23 September 2026

Life with Cacao
Upcoming Opening at Al Shaheed Park - Phase 3
New Store Coming
لستة مطاعم وكافيهات حديقة الشهيد المرحلة الثالثة🍕🍫🍦🧋 افتتاح حديقة الشهيد المرحلة الثالثة تاريخ ١ اكتوبر🤩
Soor Gardens · Kuwait · 23 Sep
شركة محمد حمود الشايع
23 posts since 2006 · 11 openings · 4 coming soon · 2 closures · 6 market

Upcoming Opening at Al Shaheed Park - Phase 3
New Store Coming
لستة مطاعم وكافيهات حديقة الشهيد المرحلة الثالثة🍕🍫🍦🧋 افتتاح حديقة الشهيد المرحلة الثالثة تاريخ ١ اكتوبر🤩
Soor Gardens · Kuwait · 23 Sep
Upcoming Opening
we’re officially expanding into Croatia
نفخر بانضمام كرواتيا إلى أسواق مجموعة الشايع، لتصبح السوق الـ21 ضمن مسيرتنا. ونستعد لتقديم تجربة فيكتوريا سيكريت لزبائننا في كرواتيا من خلال افتتاح محل العلامة قريباً في مركز أرينا في زغرب، لتتكامل بذلك التجربة مع حضور العلامة الحالي أونلاين. We are proud to announce that we’re officially expanding into Croatia – our 21st market. As part of this major milestone, we are bringing the iconic Victoria’s Secret in-store shopping experience to Croatian customers at the famous Arena Centar, Zagreb, complementing the brand's existing online presence.

Renovation / Refurbishment at Al Kout Mall
رجع لكم من جديد 🩵🤩 ستاربكس كافية في الكوت مول عاد بحلّته الجديدة ✨ زوروه واستمتعوا بقهوتكم المُفضلة زوروهم في موقعهم بالطابق الأرضي 🩵📍

Closure at Rihab & Ishbilia Cooperative
اغلاق فرع ستاربكس
💥 #عاجل_الآن اغلاق فرع ستاربكس مع بقية المحلات في مجمع الافرع الملاصق لجمعية الرحاب التعاونية من قبل قوة الاطفاء. ويثير ذلك تساؤلات مشروعة: اذا كانت هناك نواقص تتعلق باشتراطات او تراخيص السلامة، فكيف كما يتردد استمرت الانشطة التجارية في المجمع منذ عام 2022 ؟ ومن يتحمل مسؤولية ما ترتب على الاغلاق من اضرار لحقت بالمستثمرين والمحال والعاملين؟ كما يذكر ان شكوى سابقة كانت قد اثارت ملاحظات وتساؤلات حول عقد صيانة بقيمة 14 الف دينار !. واذا كانت الشكوى الحالية مقدمة من مجلس الادارة المعين من #وزارة_الشؤون نفسه ، فهل تمت معالجة تلك الملاحظات؟ وهل سيتم اعلان نتائج التحقيق للرأي العام ؟ نتمني القانون يطبق علي الجميع بدون تمايز ( وهل يوجد علم الدين )
Ownership Stake Transfer
Kuwaiti Conglomerate Explores Stake Sale in Starbucks Franchise
(Bloomberg) -- Kuwaiti conglomerate Alshaya Group is considering selling a minority stake in its Starbucks Corp. franchise that extends from the Gulf region to Russia, according to people familiar with the matter. Family-run Alshaya is working with JPMorgan Chase & Co. on a potential transaction, the people said, asking not to be named because the information is private. No final decision has been made and the owners could still decide against pursuing any deal, they said. A spokesperson for the Kuwait-headquartered company declined to comment on any specifics but said “we constantly look at potential strategic initiatives across the business, in line with Alshaya’s continued strong performance.” JPMorgan declined to comment. Raising cash through a private placement would help Alshaya move past a period of unprecedented disruption that saw the retail and food industry suffer from lockdowns during the global pandemic. While the sector has rebounded this year thanks in part to a shift to e-commerce and growing delivery sales, economic concerns remain a drag on consumer spending. Established in 1890 and believed to be Kuwait’s oldest company, Alshaya is one of the Middle East’s largest operators of popular retail brands such as Victoria’s Secret and the Cheesecake Factory. The Seattle-based coffee chain is Alshaya’s biggest franchise with around 1,700 outlets, a large number of which are in Turkey. Alshaya opened its first Starbucks in Kuwait in 1999 and later expanded the brand to Turkey in 2003 and Russia in 2007. It now offers Starbucks in 14 markets and expects to be operating 1,750 stores by end-2021. The group runs over 4,000 stores across the region from Dubai with its cavernous malls to Turkey and Russia, boasting a total of nearly 70 brands. Its digital footprint also includes more than 100 websites and apps. The company employs more than 50,000 people and counts H&M, P.F. Chang’s and The Body Shop in its regional portfolio, according to its website.
Kuwait · 31 Oct 2021

Contract / Agreement
Boohoo to sell its brands in Debenhams stores in Middle East
The online fashion retailer Boohoo has struck a deal with Kuwait’s Alshaya Group to sell its brands in franchised Debenhams stores and online in the Middle East. Alshaya, which already holds the franchise to operate Debenhams stores in the region, will have exclusive rights to operate its shops and websites in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Egypt, Oman and Qatar. Boohoo, known for its fast-fashion dresses and going-out clothes, bought the Debenhams brand and website out of administration for £55m in January, after the 243-year-old chain collapsed in 2020. All Debenhams stores have since disappeared from the UK high street but it lives on in shopping centres across the Middle East. Boohoo’s brands will be available in Debenhams stores in the region from the autumn, and online from early next year. Boohoo’s chief executive, John Lyttle, said the deal was a further step in the integration of Debenhams into the group. “The Debenhams brand has been popular in the region for a number of years so this is a great opportunity to build on the existing brand awareness, while expanding the product ranges and brands available to customers,” he said. “It also offers a new route to market for brands within the Boohoo group, raising their profile in a growing new market.” John Hadden, the chief executive of Alshaya Group, said Debenhams was already a well-loved brand across the Middle East. “We look forward to enhancing customer choice by bringing exciting new fashion brands to the region and by expanding the Debenhams brand online,” he said. Debenhams was one of many former high street stalwarts snapped up by Boohoo during the pandemic. It now owns brands including Karen Millen, Coast, Warehouse and Oasis, and acquired the Dorothy Perkins, Wallis and Burton brands that were previously part of Sir Philip Green’s collapsed Arcadia fashion empire. The company said it had 18 million active customers across all its brands globally at the end of February. Boohoo has enjoyed booming sales during the pandemic as shoppers shrugged off revelations about treatment of workers in factories making its clothing in the UK and overseas. News of the Alshaya deal comes days after Boohoo’s online rival Asos announced it had reached an agreement with the US department store chain Nordstrom to sell Topshop clothing in its 350 stores and on its website. Asos bought the Topshop, Topman, Miss Selfridge and activewear HIIT brands in March after the collapse of Arcadia.
Kuwait · 13 Jul 2021
Contract / Agreement
Equinox Partners with Alshaya Group to Bring Portfolio of Influential Lifestyle Brands to the Middle East
Equinox Group, a high growth collective of the world’s most influential lifestyle brands, today announces its first move into the Middle East through a multi-market partnership with Alshaya Group, a leading international franchise operator, to bring three unparalleled fitness brands to the region: Equinox Fitness Clubs, SoulCycle and Blink Fitness. The partnership spans Alshaya’s many operating markets, with initial opening plans focused on Dubai in late 2020. Equinox is an innovative industry leader, masterfully connecting fitness, experiences and community across its portfolio of brands. Each brand will come to the market with a distinct proposition: Equinox Fitness Clubs offer bespoke results-focused programming and luxury amenities, SoulCycle, a unique studio-cycling experience and Blink Fitness, a premium yet affordable membership model. All three will answer the growing demand for world-class lifestyle brands in the Middle East. This is a seminal moment for Equinox, marking a period of extensive global expansion,” commented Harvey Spevak, Executive Chairman and Managing Partner of Equinox Group. “We are committed to answering demand for the Equinox lifestyle, anticipating the needs of our community and meeting them in key cities around the globe. Partnering with Alshaya is key to our success, they are talented and discerning executors, whose philosophy and approach to luxury aligns perfectly with ours. Together, we will create a never-before-seen category of lifestyle destinations across the Middle East.” “We are very excited about our new partnership with Equinox Group which marks an important new diversification of our business,” adds Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of Alshaya Group. “There is a growing demand in the region for innovative brands which reach beyond fitness and into health and well-being. We look forward to introducing Equinox Fitness Clubs, SoulCycle and Blink to new customers in the Middle East and beyond.” Equinox: Founded in 1991, Equinox was built on the notion that fitness can empower a life well-lived and foster a strong community of high performance individuals. Nearly 30 years later, Equinox continues to lead and disrupt the category it singularly defined, operating over 100 full-service Clubs globally across major US cities including New York, LA, Miami and San Francisco as well as London, Toronto and Vancouver, each featuring bespoke design in an unparalleled luxury environment. Grounded in the core tenets of Movement, Nutrition and Regeneration and backed by a Health Advisory Board of industry-leading experts across these disciplines, the company offers a holistic approach to fitness, inclusive of Equinox signature group fitness classes, personal training, Pilates, spa services, apparel, experiential travel and food & beverage. SoulCycle: SoulCycle transformed boutique fitness with the launch of its signature indoor cycling class in New York City in 2006, and has since continued to innovate and grow its community. There are currently more than 95 studios across North America, Canada and the United Kingdom. In addition to offering a one-of-a-kind experience, studios are popular retail destinations, and the brand recently launched its first proprietary apparel collection, Soul by SoulCycle. Website: www.soul-cycle.com Instagram: Instagram.com/soulcycle. Blink Fitness: Blink is a premium but affordable fitness brand that is challenging conventional fitness stereotypes. Through its revolutionary philosophy of Mood Above Muscle®, Blink celebrates how exercise makes you feel versus how it makes you look. Blink has 140 locations open or in development throughout the United States. Blink has been ranked on the Inc. 5000 list three times, was recognized as one of the top health clubs by Club Industry and was selected as the best budget gym chain by Men's Health. Website: Blink Fitness.
United States of America · 17 Dec 2019
Upcoming Opening
Alshaya Group to Bring 'Canopy By Hilton' to Kuwait
Alshaya Group this week announced plans to bring the Canopy by Hilton hotel brand to Kuwait, offering locals and visitors alike a fresh guest experience. Canopy by Hilton Kuwait will be located on Arabian Gulf Street in the popular Bneid Al-Gar area, and guests will enjoy stunning views of the Gulf and benefit from easy access to downtown Kuwait City. Development of the hotel will start shortly, with opening planned for late 2022. Located in some of the most desirable neighbourhoods across the globe, Canopy by Hilton is an upper-upscale lifestyle hotel brand. Each Canopy by Hilton property is designed as a natural extension of its neighbourhood and delivers a fresh approach to hospitality and the guest experience, providing a place to relax and recharge with comfortable spaces, an energizing atmosphere and thoughtfully local choices. Canopy by Hilton hotels are inspired by their surroundings and feature open flowing spaces, abundant natural light and design cues from the local neighbourhood. “Canopy by Hilton responds to a growing customer preference for upscale hotels that fit authentically into local neighbourhoods and cultures,” said Rudi Jagersbacher, Hilton President Middle East, Africa and Turkey. “We can tick all the boxes with our plans to bring the brand to Kuwait – with a great location in a great neighbourhood, and a trusted partner in Alshaya Group.” Commenting on the announcement, James Tynan, President of Hospitality at Alshaya Group said: “Canopy by Hilton is an exciting young hotel brand which is already attracting international attention for its unique guest offering. We think the brand is a perfect fit for the Kuwait market and look forward to welcoming guests when our doors open in 2022”. The announcement further strengthens the choice of Hilton brands that Alshaya Group will offer to customers through a growing partnership with Hilton. Alshaya recently announced a master development agreement to bring 70 Hampton by Hilton hotels to its operating markets in MENA, Turkey and Russia. Kuwait’s first Hampton by Hilton, located in Salmiya, is expected to open in late 2021.
United States of America · 16 Dec 2019
Contract / Agreement
Hilton and Alshaya Group partner on Master Development Agreement for 70 Hampton by Hilton Hotels
Hilton and Alshaya Group, a leading international franchise operator, today announced a significant development of their ongoing relationship with the exclusive signing of a master development agreement to rapidly launch and develop 70 Hampton by Hilton hotels in nine countries, with the majority of these in the Middle East, North Africa, Turkey and Russia. With the first hotel expected to open in Kuwait in 2021, Alshaya Group will deliver 50 hotels in the next eight years, with another 20 in the development pipeline, significantly expanding Hampton by Hilton’s presence in the region. Hampton by Hilton is the leading global hospitality brand in the focused service hotel category, with nearly 2,500 hotels operating in 27 countries and territories around the world, making it the largest brand in Hilton’s portfolio. “We are delighted to reach this exclusive agreement with Alshaya Group, strengthening our partnership and further expanding our global Hampton by Hilton portfolio,” said Chris Nassetta, President and CEO of Hilton. “Alshaya has been an important partner, particularly as we celebrate 100 years of pioneering the hospitality industry this year, and we look forward to working together to introduce travellers to Hampton by Hilton in these high-growth destinations.” “There is strong and growing demand for high quality accommodation in the region and we are excited by the potential of the Hampton by Hilton brand”, said Mohammed Alshaya, Executive Chairman of Alshaya Group. “This is an important new partnership for Alshaya, further diversifying our offer to consumers, and allowing us to replicate the global success of Hampton by Hilton in our operating markets.” Hampton by Hilton continues to lead the category in guest satisfaction worldwide, with each hotel committed to the industry-leading 100 percent Hampton GuaranteeTM. Hampton guests enjoy the brand’s signature free, hot breakfast with healthy options and complimentary WiFi at every hotel. Hampton is part of Hilton Honors®, the award-winning guest-loyalty program for Hilton’s 17 distinct hotel brands, which offers members who book directly through preferred Hilton channels access to instant benefits, including a flexible payment slider that allows them to choose nearly any combination of Points and money to book a stay, an exclusive member discount that can’t be found anywhere else and free standard WiFi. Members also enjoy popular digital tools available exclusively through the industry-leading Hilton Honors mobile app, where Hilton Honors members can check-in, choose their room and access their room using a Digital Key.
United States of America · 29 Jul 2019
الشايع: افتتاح 32 علامة تجارية عالمية في قطر مول
أعلنت شركة محمد حمود الشايع، الشركة الرائدة في مجال التجزئة والوكيل لأشهر العلامات التجارية العالمية، أنها تستعد لافتتاح 32 علامة تجارية عالمية في يوم واحد في قطر مول، ثماني منها تفتتح لأول مرة في قطر. وسيفتح قطر مول، وجهة التسوق والترفيه الفريدة من نوعها، أبوابه لاستقبال الزبائن والزوار في الأسابيع القليلة المقبلة. هذا وسيشهد الافتتاح إطلاق ثماني علامات تجارية عالمية لأول مرة في قطر وهي «ذي تشيزكيك فاكتوري» و«فيكتوريا سيكريت» و«تكساس رودهاوس» و«لوبان كوتيديان» و«شوكولا بريدج واتر» و«فيز إيت» و«بوتري بارن» و«بوتري بارن للأطفال». هذا بالإضافة إلى العلامات التجارية العالمية الأخرى التي تديرها الشركة مثل «ستاربكس» و«اتش آند ام» و«مذركير» و«دبنهامز» و«ذي بودي شوب» و«بووتس». وبهذه المناسبة، أكّد جون هادين، نائب الرئيس الأول لإدارة العقار في شركة محمد حمود الشايع، أن حضور شركة الشايع في قطر مول يمثل جزءا من التزام الشركة بتقديم أفضل المنتجات والخدمات لزبائنها في قطر، ويأتي في سياق خطط الشركة للتوسع في المزيد من أسواق الشرق الأوسط، حيث قال: «نسعى دائما إلى تقديم علاماتنا التجارية العالمية للمزيد من الزبائن في أسواق جديدة، وسيسهم وجودنا في قطر مول كوجهة تسوق وترفيه فريدة من نوعها في تقديم منتجاتنا وخدماتنا لشريحة واسعة من الزبائن في قطر». وتدير الشايع في قطر ما يزيد على 100 محل للعديد من العلامات التجارية العالمية في مجالات الملابس والأحذية، والمطاعم، والصحة والجمال، والصيدلة، والبصريات، والأثاث المنزلي.
Contract / Agreement at Mall of Qatar
Mall of Qatar Signs Mega Deal With Alshaya
Qatar's largest leisure, entertainment and shopping complex, Mall of Qatar has signed a leasing agreement with M.H. Alshaya Co., one of the world's leading retail franchise operators to open more than 30 stores and restaurant outlets in the Mall of Qatar. The agreement with Alshaya was confirmed at a signing ceremony between Mr. Shem Krey, Managing Director and Mr. Rony Mourani, General Manager of the Mall of Qatar, and Mr. Wassim Arabi, Chief Executive Officer of M. H. Alshaya Co. Winner of the Middle East Retailer of the Year Award in June 2015, Alshaya's ever popular brands will occupy around 18,000 sq. m of the Mall. Collectively these brands will offer shoppers an exciting collection of well-loved international fashion & footwear, food, health & beauty, pharmacy, optics and home furnishings brands including Mothercare, H&M, Debenhams, Victoria's Secret, Starbucks and The Cheesecake Factory. "Qatar is an important and growing market for us and we are very pleased to partner with Mall of Qatar to expand the range of retail, café and dining choices that we can offer to customers", said John Hadden, Senior Vice President, Retail Property for Alshaya. "With more than 70 leading international brands in Alshaya's portfolio we look forward to bringing traditional favourites, exciting new brands and outstanding new-look stores to this significant new addition to Qatar's retail scene." Under the deal, the 32 household name brands that will join Mall of Qatar's growing list of shops, cafes and restaurants include: Debenhams, Pinkberry, Bath & Body Works, Milano, Icing, American Eagle Outfitters, Vision Express, Jo Malone, River Island, Asha's, Starbucks, PF Chang's, The Cheesecake Factory, Texas Roadhouse, Payless ShoeSource, Boots, Claire's, M.A.C, Foot Locker, Shake Shack, H&M, Miss Selfridge, Topshop, Phase Eight, The Body Shop, Victoria's Secret, Pink, Babel, Pottery Barn, Raising Cane's, Next and Mothercare. Shem Krey, Managing Director of Mall of Qatar, commented: "The endless list of top lifestyle brands and popular eateries that Alshaya will open in the Mall will help to make it one of the biggest draws in the region as a lifestyle destination that has it all - where shoppers can soak up the very best in retail, leisure and entertainment all under one roof." SOURCE Mall Of Qatar
Kuwait · 2 Oct 2015

Closure
Facts about Starbucks in the Middle East
Though our roots are in the United States, we are a global company with stores in 65 countries, including nearly 600 stores in 12 Middle Eastern and North African countries employing more than 10,000 partners (employees). In countries where we do business, we are proud to be a part of the fabric of the local community – working directly with local business partners who operate our stores, employing thousands of local citizens, serving millions of customers and positively impacting many others through our support of local neighborhoods and cities. Our 300,000 partners around the globe have diverse views about a wide range of topics. Regardless of that spectrum of beliefs, Starbucks has been and remains a non-political organization. We do not support any political or religious cause. Additionally, neither Starbucks nor the company’s chairman, president and ceo Howard Schultz provide financial support to the Israeli government and/or the Israeli Army in any way. What we do believe in, and remain focused on, is staying true to our company’s long-standing heritage – simply connecting with our partners and customers over a cup of high quality coffee and offering the best experience possible to them – regardless of geographical location. Questions and Answers: Is it true that Starbucks or Howard Schultz provides financial support to Israel? No. This is absolutely untrue. Rumors that Starbucks or Howard provides financial support to the Israeli government and/or the Israeli Army are unequivocally false. Starbucks is a publicly held company and as such, is required to disclose any corporate giving each year through a proxy statement. Has Starbucks ever sent any of its profits to the Israeli government and/or Israeli army? No. This is absolutely untrue. Is it true that Starbucks closed its stores in Israel for political reasons? No. We do not make business decisions based on political issues. We decided to dissolve our partnership in Israel in 2003 due to the on-going operational challenges that we experienced in that market. After many months of discussion with our partner we came to this amicable decision. While this was a difficult decision for both companies, we believe it remains the right decision for our businesses. Do you have plans to re-open should the opportunity arise? We decided to dissolve our partnership in Israel in 2003 due to the on-going operational challenges that we experienced in that market. When and where the business case makes sense and we see a fit for the Starbucks brand in a market we will work closely with a local partner to assess the feasibility of offering our brand to that community. We will therefore continue to assess all opportunities on this basis. At present, we will continue to grow our business in the Middle East as we have been very gratified by the strong reception of the brand in the region. We continue to work closely with our business partner, the Alshaya Group, in developing our plans for the region. Do you work with a Middle East partner to operate Starbucks stores? Through a licensing agreement with trading partner and licensee MH Alshaya WLL, a private Kuwait family business, Starbucks has operated in the Middle East since 1999. Today Alshaya Group, recognized as one of the leading and most influential retailing franchisees in the region, operates nearly 600 Starbucks stores in the Middle East and Levant region. In addition to its Starbucks stores, the Alshaya Group operates more than 2,600 retail stores in the Middle East, Russia and North Africa, providing jobs for more than 40,000 employees of more than 110 nationalities. We are extremely fortunate and proud to have forged a successful partnership for the past fifteen years and look forward to building on this success. In which Middle Eastern and North African countries do you operate? We partner with Alshaya Group to operate Starbucks stores in Bahrain, Egypt, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and United Arab Emirates in the Middle East and North Africa region. We are fortunate to have the opportunity to work with so many communities, and we are committed to providing the Starbucks Experience while respecting the local customs and cultures of each country we are a part of. We are also committed to hiring locally, providing jobs to thousands of local citizens in the countries where we operate. This updates a statement originally posted to the Starbucks Newsroom in 2010, UPDATED August 2014
United States of America · 31 Jul 2014

Expansion Plan
Alshaya partners with Babel Restaurant brand to expand in the MENA Region
Kuwait, October 7, 2013: M.H. Alshaya Co. ('Alshaya') has announced the signing of a franchise partnership with Afkar Holding Group, the Lebanese Babel restaurant operator. The partnership supports the expansion of Babel, the acclaimed Lebanese restaurant brand, into selected markets across the Middle East and North Africa. Babel, which has achieved five star accreditation in Lebanon, is renowned for its dynamic restaurant design, its progressive interpretation of Lebanese ingredients, and its outstanding hospitality. The first Babel restaurants to be managed by Alshaya, one of the world's leading international retail franchise operators, are expected to open in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, each with the distinctive design and architecture that characterises the brand. The brand was established in Lebanon in 2009 with the opening of Babel in Dbayeh. Babel Bay in Zaituna Bay followed in 2012, with Babel Bahr in the Amchit area of Lebanon opening most recently in August 2013. All three restaurants have achieved a reputation and loyal following through word of mouth alone. Guests at Babel are introduced to the tastes and flavours of traditional Lebanese cuisine, reinvented with a contemporary twist and using outstanding, high quality ingredients. Commenting on the new partnership, Dory Rizk, CEO of Afkar Holding Group said: "At Babel we are committed to bringing our customers a compelling hospitality experience that explores the complexity of Lebanese cuisine and delivers outstanding service and ambience. We are very pleased to partner with Alshaya, whose proven reputation for successfully franchising international brands gives us great confidence about Babel's future growth outside of Lebanon." Mohammed Alshaya added: "We are delighted to be able to bring this outstanding Lebanese dining concept to new markets, further broadening the diversity of dining choices that we are able to offer our customers. In the short time since it was founded, Babel has rapidly earned a reputation for excellence, and we look forward to partnering with the brand to replicate its success beyond Lebanon." -Ends- About Alshaya Alshaya is a leading international franchise operator for over 70 of the world's most recognised retail brands, including Starbucks, H&M, Mothercare, Debenhams, American Eagle Outfitters, P.F. Chang's, The Cheesecake Factory, Victoria's Secret, Boots, Pottery Barn, Office Depot and KidZania Kuwait. The company operates over 2,500 stores across 8 divisions: Fashion & Footwear, Health & Beauty, Food Service, Optics, Pharmacy, Home Furnishings, Office Supplies and Leisure & Entertainment. Alshaya's stores can currently be found in 19 markets across the Middle East and North Africa, Russia, Turkey and Europe and the company employs more than 36,000 people from over 110 nationalities. Alshaya has established itself as the industry leader across these territories through a combination of local market understanding and a comprehensive commitment to customer service. Growth in each of its operating divisions and brands is supported by continuous investment in talent and infrastructure. It applies best practices in retail operations, merchandising, marketing, information technology, logistics, real estate, human resources and financial controls. Alshaya's retail business forms part of the wider Alshaya group of companies, which was founded in Kuwait in 1890 and today represents one of the most dynamic businesses in the Middle East. In addition to its retail operations, Alshaya is active in a number of other sectors including real estate, automotive, hotels, trading and investments. Learn more about the company at www.alshaya.com. For further information: Hatem Korabi Corporate Communications Manager M.H. Alshaya Co Tel: (+965) 2224 2475 Mobile: (+965) 97602172 hatem.korabi@alshaya.com Jad Mounzer Assistant General Manager Afkar Holding Tel: (+961) 4 542842 extension 203 - Mobile : (+ 961) 3 411643 jadmounzer@afkarholding.co
Kuwait · 6 Oct 2013
Acquisition
M.H. Alshaya: The mystery company importing Americana to the Mideast
A Pinkberry yogurt shop at the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai FORTUNE — David Overton makes a point of trying to get to every one of his restaurant openings. In the 35 years since he founded the Cheesecake Factory in Beverly Hills, only a handful have kicked off without his discerning eye. So it surprised no one when Overton decided to travel halfway around the world for the Kuwait City launch of the 160th Cheesecake Factory. Overton’s presence made this event just like every Cheesecake Factory opening. Indeed, it was Overton’s directive to his team that this launch and, more important, this restaurant be treated like any other. The tables were set exactly as they are in the U.S., the forks slightly staggered. The usual artist had designed the decorative murals featuring themes of mythology, history, and astronomy. The portions and the waiting times were just as abundant. “It feels like a Cheesecake, and it tastes like a Cheesecake,” says Heather Berry, director of beverage and bakery operations, who had traveled over for the launch. Beneath the surface, though, restaurant No. 160 was dramatically different. Publicly held Cheesecake Factory CAKE 0.43% , known in the industry for its consistency and Overton’s attention to detail, owns all its restaurants in the U.S. But the Kuwait City outpost is licensed to M.H. Alshaya Co., a Kuwait-based group operating in 19 countries with more than 70 brands in its portfolio. In January 2011 the two companies signed a deal that allowed Alshaya to open 22 Cheesecake Factories over five years in the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Qatar. (Two Dubai locations opened in 2012.) MORE: 3 opportunities the West misses in the Middle East You may have never heard of M.H. Alshaya, which is exactly how the intensely private company likes it. Formed some 30 years ago by members of Kuwait’s Alshaya family, including current executive chairman Mohammed Alshaya, the retail-franchising operation manages dozens of international brands and thousands of stores. The closely held business declines to disclose any financial information, and executives rarely speak with the media, saying they prefer to let their brands and properties speak for themselves. And oh, what brands: Starbucks SBUX -0.23% , Pinkberry, IHOP DIN 1.27% , American Eagle Outfitters AEO 1.21% , Victoria’s Secret LTD -0.83% , Pottery Barn, and Williams-Sonoma WSM -0.13% — all are mainstays in the Middle East thanks to Alshaya. These retailers and many more are increasingly drawn to the region because of its well-heeled population of expats and globetrotting locals. (Qatar, Kuwait, and the UAE rank among the world’s top 20 countries in GDP per capita.) There also are few homegrown competitors to fend off; in fact, consumers in the Middle East seek out Western brands because they crave authentic American experiences. But Kuwait City isn’t Kansas, and to bring a taste of the U.S. to places such as the UAE, multinationals need a local guide to help them navigate the cultural, religious, and regulatory protocols of the region. That’s where Alshaya comes in. Like many franchisees, Alshaya handles basics such as scouting locations and negotiating leases; it hires and manages employees who come from 110 different countries; and crucially, it helps eateries modify their menus to comply with Islamic dietary laws. As I discovered when I traveled to Kuwait City for a behind-the-scenes look at the Cheesecake Factory’s opening in November, bringing a Western restaurant chain to the Middle East is an exercise in patience, creativity, and strong execution. It also involves tasting a lot of food. Cheesecake Factory CEO David Overton (in suit, center) and Mohammed Alshaya (with scissors, second from left) at a restaurant opening at the Dubai Mall All roads lead to the mall in this part of the world. Over the past two decades, shopping culture in the Gulf region has migrated from the outdoor marketplace, the souk, to the destination megamall that sits at the center of social life. You can escape from the oppressive heat, browse brands from Armani to Zara, ski and ice-skate indoors, and visit one of the world’s largest aquariums. “When Alshaya told us, ‘You’re going to go in malls in the Middle East,’ we looked at them and said, ‘You don’t understand. We’re a cool New York urban brand. We don’t do malls,’ ” explains Randy Garutti, CEO of Shake Shack, based in New York City. “Then you witness it. The mall there is the piazza. It is the Union Square.” Garutti didn’t have to worry about whether the concept would translate. When Shake Shack, part of Danny Meyer’s Union Square Hospitality Group, announced plans to open in Kuwait, its Miami Beach location became a hotspot for Kuwaitis scoping it out on spring break. The Cheesecake Factory was also coveted by Middle Eastern consumers. For five years the restaurant ranked No. 1 in a quarterly survey asking patrons which American restaurant concept they’d like to see in the Dubai Mall, Overton says. When the restaurant opened there in August, it touted the line “The wait is over.” Retailers who take the plunge into the Gulf are often rewarded with some of the best-performing stores in their systems. Take Scottsdale-based P.F. Chang’s: Three of its top-10 restaurants by sales are in the Middle East. With relatively small populations — Kuwait has just 2.8 million residents — the region’s blowout figures come with not only higher transactions but also a greater frequency of store visits. Alshaya is the driving force behind much of the brand migration. “We are a willing investor, an aggressive investor,” Mohammed Alshaya tells me during my visit to Kuwait City. He had just finished touring the newly opened section of the Avenues mall with the U.S. ambassador to Kuwait; earlier that day he had cut the ribbon at the Cheesecake Factory opening with CEO Overton. MORE: Building a new Egypt: Where we are today The Alshaya group of companies’ history dates back to 1890 and includes interests in real estate, construction, and hotels in the Middle East. In recent years the 30-year-old retail-franchising operation has started expanding beyond its Gulf region roots. In January 2012, Alshaya acquired 60 stores of lingerie shop La Senza in the U.K., and in 2007, Starbucks opened in Russia with Alshaya as its partner. “We had already established a great partnership with them” in the Middle East, explains Michelle Gass, president of Europe, the Middle East, and Africa for Starbucks. “The core skills they bring to the table — they believed they could translate that into Russia.” International restaurant companies tried to woo the Cheesecake Factory for years, but Overton felt that the restaurant’s complexities made it hard to license. He wasn’t sure that he would ever feel comfortable taking his company global. It wasn’t until meeting Alshaya that Overton thought that an international partnership might work. Alshaya paid a visit to Overton in California and offered to show him around personally if he came to the region. In May 2010 Alshaya went with him to Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, and the UAE, showing him malls, where Overton was most struck by how closely stores mimicked their counterparts in the States. “I walked into Pottery Barn, and there’s no way you could tell that it wasn’t [the U.S.],” Overton tells me. Alshaya’s core competency is cloning, replicating, duplicating — a sampling of the terms I heard used during my trip. The day the company launches a brand in the Middle East, it starts with the assumption that the retail experience will be identical to what a customer encounters in the U.S. Alshaya has no desire to reinvent; rather, it tries to understand a retailer’s core and reproduce it. Still, Alshaya makes appropriate tweaks when necessary. The most common changes stem from compliance with Islamic dietary laws. Serving a cake made with gelatin? It must be extracted according to halal guidelines. Other alterations are made to match regional tastes. At Shake Shack, you won’t find its pumpkin-pie frozen custard on the menu — customers may not be familiar with the flavor. More shower items than bath products line the shelves at Bath & Body Works because there’s a preference for bathing in running water. At Pottery Barn Kids, the chairs on display are personalized with Jaber rather than Max. Alshaya has helped bring Cheesecake Factory restaurants to Kuwait (left and right) and Dubai (center). The process of creating uniformity across a brand is never easy in the restaurant business. Chains can copy aesthetics with little difficulty; it is much harder to get food to taste exactly the same every day in every location. One of the most fanatical guys in the industry when it comes to standardization is Overton. If you order his Over the Top Meatloaf Sandwich, covered in Guinness-marinated Swiss cheese and tomato-bacon jam, it should taste exactly the same in Boca Raton as in Phoenix or in Honolulu. When Overton decided to bring his brand to the Middle East, he insisted that his meat-loaf sandwich and the rest of the menu taste the same in Kuwait City and Dubai as well. The Cheesecake Factory did the initial work to make the recipes comply with Muslim dietary practices, and then reviewed the changes with Alshaya. So now that meat loaf had to taste exactly the same using halal beef, sans Guinness marinade and pork bacon in the topping. Cheesecake Factory chief culinary officer Donald Moore’s initial reaction was alarm — especially when it came to limitations on pork. “I love bacon,” he says. “We put bacon in our salads and on our burgers and sandwiches.” He took a reconnaissance trip to the region, eating bacon everywhere. “I ate veal bacon, turkey bacon, beef bacon, you name it,” he says. The issue wasn’t just about taste. A lot of the bacons were jerky-like and lacked the texture of pork. Once his team found the right consistency, it matched the sweetness and smokiness, ending up with a beef bacon that Moore loves. When it came to alcohol, some menu items needed only a simple fix. The cheese for the meat loaf, for example, now gets marinated in nonalcoholic beer. Some of the other substitutes were harder to come by. The Cheesecake Factory’s No. 1-selling item in the U.S. is Chicken Madeira, which calls for the eponymous wine. Moore’s team created gastriques — caramelized sugar with vinegar — to duplicate the flavor profile. MORE: In the Mideast, entrepreneurs flourish Every item had to pass Overton’s muster to make it onto the menu. (“I don’t believe in focus groups,” he explains. “I’m kind of our one-man focus group.”) It took Moore’s team a year to find a replacement for miso, which contains alcohol, before Overton gave the miso salmon his okay. Some items, like the tiramisu and Kahlua cheesecake, couldn’t be copied to the Cheesecake Factory’s standards. “We worked for months replicating the cheesecakes that we have, and doing it without alcohol,” says Berry, who runs bakery and beverages. The afternoon before the Kuwait opening, I went out to the Avenues mall to talk to Scott Thomas, the Cheesecake Factory’s area director of operations. “My goal tomorrow is to make sure every guest that comes in here thinks that they’re in our brand in the United States, that there’s no difference,” he says. The biggest challenge for Thomas was the global nature of the staff. Many don’t speak English as a first language and were unfamiliar with the restaurant’s concept at first. Overton told me that he had talked to an employee from Russia who admitted that she was worried she was going over to Kuwait only to be exploited. She had thought she was literally coming to work at a cheesecake factory. To help bridge the cultural and language gap, training went back to basics. Instruction ranged from the literal — making sure the wait staff knew that the Caramel Pecan Turtle Cheesecake didn’t actually contain turtle — to the figurative. One of the restaurant’s most popular salads is the Luau Salad, but many of the new hires didn’t know what a luau was. “It’s not the end of the world, but we wanted them to have a full understanding [of] why this salad looks the way it does,” Thomas says. “It’s a Hawaiian celebration in a bowl.” Alshaya also runs this Starbucks in Kuwait (left), Shake Shack (center), and Victoria’s locations in the Mall of the Emirates in Dubai. For three days before the Kuwait City opening, the Cheesecake Factory held its “mocks” — a dress rehearsal for opening day, which the restaurant chain does before every launch. About 80 designated trainers had been brought over from the U.S. to work alongside the newly hired Alshaya staff. These test runs offer the chance to work out the kinks. “We’ve been cooking and eating and eating and eating, and that’s all I’ve done for the last two days,” Moore tells me. As a result of the sampling, Moore realized that a wine-free mustard in the herb-crusted salmon had failed to give him the perfect note. He needed to find a replacement mustard, so he bought every Dijon on the shelf at Dean & Deluca, another food retailer Alshaya brought to the region. It wasn’t the only improvising he would do that week. Some ingredients that the Cheesecake Factory imports hadn’t made it over in time. Fresh corn had missed a flight. A special dough flour got stuck in another part of Kuwait, so tamale cakes were taken off the menu. “If we can get something local that would be the same or better, we would serve it,” Moore says. Berry was waiting for a couple of juices that hadn’t made the boat. She had come up with a backup recipe using a local fresh juice in case the shipment didn’t arrive, but she was reluctant to hand it out. With all that the staff already had to learn, she didn’t want to further complicate their training. Sourcing will only become more complicated as the restaurant chain’s expansion continues. Lebanon, for example, requires that imported products come directly from their country of origin; if the Cheesecake Factory uses shrimp from Mexico, the shellfish must come to Lebanon directly from Mexico. MORE: Muslim, Western biz challenges – plenty of common ground The team had a sense of what to expect in Kuwait thanks to its Dubai Mall launch in August. The restaurant opened during Ramadan in order to be ready for Eid, the celebration marking the end of the month of fasting. Like its location in Kuwait, the first Dubai Cheesecake Factory sits on prime real estate, in this case across from an aquarium. At opening, the wait for a table stretched to more than 150 names (large parties had to wait as long as three hours), and mall security eventually made the restaurant set up stanchions for crowd control. Every customer was ordering cheesecake, with dessert making up 25% of sales. Berry had to write a whole new policy and procedure for handling the cheesecake mania. “It looked like I was writing a line of scrimmage,” she says. “I had X’s and O’s and seven bodies.” “Mocktails” and bottled water were so popular that beverages as a percentage of sales matched those in the U.S. — amazing considering the absence of liquor sales in Dubai. The Cheesecake Factory says every Alshaya-licensed restaurant open for a year represents a penny in earnings per share, which translates into about half a million dollars in profit. Analysts expect the company to report about $1.8 billion in revenue and $105 million in profits in 2012. A third Middle East location, the largest Cheesecake Factory in the world, opened in Dubai on New Year’s Eve. A view of the Avenues mall in Kuwait I ate most of my meals on the trip at the Cheesecake Factory with Donald Evans, the company’s genial chief marketing officer. He worked his way through ordering a long list of items that he and his colleagues thought I should sample — primarily dishes that had been tweaked for the market, like Chicken Madeira, Chicken Piccata, and Herb Crusted Filet of Salmon. (Evans judiciously had only a bite or two of each dish, and I eventually caught on.) There is something a bit odd about spreading this part of American culture around the world — the desserts, the burgers, the hefty portions. But when I got back to the U.S. and went to my local Cheesecake Factory, I couldn’t help being impressed by how flawlessly Alshaya and its partners do it. Everything was nearly identical: the friendly service, the lighting — even the restaurant’s neighbors (Victoria’s Secret, Express, Bath & Body Works). But I was most focused on the food. I wanted to compare a sampling of menu items to what we had eaten in Dubai and Kuwait. And so, in the name of research, I tucked into White Chocolate Raspberry Truffle Cheesecake, Shrimp Scampi, and Hawaiian Pizza. While I can’t claim to have a particularly discerning palate, the food tasted exactly the same. The real moment of truth came when my server brought out the Chicken Madeira. One forkful, and I felt like I was transported to Kuwait. This story is from the February 25, 2013 issue of Fortune. 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Kuwait · 24 Feb 2013
Kuwait's first IHOP restaurant located at The Mall - The Avenues
Kuwait, 19February, 2013: IHOP®, the iconic American-style restaurant world famous for making breakfast a memorable experience with its delicious buttermilk pancakes and fluffy omelettes, has expanded its international presence with the opening of the very first IHOP in Kuwait at The Mall - The Avenues on 16 February. IHOP will be operated by M.H. Alshaya Co., a leading international retail franchise operator. The new 307 seat restaurant will bring a sumptuous menu that includes an extensive array of items that range from signature pancakes, a wide variety of omelettes, French toast and waffles, crepes, sandwiches and burgers, appetizers, soups, salads and desserts. IHOP will further introduce a selection of international flavors as well as signature and dinner favorites such as the Big Steak Omelettes, Philly Cheese Steak Stacker, Pick-A-Pancake Combo, Breakfast Sampler, Rooty Tooty Fresh and Fruity, country fried steak, crispy chicken strips, French onion pot roast, T bone steak, along with a diverse assortment of lower-calorie healthy choices. Kuwait’s first IHOP restaurant follows the brand’s success at two locations in Dubai which opened earlier in September 2012. Alshaya’s multi-market franchise partnership with DineEquity Inc., will see a significant number of new IHOP restaurants opening across the Middle East in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Bahrain, and Egypt. IHOP restaurants feature high-quality food and beverage items in a friendly, warm and comfortable ambience. This popular restaurant, which is designed for individual and family dining, delivers a uniquely iconic American-style dining experience. “We are delighted and encouraged to add Kuwait to the list of countries around the world that can now enjoy the IHOP experience. As the new IHOP restaurants in Dubai have already proven, there is a strong appetite for great food and service with strong value throughout the region,” said John Merkin, vice president of International Operations, IHOP. “Alshaya has done an outstanding job in bringing the IHOP brand to Dubai and now Kuwait. We look forward to a continued successful partnership as the brand expands throughout the region.” “The success of the IHOP story lies in its combination of high food quality, value and an excellent service. As we continue to expand the brand across the Middle East, we are sure that IHOP will become a firm family favorite with customers in Kuwait, just as it has become in Dubai,” commented Stephen O’Connor, Vice President for IHOP in the Middle East.
Kuwait · 18 Feb 2013

Expansion Plan
Alshaya to roll out Garrett Popcorn Shops across Mideast
MH Alshaya Co, which operates over 55 retail brands including Starbucks, H&M, Mothercare and Debenhams, said it will expand the popcorn chain across the Middle East and may look at potential for other markets. The first Middle East branch of Garrett Popcorn Shops is expected to open in The Avenues in Kuwait later this year. Garrett Popcorn Shops, founded in Chicago in 1949, operates over 25 shops in the US as well as international locations including Singapore, Hong Kong and Malaysia. Alshaya, one of the Gulf’s largest family-owned firms, has an extensive franchise portfolio that includes a string of US household name food and beverage brands. The company has closed franchises in the last 18-months for the Chicago-based chain Potbelly Sandwich Shop, and a 22-outlet deal for New-York listed chain The Cheesecake Factory. The Kuwait retail conglomerate last year said it had signed a deal to launch American pancake chain IHOP in the Middle East. Alshaya will open 40 restaurants across the six Gulf states, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt by 2016, marking IHOP’s first major expansion outside the US. The firm, which operates 2,000 stores across 15 countries, said in 2010 it planned to open 1,250 new stores over the next five years, creating an estimated 4,000 jobs.
United States of America · 3 Aug 2012
Opening at Dalma Mall
“دلما مول” يتفق مع “الشايع” على افتتاح 37 متجراً جديداً
أبرم دلما مول، اتفاقية تأجير مع شركة الشايع، يتم من خلالها افتتاح 37 متجراً جديداً من ضمن مجموعة الماركات العالمية التي تمثلها الأخيرة في قطاع تجارة التجزئة . حيث ستشغل هذه المحلات التجارية الجديدة مساحة تشغيلية تبلغ 173 ألف قدم مربعة من المساحة الإجمالية في مركز التسوق . ووقع الاتفاقية كل من راشد دولة، الرئيس التنفيذي لدلما مول، وجون هادن، نائب الرئيس الأول للشؤون العقارية في شركة الشايع . ستتضمن قائمة المتاجر المرتقب افتتاحها في دلما مول خلال الربع الأخير من عام ،2012 باقة متنوعة من محلات الألبسة الجاهزة والأزياء العصرية والإكسسوارات مثل: إتش آند إم، ودبنهامز، وأمريكان إيجل آوتفيترز، وفيكتوريا سيكريت، ومذركير، ونكست، وإكسبرس؛ إضافة إلى معارض بوتري بارن، وبوتري بارن للأطفال للأثاث والمفروشات المنزلية، ومجموعة من المطاعم والمقاهي المتخصصة مثل: بنكبري، وبوتبيلي السندويش شوب، وشيك شاك، والفورنو، ومقاهي ستاربكس؛ وعدد من المحلات المتخصصة بمستحضرات التجميل والصحة والجمال مثل باث آند بودي وركس، وماك وصيدلية بوتس؛ فضلاً عن عدد آخر من الأسماء الأخرى في عالم التسوق التي تمثلها شركة الشايع، والتي سيتم افتتاح فروع جديدة لها للمرة الأولى في العاصمة أبوظبي . وقال راشد دولة: تؤكد الاتفاقية الجديدة مع شركة الشايع التزام دلما مول بتوفير تجربة تسوق غير مسبوقة لزوار وسكان أبوظبي، وذلك من خلال احتضان عدد من أبرز العلامات التجارية العالمية تحت سقف واحد . ويعد هذا الطيف الواسع من المتاجر الشهيرة التي تمتلكها وتديرها الشايع عنصراً أساسياً في استقطاب الزوار؛ ويتجلى ذلك في المزيج المميز من الخيارات المتنوعة التي يوفرها المركز التجاري لمرتاديه، الأمر الذي سيسهم بدوره في تعزيز قطاع التجزئة بالعاصمة أبوظبي، ويرفد مساعي دلما مول لتبوؤ مكانة رائدة على الصعيد العالمي . وأضاف دولة: يشهد دلما مول إقبالاً كبيراً من الزوار، بمعدل يصل إلى 15 ألف شخص، فيما يتجاوز 19 ألف شخص خلال عطلات نهاية الأسبوع . ونحن على ثقة بأن افتتاح المتاجر الجديدة سيسهم في تعزيز إقبال الزوار إلى دلما مول، الذي تم حجز وتأجير 6 .1 مليون قدم مربعة من مساحته لمنافذ ومرافق تجارة التجزئة، ويقدم مجموعة متكاملة من أفضل العلامات التجارية التي تمنح العملاء تجربة تسوق راقية وغير مسبوقة . ومن جانب آخر، قال جون هادن: نحن نتطلع قدماً إلى تقديم تجربة متميزة في التسوق لزبائننا في إمارة أبوظبي . مما لاشك فيه أن الباقة المتنوعة من العلامات التجارية التي نمتلكها ونديرها ستسهم إلى حد كبير في استقطاب الكثير من المتسوقين المحليين، الأمر الذي سيدعم بدوره أهداف دلما مول في التحول إلى وجهة حيوية للتسوق والترفيه العائلي في قطاع التجزئة .
Kuwait · 22 Mar 2012

Expansion Plan
Alshaya to roll Shake Shack out across Middle East
Kuwait’s M H Alshaya Co said Thursday it had opened its second Shake Shack burger outlet and plans to open up to eight more across the Middle East by the end of 2012. The opening marks the New York burger chain’s debut in Kuwait, following the launch of a Dubai branch in April, and reflects the “huge potential” for growth in the Middle East, said Danny Meyer, CEO of Union Square Hospitality Group, the firm behind Shake Shack. The firm signed a franchise deal with Alshaya in 2010. Alshaya, one of the Gulf’s largest family-owned firms, has an extensive franchise portfolio that includes a string of US household name food and beverage brands. The company has closed franchises in the last six months for the Chicago-based chain Potbelly Sandwich Shop, and a 22-outlet deal for New-York listed chain The Cheesecake Factory. The Kuwait retail conglomerate last month said it had signed a deal to launch American pancake chain IHOP in the Middle East. Alshaya will open 40 restaurants across the six Gulf states, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt by 2016, marking IHOP’s first major expansion outside the US. Alshaya operates 2,000 stores across 15 countries, and counts brands such as Starbucks, Pizza Express, American Eagle, Boots and Pottery Barn in its portfolio. The company employs around 20,000 people and operates 2,000 stores in 15 markets. In November, the company said it planned to open 1,250 new stores over the next five years, creating an estimated 4,000 jobs.
Kuwait · 19 Jul 2011

Expansion Plan
US pancake chain IHOP heads to the Middle East
American pancake chain IHOP is set to open its doors in the Middle East after parent company DineEquity inked a franchise deal with Kuwait’s MH Alshaya Co. The retail conglomerate plans to open 40 restaurants across the six Gulf states, Jordan, Lebanon and Egypt in the next five years, marking IHOP’s first major expansion outside the US. The pancake chain will open its first branch within 12 months, the companies said in a joint statement. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. The franchise reflects DineEquity’s efforts to “grow our business by leveraging [our] brands and expanding beyond our markets we have traditionally served,” said Julia Stewart, DineEquity’s chairman and CEO. IHOP has 1,500 restaurants and a franchise pipeline of a further 300, the company said. Alshaya, one of the Gulf’s largest family-owned firms, has an extensive franchise portfolio that includes a string of US household name food and beverage brands. The company has closed franchises in the last six months for the Chicago-based chain Potbelly Sandwich Shop, and a 22-outlet deal for New-York listed chain The Cheesecake Factory Alshaya operates 2,000 stores across 15 countries, and counts brands such as Starbucks, Pizza Express, American Eagle, Boots and Pottery Barn in its portfolio. The company employs around 20,000 people and operates 2,000 stores in 15 markets. In November, the company said it planned to open 1,250 new stores over the next five years, creating an estimated 4,000 jobs.
United States of America · 20 Jun 2011

Opening
New Store Opening
Bath & Body Works opens first stores outside North American in the Middle East under a franchise partnership with M.H. Alshaya, Co.
United States of America · 30 Sep 2010