South African pizza chain eyes UAE expansion

Debonairs Pizza, a pizza franchisee from South Africa, has announced its expansion plans for the UAE retail market.

After the opening of a new restaurant at Dubai Marina, the pizza chain said it aims to open at least 15 outlets across the UAE in the next five years.

Mandeep Singh Pujji, managing director of Unitas Foods International, the master franchisee licence holder for Debonairs Pizza, said: "By the year end, we'll have two more restaurants in Dubai's Al Barsha and Arabian Ranches areas and within the next five years there be at least 15 more across the country."

He added that the company also has plans to further expand the pizza brand to other GCC countries and Asia.

"Having seen solid growth, success and profits within a quick time period, we are encouraged to offer more locations with different concepts therefore reaching a wider customer base," he said.

"We have been receiving queries from local businesses interested in taking the brand to various locations and thus starting March 2013, we are offering potential investors an opportunity to apply for franchisee operations," added Mandeep.

Debonairs Pizza currently has more than 500 outlets across the world.