Al Farooj Fresh
{{infobox company
| name = Al Farooj Fresh
| logo = Image:Al Farooj Fresh.JPG
| type = Subsidiary
| genre =
| foundation = {{Start date and age|1994}}
| founder =
| location = United Arab Emirates
| key_people =
| industry = Fast food
| products =
| revenue =
| num_employees =
| parent = Al Islami Foods
}}
Al Farooj Fresh is an international chain of fast food restaurants based in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).{{cite news|url= http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=41320967 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120910231656/http://investing.businessweek.com/research/stocks/private/snapshot.asp?privcapId=41320967 |url-status= dead |archive-date= September 10, 2012 |title=Al Farooj Fresh|work=businessweek.com|publisher=Business Week|accessdate=2009-05-16}} Al Farooj Fresh was the first fast-casual restaurant chain in the UAE to offer foods such as shawarma sandwiches and chicken meals.{{cite news|url=http://www.gulfnews.com/business/General/10192761.html|title=New restaurant chain promotes halal fast-food|last=Fenton|first=Suzanne|date=February 25, 2008|work=gulfnews.com|publisher=Gulf News|accessdate=2009-05-16|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080907021443/http://www.gulfnews.com/business/General/10192761.html|archive-date=September 7, 2008|url-status=dead|df=mdy-all}}{{Clarify|date=May 2009}}
Al Farooj Fresh is a wholly owned subsidiary of Al Islami Foods, a company that provides halal food products, and has 18 branches worldwide, including 14 in the UAE, 1 in Oman and 2 in Lebanon.{{cite news|url=http://www.albawaba.com/en/business,Retail_and_Services/242126 |title=Al Farooj Restaurant invests Dhs8 million into UAE expansion |date=March 17, 2009 |work=albawaba.com |publisher=Al Bawaba |accessdate=2009-05-16 }}{{dead link|date=June 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}
History
Al-Farooj Fresh was founded by a Lebanese family in 1994, with the first branch opening in Sharjah, United Arab Emirates, that year. By 2006, the chain had expanded to a total of eight branches.{{cite web|url=http://www.alfarooj.com/|title=History and Expansion|work=alfarooj.com|publisher=Al Farooj|accessdate=2009-05-16}}
On February 25, 2006, at the Gulfood Exhibition held at the Dubai International Convention & Exhibition Centre, it was announced that Al Farooj was acquired by the Mohammed Bin Rashid Establishment for Young Business Leaders,{{Citation needed|date=May 2009}} an organisation launched in 2002 to encourage and facilitate the development of business and entrepreneurial activity among UAE nationals.{{cite web|url=http://www.smeawards.ae/english/index.html|title=Mohammed Bin Rashid awards|work=smeawards.ae|publisher=SME Awards|accessdate=2009-05-16|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20090426032642/http://smeawards.ae/english/index.html|archivedate=26 April 2009|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}} After Al Islami's final approval of the franchisee selection, the establishment worked jointly with Al Islami to introduce the concept to UAE entrepreneurs.{{Citation needed|date=July 2022}}
In February 2008, Al Islami acquired majority shares of the Al Farooj restaurant chain, relaunching the franchise later that month with plans to expand operations to serve the Middle Eastern market.{{cite journal | title = What's new in your industry: Food, beverages and tobacco: UAE | date = March 16, 2008 | journal = Business Middle East | volume = 16 | issue = 6 | page = 7 }} Coinciding with the relaunch of Al Farooj Fresh, Al Islami announced plans to unveil their hospitality arm, of which Al Farooj Fresh was a major part of the portfolio, along with Al Islami Cart, Al Islami Meat Shops and several food products.{{cite web|url=http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data/business/2008/February/business_February677.xml§ion=business&col=|title=Al Islami Foods set to unveil hospitality arm|date=February 23, 2008|work=khaleejtimes.com|publisher=Khaleej Times|accessdate=2009-05-16|archive-date=2011-06-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110608203813/http://www.khaleejtimes.com/DisplayArticleNew.asp?xfile=data%2Fbusiness%2F2008%2FFebruary%2Fbusiness_February677.xml§ion=business&col=|url-status=dead}} The company's expansion continued into 2009, with Al Islami revealing that they would be expanding the Al Farooj chain to 17 branches with an investment of DHS 8 million (appx $2.2 million), providing them with 17 branches worldwide consisting of 14 in the UAE, 1 in Oman and 2 in Lebanon., and Kuwait.
References
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External links
- [http://www.alfarooj.com/ Official Website]
Category:Restaurant chains in the United Arab Emirates
Category:Restaurants established in 1994
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