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German Doner Kebab

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This article is about the kebab shop chain. For doner kebabs in Germany, see Doner kebab § Germany.
German Doner Kebab (GDK)
IndustryFast casual kebab restaurant
Founded2013; 11 years ago (2013)
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Headquarters
Glasgow, Scotland
,
United Kingdom (2017–)
Area served
  • Canada
  • Saudi Arabia
  • Sweden
  • United Arab Emirates
  • United Kingdom
  • United States
Key people
  • Simon Wallis (CEO)
  • Dr Thorsk Westphal (CMO)
  • Deon Pillay (CPO)
ProductsKebab
OwnerHero Brands (2017–)
Websitegermandonerkebab.com
Footnotes / references
[1][2]

German Doner Kebab (GDK) is a fast casual kebab chain, specialising in German doner kebabs, owned by Hero Brands since 2017. Tracing its heritage to a restaurant in Berlin, Germany in 1989, the first site opened in Dubai, United Arab Emirates in 2013, the company was purchased with a majority share in 2017 by the Sarwar family (Hero Brands) and moved its headquarters to Glasgow, Scotland.

The company operates more than 160[3] restaurants throughout the United Kingdom, Sweden, North America and the Middle East.

History and operations

[edit]

The company is owned by with a majority share by Hero Brands, based in Glasgow, Scotland, which also owns Hawaiian food brand Island Poké and salad restaurant Choppaluna.[4]

As of January 2024, the chain operates in six countries; the United Kingdom, United Arab Emirates, Sweden, Canada, United States, and Saudi Arabia.[5]

The company can trace its heritage to a restaurant in Berlin, Germany in 1989.[6][7][8] It developed its offering over the following decade, until Farshad Abbaszadeh launched the first "Doner Kebab" franchise in Dubai in 2013.[9][10] It then opened its first UK restaurant in 2015, expanding to seven by the end of 2017.[11][8] In 2014, the franchise won the award "Best UAE Franchise Brand" at the 2014 MENAFA Excellence awards in Dubai.[12]

In 2016, while on holiday in Dubai, Athif Sarwar, came across the franchise and was later granted development rights to the franchise in the UK. Sarwar later purchased the international rights to the brand from Farshad Abbaszadeh, CEO and Founder of German Doner Kebab.[8][13]

The chain was then bought by the Sarwar Family in 2017, which moved its headquarters to Glasgow, Scotland, in the United Kingdom.[7][11]

In July 2022, Imran Sayeed, chief executive, expressed his desire for the company to be made public and listed on the New York Stock Exchange in the following three to five years, as the chain sees North America as its "next growth engine".[14]

In March 2023, Simon Wallis was appointed chief executive replacing Imran Sayeed, with Robin Caley as chief development officer.[2]

United Kingdom

[edit]

GDK's first store in the United Kingdom, was opened on 6 July 2015, on Bull Street in Birmingham, England.[15][16]

In May 2019, it was estimated that the chain served £1 million worth of kebabs in its restaurants in the UK every week. GDK also announced their plan to open a new restaurant every two weeks for the remainder of 2019 as part of a "relentless UK growth" plan.[17][18][19]

In September 2019, GDK's Fulham Broadway site was classed as London's number one place to eat on Tripadvisor.[20][21]

In October 2020, it had 47 restaurants, with hopes by the company to open a further 12 by the end of 2020.[22] In December 2020, its Peterborough new restaurant marked its 50th UK restaurant.[23]

In February 2021, the chain announced its plan to open 47 restaurants by the end of 2021 in the UK.[24][25] It opened 39 new restaurants in the UK in 2021, adding to their pre-existing 52 restaurants at the start of 2021.[26][27]

In February 2022, the company announced its plan to open 78 more restaurants in the UK in 2022, bringing their total to 170 restaurants in the UK. Adding 2,900 workers to their 3,500 workforce at the time in the UK.[26][28][29][30][31]

The chain opened their 100th UK restaurant at their Covent Garden, London site on 10 May 2022.[32][33]

In June 2022, Atul Pathak, former owner of the largest McDonald's franchise in the UK of 43 restaurants, announced a partnership with GDK, with 30 planned sites to be set up in the UK as part of the deal.[34][35]

Middle East

[edit]

In 2016, the chain had a location in Doha, Qatar.[36]

In 2018, the chain had 13 sites in the United Arab Emirates, with plans to expand to 55 units in 2020 announced at the time.[37]

In April 2019, the chain signed a new franchise deal to expand in Saudi Arabia. An agreement with Ajlan Bin Ajlan Group would lead to the potential development of 100 restaurants in Saudi Arabia over ten years.[38]

In 2021, the chain teamed with Emirati social media influencers to promote its product "Boss Box" in the UAE.[39]

Sweden

[edit]

The chain arrived in Sweden in 2014.[40]

In July 2019, GDK announced their plains to add four more restaurants in Sweden during mid-2019, adding to their pre-existing five.[40]

Proposals in Ireland

[edit]

In 2019, the chain announced plans to open a restaurant in Dublin, Ireland,[41] with 40 total sites in Ireland planned from 2020.[7][42][43]

As of 2024, no locations are stated to be present in the Republic of Ireland.[5]

Canada

[edit]

GDK opened two restaurants in Canada in 2020, at Ottawa and Surrey.[44]

In March 2021, GDK announced their ambitions to open 100 restaurants in Canada over 10 years. The company said they are seeking multi-unit franchise partners in Calgary, Montreal and more locations in Ottawa.[45][46]

Its flagship location in Canada, opened in Toronto on 3 August 2021.[44][47]

United States

[edit]

In May 2020, the company announced their plans to open 350 restaurants in the United States, with their first to be in New Jersey.[48][49] As of October 2023, the company has since opened nine restaurants within the US.[50]

GDK opened their first US restaurant at American Dream in New Jersey in October 2021.[51][52]

Products

[edit]

In the UK, the chain uses beef and chicken meat imported from Germany to "maintain consistency and quality", with their waffle toasted bread also imported from Germany.[53] The chain stated in 2015, its meat is 100% Halal.[15]

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ "German Doner Kebab appoints global COO". www.fastcasual.com. 2022-03-02. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  2. ^ a b Walker, Peter A. (2023-03-27). "German Doner Kebab appoints new chief executive". businessInsider. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2024-01-29.
  3. ^ "GDK USA – German Doner Kebab". Retrieved 2024-10-22. German Doner Kebab has over 160 locations open and 1,000+ more in development.
  4. ^ Evans, Peter. "Kebab chain adds America to recipe for rapid growth". The Times. ISSN 0140-0460. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  5. ^ a b "Locations – German Doner Kebab". www.germandonerkebab.com. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  6. ^ "About us – German Doner Kebab". www.germandonerkebab.com. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  7. ^ a b c "German fast food chain set to open 40 locations around Ireland – Extra.ie". 2019-11-19. Archived from the original on 2022-10-07. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  8. ^ a b c "Start a German Doner Kebab Franchise". What Franchise. 2019-02-07. Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  9. ^ Schütte, Uwe. "Nicht in Berlin – Der Exorzismus der Umlaute". Der Freitag (in German). Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  10. ^ "German Doner Kebab". platinumwave. Archived from the original on 2022-12-19. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  11. ^ a b "German Doner Kebab's incredible success story". Aspioneer. 2021-01-09. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  12. ^ Divecha, Devina (26 October 2014). "German Doner Kebab named best UAE franchise brand". Hotelier Middle East. Hotelier. Archived from the original on 5 June 2024. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Doner Kebab. Designed for the modern consumer" (PDF). WORLD FRANCHISE REVIEW. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2022-12-19.
  14. ^ "German Doner Kebab owner eyes New York listing as chain swells quickly". CityAM. 2022-07-12. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  15. ^ a b Beardsworth, Luke (2015-07-01). "Healthy kebab? UK's first German Doner Kebab to open in Brum". BirminghamLive. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  16. ^ "GDK Birmingham Celebrates 1st Anniversary". germandonerkebab.com. 7 July 2016. Archived from the original on 22 October 2022. Retrieved 22 October 2022.
  17. ^ "German Doner Kebab Serves-Up £1m Of Kebabs Every Week". Yorkshire Times. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  18. ^ bighospitality.co.uk (30 May 2019). "German Doner Kebab to pursue 'relentless UK growth'". bighospitality.co.uk. Archived from the original on 2022-08-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  19. ^ Kemp, Kenny (2019-08-12). "Skewer dead brilliant… the Glasgow firm selling £1 million of kebabs a week". businessInsider. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  20. ^ Prentis, Jamie (2019-09-12). "UAE favourite German Doner Kebab chain voted London's best place to eat". The National. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  21. ^ "London's number one place to eat has a restaurant right here in Reading". Reading Chronicle. 13 September 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  22. ^ "German Doner Kebab set to open 12 new restaurants in the UK by the end of 2020 | Restaurant Industry Magazine". Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  23. ^ "German Doner Kebab opens its 50th U.K. store". Global Franchise. 2020-12-18. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  24. ^ Saker-Clark, Henry; O'Neill, Christina (2021-02-22). "Glasgow's German Doner Kebab eyes 47 new UK sites in 2021". GlasgowLive. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  25. ^ "Glasgow German Doner Kebab restaurants to open 47 new sites | Hiring intentions strongest north of the Border since onset of pandemic | Which name supermarket of the year". HeraldScotland. 22 February 2021. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  26. ^ a b "German Doner Kebab set to open 78 restaurants this year". ITV News. 2022-02-07. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  27. ^ Ford, Coreena (2021-02-22). "German Doner Kebab to open 47 new restaurants in 2021". Business Live. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  28. ^ "German Doner Kebab / UK: 78 new restaurants set to open in UK in 2022". food-service.de. 8 February 2022. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  29. ^ "German Doner Kebab set to open 78 restaurants this year". belfasttelegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  30. ^ "German Doner Kebab set to open 78 restaurants this year". The Independent. 2022-02-07. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  31. ^ Saker-Clark, Henry (2022-02-07). "German Doner Kebab set to open 78 restaurants this year". Evening Standard. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  32. ^ Glover, John (2022-05-09). "German Doner Kebab set to open 100th restaurant". businessInsider. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  33. ^ "Glasgow-based German Doner Kebab takes wraps off 100th outlet with more in store". www.scotsman.com. 2024-06-05. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  34. ^ Walker, Peter A. (2022-06-15). "German Doner Kebab partners UK's largest McDonald's franchisee". businessInsider. Archived from the original on 2024-06-05. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  35. ^ "Glasgow-based German Doner Kebab teams up with former McDonald's big cheese". www.scotsman.com. 2022-06-15. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  36. ^ Newspaper, The Peninsula (2016-04-14). "German Doner Kebab outlet opens in Qatar". thepeninsulaqatar.com. Archived from the original on 2024-04-17. Retrieved 2024-04-17.
  37. ^ "German Doner Kebab GDK (UK) visits Dubai to support its MENA regional expansion plans – with the help of Franchise Arabia – FranArabia". franarabia.com. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  38. ^ "Glasgow's doner kebab brand to launch 100 sites in Saudi Arabia". www.scotsman.com. 2019-04-01. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  39. ^ "German Doner Kebab teams up with Emirati social media stars". Caterer Middle East. Caterer. 31 January 2021. Archived from the original on 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  40. ^ a b "German Doner Kebab announces Sweden expansion plans". Global Franchise. 2019-07-01. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  41. ^ Media, Insider. "Kebab chain to open doors in Ireland". Insider Media Ltd. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  42. ^ "German Doner Kebab confirms Ireland expansion plans – Travel & Leisure Executive Search". The MBS Group. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  43. ^ "A massive international kebab chain is opening 40 new restaurants in Ireland". Lovin.ie. 20 November 2019. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  44. ^ a b "Toronto location leads ambitious Canadian growth for German Doner Kebab". Canadian Business Franchise. 2021-03-31. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  45. ^ "German Doner Kebab expanding in Canada". www.fastcasual.com. 2021-03-30. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  46. ^ "German Doner Kebab planning for 100 new Canadian restaurants". Global Franchise. 2021-03-30. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  47. ^ Staff Reporter (2021-08-03). "German Doner Kebab opens Toronto restaurant". QSRMedia UK. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  48. ^ "German Doner Kebab Plans to Open 350 Restaurants in U.S." Retail and Restaurant Facility Business. 2020-05-06. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  49. ^ Service, Total Food (2020-06-23). "New Jersey Unit Set to Kickoff German Doner Kebab Expansion with Belton at Helm". Total Food Service. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-08.
  50. ^ "German Doner Kebab Store Locations". German Doner Kebab. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  51. ^ "German Doner Kebab arriving in US this month". www.fastcasual.com. 2021-08-09. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  52. ^ NJ.com, Jeremy Schneider | NJ Advance Media For (2021-10-16). "German fast food just debuted at this N.J. mall. It's wunderbar!". nj. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
  53. ^ Publications, Roma (2019-05-21). "German Doner Kebab". Premier Construction News. Archived from the original on 2022-09-08. Retrieved 2022-09-07.
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