IHOP plans to open its first location in Pakistan by the end of the year, part of the American pancake restaurant’s efforts to seek new revenue abroad.
The first branch will open in Karachi, and will be followed by 18 more across the country over the next nine years, parent Dine Brands Global Inc. said Monday. Nine of the franchises will be operated by Pakistan-based Gerry’s Group, and the rest will be sub-franchised.
After a couple of dismal years, the chain has rebounded recently under Dine Brands Chief Executive Officer Steve Joyce, who said in a statement that international development is a major component of the company’s return to growth.
IHOP, which was founded in 1958, has been a global brand since 1969. It already has a restaurant chains in India, Thailand and Guam as well as 11 other countries and Puerto Rico
“My commitment as CEO of Dine Brands Global was to return it to a growth company, and our international development is certainly a major component of that growth,” Chief Executive Officer of Dine Brands Global Steve Joyce said in a statement. “Key to our international strategy is identifying and entering new markets, such as Pakistan, that have a rapidly growing economy, are contiguous to existing markets to offer an economy of scale, and above all, have an appetite for IHOP’s unique guest experience of warm hospitality with world famous pancakes, breakfast and other menu items.
“The opportunity to partner with principals from Gerry’s Group as franchisees was also a major factor in our decision,” Joyce added. “Under their ownership, Gerry’s Group is an experienced, established company based in Pakistan with multinational experience across a broad number of industries as well as Food and Beverage, including operating and owning 40 Costa Coffee locations in the United Kingdom.”
Managing Director Gerry’s Group Akram Wali in a statement said, “We are delighted to be bringing the world famous American IHOP experience to our country and to our portfolio of successful companies.”
“While IHOP will be a new brand in Pakistan, there is already significant awareness of and excitement about IHOP and we look forward to the opening of our first location later this year,” Wali added.
