Cravia, a name that is fast becoming synonymous with good taste and world class hospitality in the region said it has appointed Louay Ghandour as its new deputy CEO.

The company, parent of 30 stores across the UAE including Cinnabon, Seattle’s Best Coffee, Zaatar W Zeit and the soon to be launched Roadster diner said Ghandour, who has more than 10 years of experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry in the region and beyond, will add a new dimension to the operations.

Ghandour’s career began in the USA in 1992, which gave him the ideal foundation for his stint at the multinational Pizza Hut in Kuwait where his job involved managing a large team, direct control of sales, key business expansion moves and extensive feasibility studies.

’We are very pleased to welcome Ghandour to the Cravia family,’ said Walid Hajj, CEO of Cravia.

’We have big plans for the region in the near future, and Ghandour will be an integral part of those plans,’ he added.

Formerly known as United Restaurant Development, Cravia is the parent company of fifteen Cinnabon; eight Seattle’s Best Coffee and seven Zaatar W Zeit outlets.

Among its ambitious plans for the future is the launch of the Roadster diner, the American style restaurant that will serve up mouth watering burgers, homemade desserts and lots more.

Cravia also plans to unveil a further 19 outlets in 2008, which will significantly increase its reach across the UAE.

Plans are afoot to bring a new franchisee into the UAE before mid 2009, and ambitions to go public or align with a strategic partner are also on the table. - TradeArabia News service