Burgerfuel Ignites Usa Entry
BurgerFuel® has today announced that it has partnered with OhCal Foods LLC (OhCal) to spearhead the company’s entry into America.
OhCal is owned by the Grewal family who are based in Los Angeles, California, and service more than 2,100 SUBWAY® restaurant outlets in California, Virginia, Washington DC and most of Maryland. OhCal is a Development Agent for Doctor’s Associates Inc (DAI). DAI is the franchisor of the Subway® restaurants, the largest single brand restaurant chain in the world with over 43,000 franchised stores in more than 100 countries.
Since confirming its agreement with DAI’s affiliate, Franchise Brands, LLC (FB), last year, BurgerFuel® has been preparing for its US entry. DAI has developed the SUBWAY® brand utilising a Development Agent structure, whereby selected SUBWAY® restaurant developers, like OhCal, have the rights to develop SUBWAY® restaurants in specific territories. BurgerFuel’s objective is to work with those key and proven developers to roll out its brand utilising a similar structure.
BurgerFuel Chief Executive Officer, Josef Roberts, explains; “Following the deal last year, we set about studying what we recognised as the two key elements for our US expansion. The first was how best for us to maximise the Franchise Brands relationship, specifically the development machine behind SUBWAY®'s phenomenal growth. Secondly we wanted to understand the US landscape in as much detail as possible, before settling on a strategic entry plan, including selection of our first state and a refined BurgerFuel® model for this highly competitive, but potentially massive market”.
Roberts said that the Grewals were among the most highly regarded developers in the SUBWAY® restaurant world and that he was prepared to sacrifice some time in order to develop a relationship with them, with a view to forming a partnership. “I am delighted to say that has now occurred and that we are now working on site selection and all the other legal and administrative requirements for taking BurgerFuel® into the US”.
Hardy Grewal, the Founder of OhCal Foods LLC, comments; “BurgerFuel® is an exciting and unique concept and company. We think that with our local knowledge and development experience and BurgerFuel’s offer and brand, there is a lot of potential for us to make this another success story”.
Roberts said that he felt strongly aligned with the Grewals; “We are on the same page with our thinking and approach and that kind of bond is critical in any partnership”. He said that BurgerFuel® is now finalising their first US restaurant location.
BurgerFuel Worldwide (BFW) is a New Zealand gourmet burger concept with a presence in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Kuwait, New Zealand and Australia. BFW is listed on the New Zealand Stock Exchange (NZAX). BFW shares are currently trading at $2.88
