Max’s expands Yellow Cab in ME

Leading local casual dining chain operator Max’s Group Inc. (MGI) has inked a deal to expand the footprint of its pizza brand Yellow Cab in the Middle East in line with the group’s global expansion program.

MGI recently sealed a development agreement with Silver Group to establish at least 22 Yellow Cab Pizza stores across Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman within five years beginning January 2017.

“We are pleased with the opportunity to further expand our presence in the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) region. Our international business has been scaling up quite aggressively with Yellow Cab Pizza emerging as the most coveted brand. We are optimistic in sustaining this pace as we possess the necessary structure and support systems to fuel overseas growth through franchising,” MGI president and chief executive officer Robert Trota said in a disclosure to the Philippine Stock Exchange on Monday.

This was the seventh overseas franchise contract forged by MGI for 2016, translating to a total international pipeline of 153 outlets slated to open in the coming years.

“Silver Group pioneered our pizza offerings in this territory. We appreciate their continued trust and for sharing our vision of Yellow Cab Pizza as a global mainstream brand. Together, we are confident of replicating our earlier success in Qatar into surrounding nations,” Trota added.

“Silver Group greatly values the partnership and mutual success. Therefore, it was one of our great achievements to have an agreement with MGI to operate Yellow Cab in Kuwait, Bahrain and Oman as we believe in the brand potential in these markets after the achieved results in Qatar. It is our commitment to deliver the best possible customer experience and great quality pizza in the Gulf region,” said Silver Group chief executive officer Abdulrahman Al-Kaabi.

Yellow Cab is among the four restaurant brands that MGI plans to bring to overseas locations, along with Max’s, Pancake House and Teriyaki Boy.  While the Max’s brand is more targeted to areas with big concentration of overseas Filipinos, Yellow Cab, Pancake House and Teriyaki Boy can be introduced to the general market.

This homegrown pizza brand currently operates a network of 145 branches including seven franchised outlets located in Qatar, one in United Arab Emirates and two in China. Plans are underway to open flagship stores in Singapore, Hawaii, Jordan and Egypt.