On the Move with Pinchos and Tapas

 
Four ethnic-cuisine fast-casual concepts, just under 400 outlets, around €200 m in sales: these are the hard facts of the Spanish Comess Group de Restauración. Despite the economic crisis, this franchise company is set on expansion – both nationally and internationally. The tapas formula Lizarrán is emerging particularly well, with initial try-outs in China and the USA.
 

 
As a recipe against the financial crisis the Spanish Comess Group de Restauración is banking on small snacks. On slices of baguette bread – the ‘foundation’ for often artistic, creatively tasty fillings, held together only by a toothpick: their name is pinchos. A traditional Northern Spanish snack. For lunchtime, evening, and in-between. With beer, with wine, hot or cold. And then there are tapas served in the homely ambience of a North Spanish tavern. The name of this concept – which appeals to all incomes and ages – is Lizarrán. At the moment, it is not only ready to travel, but, in difficult times like these, given its “variety in prices and products”, it is thoroughly exportable, says Manuel Robledo, President of the Comess Group de Restauración.
 

 
June 2008 saw the opening of this formula’s first outlet in the USA, in Fullerton, California. “At the moment we are the only Spanish company with franchise outlets there.” In November, the concept was launched in China, too, in a shopping centre in Shinzou. Lizarrán has been found in Andorra, Portugal and France for a long time (see box). Following a “fantastic launch” in the Far West and East, the system professionals are planning 30 further outlets in the United States over the next two to five years, though, given the proximity to Latin America, the potential “is more than ten times that.” Twenty more tapas bars are scheduled to join the network in China, five in Russia, and the Group is likewise looking to expand in France and Italy. The Group’s other brands are also set to develop further: there are plans to ‘grow’ the Mexican concept Cantina Mariachi by 5-6 outlets a year within Spain and to open further outlets in Russia (4), the Middle East (6) and Turkey (2). At present, a Master Franchisee is being sought for the UK – for both Lizarrán and the ‘fresh Mex casual & cantina bar’ concept. The Italian concept Pasta City is slated to increase by ten outlets a year within Spain, and Rock & Ribs (US food) by five. “There are strategic reasons why we shall be rolling out these concepts in the medium-term just nationally,” says Robledo.
 

 
www.comessgroup.com
 

 
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| 26 June 2009 |