Alghanim Industries and The Wendy’s Company have announced the first Wendy’s restaurant in Kuwait.
The restaurant will open by mid-December on Blajat Street in Salmiya, with seating for 68 inside, and for 60 outside. Open daily from 7am – 3am, it will offer a drive-through and delivery service.
The Kuwait location comes as part of last year’s strategic collaboration between the two companies to expand the hamburger company across the MENA region.
Omar Kutayba Alghanim, CEO of Alghanim Industries commented: “After more than a year’s partnership with Wendy’s, this much is clear: people in the MENA region love this restaurant. Our first location in Kuwait – and our broader expansion plans – should be taken as a sign of our commitment to bringing Wendy’s to as many people in Kuwait and across the region as possible. Our customers are clamoring for more restaurant locations, and we are excited to provide them.”
Bob Wright, executive vice president, chief operations officer and international for The Wendy’s Company, added: “We are delighted that the Wendy’s brand will now be in the home country of Alghanim Industries in Kuwait. We look forward to working closely with the team in Kuwait to grow the Wendy’s brand, bring new jobs to the country and continue to build on our growth in the region.”
Phil Broad, VP of food and beverage at Alghanim Industries, commented: “We are hugely excited to be opening in Kuwait and enabling our customers to enjoy the great tasting, high quality food and welcoming environment for which Wendy’s is famous. As with all Wendy’s restaurants our Kuwait operation will use the freshest ingredients and food made to order providing a quality customer experience from start to finish.”
Wendy’s currently has 17 UAE restaurants in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, and in June, Alghanim Industries announced plans to expand the brand into Saudi Arabia in 2017.
The Wendy’s-Alghanim Industries collaboration has seen investment in existing restaurants, new products and policy changes.
Alghanim Industries has refurbished four locations and opened three new ones in the UAE.
Wendy’s has launched new products, conducted staff training and has improved the quality of food and ingredients used, including a move to 100% Angus beef for all its burgers.
The signature Wendy’s burger, Dave’s Hot N Juicy will be renamed to Dave’s Single, Double or Triple depending on size.
Alghanim has also increased maternity leave benefits in a move to attract more women to the workplace and make Wendy’s and Alghanim Industries more competitive employers.
The Wendy’s Company is a key part of Alghanim Industries’ Food and Beverage portfolio, which launched in 2013 with the acquisition of Costa Coffee in Kuwait.
Outside F&B, Alghanim partners with global brands, including American Express, British Petroleum, Colgate-Palmolive, General Motors, Honda, Mars, Mondelez, Philips, Toshiba, Hitachi, and Whirlpool.
