Magnolia opens its biggest cupcake store in Qatar

Magnolia Bakery, the New York cupcake maker made famous by the US television series Sex and the City, on Wednesday opened its largest store in world the Qatari capital Doha, part of its expansion across the Middle East.

“We’re very excited to be opening our Doha store this Wednesday, January 16. The store is located in the Dar Al Salam mall in Doha Qatar,” the company said on its website.

Bobbie Lloyd, Magnolia Bakery’s President and 'Chief Baking Officer' said her team has “been busy teaching our Qatar team how to make our handmade baked goods, ice cupcakes using our “signature swirl” and decorating the store”.

The iconic New York City bakery lauded for launching the "cupcake craze", opened its first overseas outlet in Bloomingdales Dubai in 2010. It is planning to ramp up its global expansion and is eyeing 120 stores worldwide over the next five years.

The brand, known for its classic American desserts, will remain focused on its current menu, while developing a few specific items for each culture, Steve Abrams, owner and CEO of Magnolia Bakery, said.

In addition to the Doha store, the company currently has eight locations worldwide, including five in New York and one each in Chicago, Los Angeles and Dubai.

As part of its global expansion, it is has signed deals to open franchises in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and Lebanon and is planning to open cupcake stores in the UK, Japan, Brazil, Jordan and Morocco.