Bar B Q Plaza to fan out
Food Passion Co, the operator of Bar B Q Plaza and Joom Zap Hut restaurants, is gearing up to expand abroad, starting with Cambodia this year.
The goal is to make Bar B Q Plaza a regional restaurant brand by 2020.
The Thai company yesterday gave master franchise rights to Express Food Group (EFG), a restaurant franchise operator in Southeast Asia, for 10 years.
EFG will spend 150 million baht to open 10 Bar B Q Plaza outlets in Cambodia over the next five years and have 20 operating within a decade.
Food Passion ultimately plans to have 30 Bar B Q Plaza restaurants across Asean with sales of 600 million baht.
Chief engagement officer Chataya Supanpong said she is optimistic about turning Bar B Q Plaza into a regional food brand.
“We’re prepared to make our presence felt in Cambodia this year through the franchise platform,” she said.
“We have confidence in Cambodia’s potential thanks to the country’s growing GDP and middle-class, whose purchasing power is on the rise, along with their familiarity in terms of Thai culture and cuisine.”
Kevin Whitcraft, chief executive of EFG’s parent RMA Group, said the company hopes to enlarge its portfolio with a grill restaurant — the most popular segment in Cambodia.
“We chose Bar B Q Plaza because the outlet’s success in Thailand and efficient franchise system convinced us to introduce the dining experience it offers to Cambodian consumers,” he said.
Cambodia’s restaurant industry has seen steady growth, with market value reaching US$400 million (140 billion baht) in 2016.
Between 2,000-2,500 restaurants are registered with commerce officials in Cambodia, 1,000 of which are in Phnom Penh.