Queensland Crepe Cafe franchise stretches to Bahrain!

A Queensland-based fast-food franchise is heading to the Middle East.

Launched in 2001 on the Gold Coast, The Crepe Cafe will open Middle East’s first store in Bahrain in June this year. Chief executive officer Norbert Baillette talks about the company’s Mid East expansion saying:

“We’ve designed our product and franchise system so that it can be readily adapted and exported to anywhere in the world…Bahrain’s reputation as a modern Arabian Gulf state provides us with a fantastic opportunity to introduce The Crepe Cafe to the Middle East…It’s a growing travel destination with holidaymakers from Europe and I’m confident the store will be well received by both locals and travellers alike.”

The Crepe Cafe Group has focussed on fresh, healthy ingredients for made-to-order traditional savoury and sweet crepes, waffles and pancakes that can be served at breakfast lunch or dinner. In the French style, they are cooked quickly on a round griddle from batter of flour, eggs and milk, with no oils or butter, the crepes are cooked quickly, in front of the customer, creating a theatrical effect.

Over the next five years Baillette says he expects The Crepe Cafe to open 30 restaurants in Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Morocco and Tunisia.

“We expect our largest market with the most potential for expansion will be Saudi Arabia,” he says. “Shopping is a popular past-time for many Saudis and the group plans to take have a significant presence in shopping centres.”

I haven’t seen any Crepe Cafes in Victoria, though absolutely decades ago, in Fitzroy Street St Kilda, there was a similar sounding ‘hole in the wall’ (very French) called ‘La Creperie’. Love to hear from someone who knows the chain!