Ireland's fast food giant signs deal for 200 UK outlets
Ireland's largest fast-food franchise, Abrakebabra, has signed an agreement to open 200 kebab outlets in the UK over the next five years.
Following a franchise agreement with UK company AKA UK Group, the company announced that its first UK outlet would open in Northampton in July 2004, followed by outlets in Banbury and Bedford.
AKA UK plans to open five outlets itself in the first year, building to 60 outlets in five years. A further 140 outlets will be opened by licensed partners nationwide.
Patrick Leahy, chief executive of AKA UK, said he was investing an initial sum of £500,000, and expected to generate sales of more than £1m in the first year.
The brand, which sells kebabs, burgers, chicken sandwiches and baguettes, was launched in Dublin in 1982 by managing director Graeme Beere and is owned by music promoter Denis Desmond. It now has 59 operations across Ireland, four in Bahrain and two in Spain.