Gulfood 2016: EPPCO prepares to set up Paavo's outlets across the GCC Region

Company paths way to open 14 new outlets in the GCC market

Dubai, UAE, February 23, 2016:
EPPCO, the retail arm of Emirates National Oil Company (ENOC), has made significant investments to expand Paavo’s Pizza outlets to the GCC market. The pizza brand has been franchised from US-based Orion Food Systems. 

Maintaining momentum with the competitive UAE market, Paavo’s pizza is participating in the 21st edition of Gulfood and looking forward to increasing its regional exposure. 

Commenting at Gulfood Burhan Al Hashemi, Managing Director - EPPCO said “The Middle East is witnessing an incredible growth pace, and we are matching its progress. We are expecting a 75 percent growth rate in 2016, and estimated our revenue growth rate to be 120 percent. We are present across multiple locations and have more outlet openings in the pipeline. At the moment, we have eight outlets in Dubai, and planning on opening 14 new outlets in the GCC market. Gulfood is the perfect networking platform for us to meet with prospective franchisees and monetize opportunities in emerging markets.” 

Pushing for the title of making the ‘fastest pizza’ in five minutes, the company is scheduled to franchise 11 new outlets in the region by Q3 2016. Paavo’s Pizza is also an ideal franchise opportunity, with upscale setting and high-traffic patterns for all day parts. Paavo’s pizza, made from quality fresh ingredients provides a worthy option for professionals constantly on the move. 

The UAE F&B sector is resilient and is expected to grow at four percent annually, as per the KPMG Food and Beverage Survey. In 2015 the sector was valued at AED 42.9 billion, and is expected to grow to AED 48.5 billion by 2018. 

“To maintain the stride of the budding industry, we have a constantly growing team that has additions week on week. After opening eight outlets in eight months, we are considered the fastest growing chain in the United Arab Emirates. By the end of 2016, we are looking at opening multiple outlets in the region. We are currently present across eight locations in Dubai, and are working towards launching a new outlet in Abu Dhabi very soon”, added Al Hashemi. 

Paavo’s Pizza is the first pizza joint to introduce the concept of ‘five minute pizza’ in the UAE and the region. The pizza is baked and ready in no more than five minutes after customers choose their toppings. They have the option to customize their pizza by selecting any of the 30-odd toppings at their disposal.

The legacy of the brand can be traced back a 100 years, when Paavo migrated to the United States with his family. Back then, Paavo owned a local store and the residents of South Dakota would trade raw ingredients with Paavo in exchange for pizza.

Paavo’s Pizza is already present across eight locations in the UAE, with new outlets set to open in with new outlets set to open in Dubai, Abu Dhabi and Northern Emirates.