O’Briens set to begin German expansion

O’BRIENS Sandwich Bars is to launch a new franchise in Germany next month.

This follows recent openings of stores in Bahrain and China during the course of 2006.

Continued expansion is planned also in Ireland and Britain with more than 40 new outlets to be opened in the next 12 months.

O’Brien Sandwich Bars chairman, Brody Sweeney, said: “While we are continually looking at international growth based around countries where we already have existing business, it is exciting for us to be launching into a new territory.”

“Our German development agent is Irishman, Darragh Staunton, who will be spearheading growth across the country along with his two German partners, Bernd Meyer and Veikko Kellner, following the opening of the first outlet in the city of Augsburgin (60km north west of Munich) in March.

“They are planning to develop three pilot outlets in the first two years and we are delighted to be welcoming them to our international team,” he said.

The biggest outlet in Scotland was opened recently in Glasgow.

During 2006 sales grew by 17.5% for the sandwich bar company across all markets and a network turnover exceeding €100 million.