Gourmet Gulf Company expands brand portfolio with California Pizza Kitchen Gourmet Gulf

To this end, the company has recently inked a development agreement with California Pizza Kitchen, Inc.

In his comments, Sami Daud, Chief Executive Officer of Gourmet Gulf Company, said: 'The launch of California Pizza Kitchen is a significant milestone for Gourmet Gulf Company and a pivotal step forward in enhancing our brand portfolio of casual dining restaurants.

Opportunities in the F&B realm remain robust; driven by an increasing population that is diverse and in seek of dining varieties and options. Antonio Bautista, President of Gourmet Gulf Company adds: 'We have singled out California Pizza Kitchen because it is well established with a best-in-class operational model that allows us to confidently introduce the brand in the region.'

Rick Rosenfield, co-founder and co-CEO of California Pizza Kitchen, said: 'With a vibrant economy and impressive GDP growth year-on-year, the UAE is a natural choice for our strategic growth plan.'

Larry Flax, co-founder and co-CEO of California Pizza Kitchen, added: 'This agreement allows us to bring our California-style pizzas to a new audience not only the UAE, but to people from all over the Gulf and Middle East.' Headquartered in Dubai, Gourmet Gulf Company is a regional restaurant holding group that owns and manages concept brands bearing the hallmark values of superior quality food and memorable dining experiences.

Its brand portfolio includes YO! Sushi, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, Morelli's Gelato, and now California Pizza Kitchen. The group is led by its 'founder and CEO' Sami Daud, and Antonio Bautista, the 'President and COO'. California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., 1985, is a leading casual dining chain that is home of the original BBQ Chicken Pizza and innovative hearth-baked pizzas.

The brand has made successful forays in China, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Mexico, South Korea and Indonesia. Of its 234 restaurants, 198 are company-owned and 36 operate under franchise or license agreements. The company currently manages YO! Sushi, Gourmet Burger Kitchen, and Morelli's Gelato. Gourmet Gulf Company is dedicated to establishing premium, best-in-class casual dining restaurant brands and cutting edge concepts from across the globe to regional markets.

The team comprises highly qualified, senior operators and is designed to cater for massive growth and simultaneous operations across the region and beyond. About California Pizza Kitchen California Pizza Kitchen, Inc., 1985, is a leading casual dining chain. Of the chain's 234 restaurants, 198 are company-owned and 36 operate under franchise or license agreements. There are currently 19 restaurants located internationally in China, Japan, Philippines, Malaysia, Singapore, Mexico, South Korea and Indonesia.

There are 25 CPK ASAP locations, 9 of which are company-owned and 16 are franchised. Also included in the company's portfolio of concepts is LA Food Show Grill & Bar, which currently has one location in Manhattan Beach, California.

The company's full-service restaurants feature an imaginative line of hearth-baked pizzas, including the original BBQ Chicken Pizza, and a broad selection of distinctive pastas, salads, soups, appetizers and sandwiches. The company also has a licensing arrangement with Kraft Pizza Company, which manufactures and distributes a line of California Pizza Kitchen premium frozen pizzas.

Children who dine at California Pizza Kitchen choose from an extensive menu, recently named 'The Best Kids Menu in America' by Restaurant Hospitality Magazine. For further information, please contact: Ahmed Sadek Director of Sales and Marketing Tel: +971 4 393 2646 Hanieh Shekarriz Account Executive, BPG Public Relations Phone: +971 (4) 295 3456 Ext.

153 Mob: +971 (50) 538 2136 Posted by Medilyn Manibo, Assistant News Editor Tuesday, April 08 - 2008 at 15:28 UAE local time (GMT+4) Replication or redistribution in whole or in part is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of AME Info FZ LLC Emap Communications.

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