The Durban-based Spur Group has announced plans to expand into the Gulf region, a market that is becoming attractive to an increasing number of South African fast-food chain restaurants.
Pierre van Tonder, managing director of Spur, announced that the company would open its first restaurant in Kuwait in mid-2008. He said Spur had been approached by companies from the region, and discussions had been taking place for some time.
“There is growth potential in that market if you have the right partners. We have been eyeing that region for some time now and we are actually disappointed that we have not opened a store there yet,” said Van Tonder.
He said the company was finalising the deal and the location of the store. Other Spur restaurants would be opened in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in about two years’ time.
“Most of the things will be done by the locals. That is why we have a [local] partner … but there will be some stuff that we will export to them,” Van Tonder said.
Spur joins South African chicken purveyors Nando’s and Mugg & Bean, which already have a presence in the UAE.
Nando’s was the first South Africa-based chain to enter the region, in 2005, after setting up shop in Oman. Since then it has opened 13 restaurants in Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Bahrain, the UAE and Kuwait.
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