Hotbrands International (HBI), one of the fastest growing food services companies in the region, has opened three more outlets in Gurgaon in India under a strategic alliance with Amit Burman of Dabur Foods.

Dubai-based HBI also plans to enter the Bahrain market for the first time, while further consolidating its presence in key target markets in the Middle East, India and South Africa, with particular focus on the KSA market, namely Jeddah and Riyadh.

Three of the concepts that have been opened in India represent HBI’s flagship brand, Shamiana, a quick service Indian restaurant chain; Magic Wok, serving modern Chinese cuisine; while the third, Santino’s serves Italian pizzas and pastas.

The new stores have increased the number of HBI outlets that operate in the booming fast food restaurant sector in India to 12. Currently there are nine more locations signed to open before March 2008 and final negotiations are going on for a further 21 locations which would open up by the end of 2008 across various regions in India.

HBI will step up its presence in the casual dining sector with outlets in new locations in Dubai while a further 30 HBI outlets will be opened over the next 18 months in Saudi Arabia under a partnership with top Saudi retailer, the Al Sawani Group. HBI also has a presence in other neighbouring countries including Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.

The new growth phase will add 60 more outlets over the next 18 months in all regions to the growing portfolio of HBI which develops, operates and markets a unique range of ethnic restaurant concepts, and increase the total number units to nearly 100. From five stores in 2000, HBI currently has 56 outlets under eight branded quick service and casual dining concepts - Shamiana, Magic Wok, Sala Thai, Santino’s, Sugoi!,  Haru, Da Shi Dai, Pane Caldo  - operating throughout the Middle East, India and South Africa.

Avinash Bal, vice chairman and CEO of HBI, said: “HBI is currently on course for rapid expansion in existing and international markets including the Middle East, India, South Africa, and other significant markets worldwide. As a home-grown success story out of Dubai, HBI is moving into new locations that have tremendous potential through alliances with strong partners, in line with its vision to become a world leader in the multi-brand ethnic restaurant industry. As a UAE-based company that is expanding internationally, the company is focusing on franchising and joint venture partnerships to gain greater market penetration in key strategic regions”.

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 restaurant), Chinese (Magic Wok), Italian (Santino’s), Thai (Sala Thai) and Japanese (Sugoi!) cuisines, which reflect the flavours and cultures of the countries they represent.

However, with the quick-service dinning concept proving hugely successful, HBI began exploring other food service formats, and eventually identified a highly promising area – the Casual Dining Restaurant (CDR) sector, where customers could enjoy eating out in relaxed contemporary surroundings to savour innovative high quality food.

The first casual dining restaurant, Pane Caldo formerly, Santino’s Bistro Italiano, opened at Jawharat A'Shati complex in Muscat, Oman in June 2005 while the second casual dining concept, Haru (Japanese Robatayaki Cuisine) opened in the Green Community West, Dubai in April 2006. A third CDR concept, Da Shi Dai, serving authentic Chinese cuisine opened at Uptown Mirdiff in June this year. Uptown Mirdiff is also home to another Pane Caldo restaurant that was opened in June. --TradeArabia News Service