Bloomin’ Brands Inc. said it will expand its
global presence by opening 26 Outback Steakhouse and Abbraccio restaurants in
the Middle East over the next five years.
The company has six Abbraccio’s, the name used
outside the United States for Carrabba’s Italian Grill, in Brazil with more
scheduled to open by the end of the year, as well as five Outback Steakhouses
in Saudi Arabia and one in Qatar.
Bloomin’ Brands has secured two partnerships to develop its
restaurants in the Middle East. Through an agreement with SNASCO Trading
company, the organization will add 15 restaurants – eight Outback Steakhouses
and seven Abbraccio restaurants – in Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. The
second agreement with Al Majid Jawad will allow for 11 Outback Steakhouse
restaurants in the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman and Qatar.
“Accelerating international development is one of the
platforms we have identified for long-term sustainable growth,” Bloomin’ Brands CEO Liz Smith said. “These trusted business partners have appreciated the global
portability of our brands, and we look forward to their continued
expansion.”
