For Immediate Release:
August 19, 2008
VAPIANO CLOSES MUTLI-UNIT DEAL BRINGING NEW LOCATIONS TO MICHIGAN AND ATLANTA
Award Winning Concept Will Add Two More States to Its Worldwide Repertoire
Washington, D.C., August 19, 2008— Blake Kolo finalized a multi-unit deal with Vapiano that will bring three new locations to Detroit, Michigan and Atlanta, Georgia metro areas. Vapiano, a modern fresh casual restaurant, was just named one of 2008’s ‘Hot Concepts!’ by Nation’s Restaurant News and received the European Hot Concept Award from Food Service Europe & Middle East in 2006. Vapiano currently has four U.S. locations open in Washington, DC and Ft. Myers, Florida along with over 30 restaurants worldwide.
“I was traveling overseas on business and kept hearing great things about Vapiano,” says Kolo, “I went to a couple different locations and it was always packed. It has an amazing atmosphere unlike any I have experienced in the U.S.”
Kolo, a successful CPA from Detroit, Michigan, will work alongside a group of business leaders with a wide array of professional expertise on their first venture in the restaurant business. They hope to open the first restaurant within the next eight to ten months in the Detroit metro area. They are looking at Buckhead, Midtown and Virginia Highlands, Atlanta as possible locations for the following two openings.
On the concept’s worldwide success, Kolo says, “When I experienced Vapiano in Europe, I immediately knew it would be a success in the U.S. The concept is truly unique and I believe it will continue to grow at a rapid rate as more locations open.”
Vapiano plans to open over 80 new restaurants in the next four to eight years, expanding its presence in North America, Eastern Europe and the Middle East. Less than one year ago the company launched its operations to the U.S., opening a head office in McLean, Virginia and three restaurants in the metropolitan Washington, D.C. area. Vapiano plans to open a fourth restaurant in downtown Washington, D.C. in September 2008. Vapiano opened its first Florida location in Ft. Myers in July. At only five years old, the young company is preparing to triple in size.
Currently Vapiano International operates nearly 35 restaurants in nine countries and expects to open 20 new locations by the end of 2008. In the U.S. alone the company has completed development franchise contracts for six stores in Southwest Florida, ten in Dallas, three in Boston and recently closed a deal for three stores in Detroit, Michigan and Atlanta, Georgia. New international restaurants are already in the making throughout Estonia, South Poland, Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Serbia, Croatia, Hungary, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Slovenia, UAE, Lebanon, Egypt, Bahrain, Omar and Qatar. International locations already in operation include 21 in Germany and one in Belgium, Estonia, London, The Netherlands, Austria, Sweden, Switzerland and Turkey.
Vapiano recently appeared in Fast Casual Magazine’s list of ‘Movers and Shakers,’ while Kent Hahne was named a finalist for CMO of the Year by Booz Allen Hamilton in 2007.
About Vapiano:
Vapiano is an innovative European concept serving made-to-order fire roasted pizzas, fresh, house-made pasta and hand tossed gourmet salads. Vapiano continues to garner global attention for their approach to dining – dishes are prepared at high temperature exhibition style wok stations, fresh herbs adorn each table and a unique Microsoft chip card payment system rounds out each diner’s ultra-modern experience. The restaurant’s innovative, self-service technology and unmistakable upscale décor has created a huge customer fan base and helped fuel the company’s worldwide expansion. Restaurants are 5,000-8,000 square feet, seat 150 or so guests and have a blended check average of about $13.50 per guest.
For information on franchising with Vapiano please visit www.vapiano.com or contact Alexandra Doyle at alexandrad@fransmart.com or 703-837-5168.
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