado and casual beer fan alike. Taverns are currently open in 20 states, including Alabama, Arizona, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Lousiana, Maryland, North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia and Wisconsin and will be opening soon in Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Oklahoma and Pennsylvania. For more information, visit http://www.wobusa.com.
SOURCE: World of Beer