Landmark Hospitality Acquires Middle East Franchise of UK-based Candy Cakes

• Candelite to Create Region's Widest Network of Specialty Cupcake and Cake Outlets

Dubai-UAE: 04 September, 2013 – Candelite, a leading specialty confectionery concept and a division of Landmark Hospitality, has entered into an exclusive franchise agreement with the UK-based cupcake specialist, Candy Cakes.

Offering a signature range of colorful and customizable cakes and cupcakes, the concept has commenced operations in five stores across the UAE, with plans to expand the network across 13 locations in the UAE by mid-2014. The brand also aims to invest US$10 million to grow the network across the GCC.

Sanjay Bahl, COO, Landmark Hospitality, made the announcement at an event held today at the Landmark Hospitality offices in Oasis Centre.

According to research by Euromonitor International, the Middle East confectionary market has been enjoying a 20 per cent year-on-year growth over the past few years and is predicted to continue at the same rate until 2015 on the back of sustained demand for the sweet treats in the region.

Manish Jeswani, Business Head, Candelite, said: “The Candelite experience is dedicated to infusing ‘fun' into the lives of our customers and we believe that the integration of Candy Cakes into our brand adds a unique offering to our growing confectionery portfolio.

“An extremely popular format in the UK, Candy Cakes is a fresh take on cupcakes and it is our endeavor to make this delightful concept even more accessible to cake lovers. Bringing Candy Cakes on board marks Candelite's foray into fresh foods and cupcakes, and also marks a significant milestone in terms of business growth.''

With flexible formats ranging from approximately 50 sq ft - 500 sq ft in retail area, Candy Cakes offers over 15 varieties of standard cupcakes that can be tailor-made to individual preferences at price points ranging from AED12 for basic cupcakes to AED30 for customized options. Candy Cakes is also set to add sugar-free and gluten-free versions of its products to its exhaustive range.

In an effort to engage with the community, Candy Cakes has lined up a number of initiatives including in-store activities, school outreach programs, and upcoming festivity celebrations to support its launch.

Michael Thomaides, founder of Candy Cakes, said: “The Middle East demonstrates enormous potential as a key market for our concept to expand in. The opportunity to forge a relationship with a large and established conglomerate such as the Landmark Group and a specialized concept like Candelite is something that we are incredibly excited about.''

Established in 2006, Candy Cakes was conceptualized on a dream to bring something special and innovative to the café and cake world. Complete with eye-popping icing colors and elaborate edible toppers, the mouthwatering novelty cakes, offered by the UK-based cupcake giant, perfectly compliment any celebration or mood.