Now in five countries including the UK, Egyptian coffee bar chain Cilantro has been described by a major international competitor as “the best homegrown concept I’ve ever seen.” Bruce Whitehall talks to general manager Nadine Beshir about the chain’s colourful format, nurturing approach to staff and customers, and the impact of the Arab Spring. Beshir also describes Cairo Kitchen, which hopes to put Egyptian koshari food on the international map. | more |
Now with 212 outlets in 20 countries, the family-owned Schärf Group has drawn on its Viennese heritage, plus expertise in coffee-maker manu - facture, roasting and shop design, to create an interesting variation on the Italian theming which has tended to dominate international coffee bar branding. Bruce Whitehall talks to CEO Reinhold Schärf about franchising, training, technology, corporate culture and other challenges. |
more |
Now operating six brands in eight countries – including this year’s acquisition of Spain’s Restauravia – Poland-based AmRest gained early scale in the emergent Eastern Europe market of the early 1990s. US-bornco-founder and CEO Henry McGovern attributes the group’s growth to a unifying, ‘anything is possible’ culture, clearly focused core values, aggressive targets and devolved operational structures. |
more |
TGI Friday’s brought new levels of guest experience and interaction to European casual dining when it opened in the UK in the mid-1980s. But it has been a challenge to maintain the brand’s high-energy allure. Backto- basics is the turnround strategy being successfuly applied by managing director Karen Forrester. Interview by Bruce Whitehall |
more |
|
