US restaurant chain set to expand into region.
American IHOP restaurant chain, owned by DineEquity Inc., has announced plans to open 40 new IHOP restaurants in the Middle East with Kuwait-based franchiser M H Alshaya Co. Although no financial plans were disclosed, they did reveal that the new stores will be opening over 12 months in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Lebanon, Qatar, UAE, Oman, Bahrain and Egypt.
DineEquity also operates Applebee’s Neighbourhood Bar and Grill, and has been looking outside the US for opportunities to expand. It is set to also open stores in Puerto Rico, the US Virgin Islands and Guatemala with plan of opening around 55 to 65 new stores this year alone.
