17 - 23 February 2000

TGIF Malta franchise to extend operations to Tunisia

by Franco Aloisio

Sliema Fort Company Ltd, which operates the TGI Friday's (TGIF) restaurant in Sliema, will be extending its franchise operations to Tunisia and will be opening a total of five restaurants in the North African country.

The director of operations of Sliema Fort Company, Winston J. Zahra, said that a development agreement was signed recently between the company and Carlson Restaurants Worldwide, which owns the TGIF franchise.

By means of this agreement, Sliema Fort Company has been given exclusive rights over the three chains - TGIF, Italianni restaurants and Friday's American Bar - in Malta and Tunisia. The development agreement covers a total of 10 new establishments over the coming five years in the two countries, namely four Friday's American Bars, three Italianni and three TGIF restaurants.

Mr Zahra said that five establishments will be opened in Tunisia, and could include three TGIFs. However the company has not yet decided which restaurants will be opened in Tunisia.

The first Italianni restaurant in Malta will open next July beneath the TGIF restaurant at the Fortizza in Sliema. The first TGI Friday's opened in Malta more than a year ago.

Carlson Restaurants Worldwide Inc., headquartered in Dallas, is a global restaurant company and considered to be an important innovator in the development of emerging brands in both the casual and sophisticated dining segments.

Carlson Restaurants currently owns, operates and franchises more than 600 restaurants worldwide. The company's roots date back 34 years to the opening of the first TGI Friday's restaurant in New York.

Since then, Carlson Restaurants Worldwide has become worth more than US$1.5bn in revenues.