From 18th to 20th June, the Foodservice Expo will be held in the Pedregal Event Center in Costa Rica.
From information published by Expo Hotels & Restaurants (Exphore):
The Expo Hotels and Restaurants (Exphore), has become the best choice for suppliers and customers to meet in Central America.
Exphore, the exhibition which brings together providers in the hospitality sector in Costa Rica and Central America, will hold its 13th edition with a growth of 30%, ensuring that visitors will find even more products and business opportunities.
The American coffee and donuts chain will open 4 new stores in the Guatemalan capital with an investment of $3 million.
They will open a flagship outlet on the Paseo Miraflores in the Guatemalan capital. They will also open three more stores in the capital: one in the Miraflores Mall, area 11, another in the Portales shopping complex in zone 17 and one on 7th Avenue in Zone 9.
Within its expansion plans in the region the multinational has announced the opening of 50 new stores over the next three years.
Without having yet determined the location of the branches, the company held an employment fair in Guatemala to recruit for the new restaurants.
"The director of Human Resources at McDonald's Mesoamerica, Patricia Cofino, explained that those interested in working in this area, even if they don’t have any experience, can start being trained with a degree in Hamburgerology. After two years of this course they can go to the University of Chicago to get a degree in Restaurant Management," reported Siglo21.com.gt
The Guatemalan chain has announced its expansion plans for 2012, with the opening of eight new stores in Guatemala and their foray into the Salvadoran market.
Walter de la Cruz, general manager of the chain said the projected investment is $1.4 million.
"By 2012 the firm's goal is to have 32 stores nationwide, and also activate international expansion, so the second half of the year could see the opening of its first store in El Salvador", published Siglo21.com.gt.
In Guatemala and throughout Central America the opening of franchise restaurant chains continues to increase.
In the coming months 7 new franchise restaurants will open in Guatemala, including the return of the U.S. firm Dunkin Donuts. Currently there are 200 franchises operating nationwide restaurant, of which 75% are U.S. companies
The CEO of the Corporation of Franchises (Francorp), Jose Fernandez, told Siglo21.com.gt that Guatemala "has become fertile ground for the industry, with something for every taste and sector. Fernandez says brands have been found in the franchise model a safe route for expansion. "
The new store will open in late September and will be the fifth by the chain in Central America.
The 270 square meter store will be located in Oakland Mall and will create 30 jobs.
'On 19 March the chain opened it’s his first branch in the country, located in the Pradera Concepción shopping center, and also recently opened the third Starbucks branch in San Salvador in the Galeries shopping center", writes Byron Dardón in Prensalibre.com
The fast food chain Dairy Queen has announced it will open 15 stores in Guatemala.
In a press release, the company stated it has signed a franchise agreement with Grupo Buen Rollo, to open 15 stores by 2015.
According to plans, the first restaurant will be opened in Guatemala City in October 2011.
Dairy Queen is owned by Berkshire Hathaway, and already has 11 stores in Panama, while Buen Rollo Group operates more than 60 food outlest in Central America, Mexico and Colombia.
With the participation of 222 stands, and more than 6,000 products, the ‘Feria Alimentaria’ (Food Fair) 2011 will be taking place in Guatemala until 27 July.
Salvador Contreras, president of the fair’s organizing committee, said they expect some 12 thousand people to visit the event, which is being held at the Hotel Tikal Futura.
"The goal of this activity is to raise the profile and quality of professionals, fostering innovation and creativity in cooking practices in the Central American and Caribbean region.
The country has become the largest market for franchising in the region, with sales of $300 million annually.
Of all the franchises operating in the country, who together generate about 525,000 direct jobs, 65 are national chains and of these, some already have a presence in other countries such as Pollo Campero, and La Holandesa among others.
Ramon Hernandez, president of the Guatemalan Association of Franchises (AGF), noted that "for this year (2011) we expect the arrival of eight foreign franchises which are currently in negotiations with local partners, without revealing brands or dates", reported Batres Alexis in her article in Elperiodico.com.gt.
The numerous companies competing in the market now have a new competitor, Pollo Granjero.
The new brand, owned by Multiinversiones, has begun its expansion in the market, offering ".. a quick, good quality and affordable option ..." in the words of Rodrigo Del Cid, marketing the company’s manager.
Since 2008, another strong competitor is Pollo Pinulito, with a total of one hundred branches throughout the country.
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Organization that operates in Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama
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The Guatemalan Italian food chain announced expansion plans for the second half of 2011 in Honduras and El Salvador.
Francisco Fajardo, manager of the franchise said that they are in the process of analyzing the logistics of supplying ingredients either by creating a distribution center in each country or by sending them from Guatemala.
"In some restaurants we will have a joint venture and in other we will work thorough a franchise program," Waleska Zimeri, marketing manager at Al Macarone, told Prensalibre.com.