Leading hospitality investment and management firm Sunset Hospitality Group eyes tapping into the Saudi and UK markets in H2 2019, intending to open eight new venues before year-end, Invest-Gate reports.
As part of the group’s expansion plans, New York’s burger joint Black Tap will launch in KSA’s Riyadh and Jeddah, besides another branch in Erbil, Iraq, during the second half of 2019. Also, Ammos Greek Restaurant and Azure Beach Club, currently operating at Rixos Premium Dubai JBR, will make debut in Saudi Arabia, Sunset Hospitality said in a press release on July 17.
Additionally, Bahrain will welcome the acclaimed Stage Nightclub. As for the UK market, the company is expected to set foot with the opening of fried chicken brand Sweet Chick in Central London in Q4 2019. In total, the new additions will boost its current portfolio from 16 to 24 outlets, according to the statement.
Hailing the expansions, CEO of Sunset Hospitality Antonio Gonzalez noted, “With 29 mn residents and an annual potential growth rate of 3.3%, Saudi Arabia has the largest population in the GCC and is a great market to tap into, particularly its youth population who continue to become increasingly open to western consumer trends.”
Stressing that the kingdom tops the list when it comes to Middle East investments, Gonzalez elaborated, “At the same time, our aim is to enter new markets such as the UK, with one outlet opening in 2019 and an additional two in 2020, as well as Central Europe, following the success of our first opening in Switzerland.”
At the moment, the company operates in Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Kuwait, Bahrain, and Geneva, having reported considerable growth in business performance in 2019 versus the previous year, with plans to expand further in these regions.
“In October, Sunset Hospitality will launch its latest concept Mood – Rooftop Lounge, in Dubai. The group is still eyeing the UAE market for further expansion and has plans to introduce new brands as well as open additional outlets in 2020,” the statement concluded.