Secaucus, N.J. — The Vitamin Shoppe®, a multi-channel specialty retailer and manufacturer of nutritional products, opened its first three franchise stores in Costa Rica on August 31, 2016, and two additional franchise stores recently opened in Panama.
international expansion
Atlanta — Arby’s Restaurant Group, Inc. (ARG), parent company of the franchisor of the Arby’s brand, has signed an international franchise development agreement to open 25 new Arby’s restaurants in the State of Kuwait and Kingdom of Saudi Arabia over the next 7 years.
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.
Chillicothe, Ohio — Chillicothe, Ohio-based Petland Inc. is expanding its international reach into the Middle East North Africa region. In the last 2 years, Petland has opened more than 20 new locations in international markets. Within the next year, the pet store chain plans to open stores in Saudi Arabia and has signed a master franchise agreement to develop stores in Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, Qatar, Lebanon, Kuwait and Bahrain.
Dubai, United Arab Emirates — Seven Emirates Investment LLC, a master franchisee of 7-Eleven, Inc., opened its first 7-Eleven store in the Middle East on October 6, 2015. The 2,000-square-foot store is in Bay Square, near downtown Dubai and the world’s tallest building, Burj Khalifa Tower.