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| parent =
| divisions =
| subsid =
| subsid = [[Maison Blanc]], [[Little Chef]], [[Happy Eater]], [[Coffee Tempo!]]
| website = {{URL|kfg.jobs}}
| footnotes =
}}
'''Kout Food Group K.S.C.C.''' is a [[Kuwait]]i-based [[conglomerate (company)|conglomerate]], founded in 1982, operating in Kuwait, [[Jordan]], [[Lebanon]], [[Morocco]], [[Qatar]], [[Iraqi Kurdistan|Kurdistan-Iraq]], the [[United Arab Emirates]], and formerly in the [[United Kingdom]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Kout Food Group|url=https://www.kfg.jobs/en/page/our-brands/|access-date=2021-11-10|website=www.kfg.jobs|language=en}}</ref> The business also offer catering services, import and export of food related items, representation of foreign companies as well as advising others in such businesses. The group have also created many of its own intellectual properties, as well as acquiring the [[Maison Blanc]] and [[Little Chef]] chains before leaving the UK market in 2017.
== History ==
In 1982, Kout Food Group began with its first concept, Hungry Bunny. It would later go on to create the Ayyame, Fol O'Yasmine, Melting Point and ScoopACone brands. In addition to this, the group also franchises [[Applebee's]], [[Burger King]], Burj Al Hamam, Kabab-ji, [[Pizza Hut]], [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]] and [[Taco Bell]] across the Middle East.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sout Al Kout Issue #1 by Kout Food Group - Issuu |url=https://issuu.com/koutfood/docs/sout_al_kout |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=issuu.com |language=en}}</ref>
=== AcquisitionUnited of Maison BlancKingdom ===
In 2007, the group acquiredentered the UK market by acquiring the [[Maison Blanc]] bakery chain, purchasedrescuing it from Lyndale. Inwho Decemberlater 2016,collapsed thereinto were talks [[Patisserie Valerie]] would purchase the chain from Kout Food Group, however these talks fell throughadministration.<ref>{{Cite web |last=20162009-1205-02T1608T00:0400:43.80300+01:00 |title=PatisserieRaymond Holdings in talksBlanc to acquirerelaunch Maison Blanc patisserie chain |url=https://wwwbakeryinfo.mca-insightco.comuk/financenews/patisserieraymond-holdings-in-talksblanc-to-acquirerelaunch-maison-blanc-patisserie-chain/545673612162.article |access-date=2022-0608-1011 |website=MCABritish InsightBaker |language=en}}</ref> InThe 2017,group itwould wascontinue announcedto thatexpand in the chainUK, wouldcreating closeits allown ofrestaurants itsbrands locationssuch as Cha Cha Moon (alongside [[Alan Yau]]), Kitchen Italia and Shi Chang. In August 2013, the widergroup acquired the [[Little Chef]] restaurant chain alongside the trademarks for the former [[Happy Eater]] and [[Coffee Tempo!]] brands, purchased from private-equity firm RCapital for £15 million; the group leftwere reported to be the UKonly marketbidder who wanted to retain the Little Chef brand, as other bidders wanted to redevelop the sites.<ref>{{Cite web |date=20172013-0308-1005 |title=MaisonRCapital Blancsells HasLittle ClosedChef chain to Kout Food Group |url=https://www.henleyheraldscotsman.com/2017business/03/10/maisonrcapital-blancsells-closed/little-chef-chain-kout-food-group-1565662 |access-date=2022-0608-1011 |website=Henley Heraldwww.scotsman.com |language=en-GB}}</ref> TheIn Maison2013 Blancand brand2014, isthe nowgroup registeredaccquired bya number of [[Costa Coffee]] franchises.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2013-08-15 |title=Little Chef owner Kout Food Group's mainsnaps entityup... in Kuwait|url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/little-chef-owner-kout-food-group-snaps-up-south-west-coffee |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=The Caterer |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |titlelast=SearchFarnsworth for|first=John a|date=2014-08-12 trade|title=Coffee markSnobs -Limited IntellectualSold Propertyto OfficeKout Food Group |url=https://trademarkswww.ipopkfsmithcooper.gov.ukcom/iponews-tmownerinsights/pagecoffee-snobs-limited-sold-to-kout-food-group/search?id=1315634&domain=1&app=0&mark=UK00002007444 |access-date=2022-0608-1011 |website=trademarks.ipo.gov.ukPKF Smith Cooper |language=en-US}}</ref> The group also owned a number of [[Burger King]], [[KFC]] and [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]] sites, some of which were added to exisiting Little Chef properties.
In 2016, the group began to show signs of leaving the UK market by putting Cha Cha Moon on the market in September of that year.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2016-09-26 |title=Original Cha Cha Moon restaurant for sale |url=https://www.thecaterer.com/news/restaurant/original-cha-cha-moon-restaurant-for-sale |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=The Caterer |language=en}}</ref> In December 2016, there were talks [[Patisserie Valerie]] would purchase Maison Blanc from Kout Food Group, however these talks fell through, with Maison Blanc closing down completely a few months later.<ref>{{Cite web |last=2016-12-02T16:04:43.803 |title=Patisserie Holdings in talks to acquire Maison Blanc |url=https://www.mca-insight.com/finance/patisserie-holdings-in-talks-to-acquire-maison-blanc/545673.article |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=MCA Insight |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=2017-03-10 |title=Maison Blanc Has Closed |url=https://www.henleyherald.com/2017/03/10/maison-blanc-closed/ |access-date=2022-06-10 |website=Henley Herald |language=en-GB}}</ref> In January 2017, [[EuroGarages|Euro Garages]] purchased the locations used by the Little Chef chain, which it would then convert into its own partner brands by 2018, with Kout Food Group retaining the actual ownership of the Little Chef brand.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Media|first=Insider|title=Little Chef sites sold to Euro Garages|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/national/little-chef-sites-sold-to-euro-garages|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Insider Media Ltd|language=en}}</ref> In 2020, the group left the UK market completely by selling off its remaining Burger King, KFC, Subway and Costa Coffee franchises to a number of parties.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2020-01-03 |title=BK UK purchases 34 new locations from Kout Food Group |url=https://meatmanagement.com/bk-uk-purchases-34-new-locations-from-kout-food-group/ |access-date=2022-08-11 |website=Meat Management magazine |language=en-GB}}</ref> Its Little Chef, Maison Blanc and Cha Cha Moon brands are now registered in Kuwait under the main parent company.
=== Acquisition of Little Chef / Happy Eater / Coffee Tempo! ===
In August 2013, the group acquired the UK [[Little Chef]] restaurant chain alongside the trademarks for the former [[Happy Eater]] and [[Coffee Tempo!]] brands, purchased from private-equity firm RCapital for £15 million.<ref>{{Cite web|last=bighospitality.co.uk|title=Little Chef brand to remain following sale to Kout Food Group|url=https://www.bighospitality.co.uk/Article/2013/08/05/Little-Chef-sold-to-Kout-Food-Group|access-date=2021-11-05|website=bighospitality.co.uk|language=en-GB}}</ref> In January 2017, [[EG Group]] purchased the restaurants used by the Little Chef chain, which it would then convert into its own brands by 2018, with Kout Food Group retaining the actual ownership of the Little Chef brand.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Media|first=Insider|title=Little Chef sites sold to Euro Garages|url=https://www.insidermedia.com/news/national/little-chef-sites-sold-to-euro-garages|access-date=2021-11-05|website=Insider Media Ltd|language=en}}</ref> Following Kout Food Group leaving the UK market, its Little Chef, Happy Eater and Coffee Tempo! brands are now registered in [[Kuwait]] under the main parent company.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Search for a trade mark - Intellectual Property Office|url=https://trademarks.ipo.gov.uk/ipo-tmowner/page/search?id=1669494&domain=1&app=0&mark=UK00001285971|access-date=2022-02-19|website=trademarks.ipo.gov.uk|language=en}}</ref>
== Brands ==
=== Intellectual properties<ref name="Careers at Kout Food Group - Kout Food Group">{{Cite web|title=Careers at Kout Food Group - Kout Food Group|url=https://www.kfg.jobs/|access-date=2021-11-05|website=www.kfg.jobs|language=en}}</ref> ===
* Ayyame
* Fol O’Yasmine
* Melting Point
* ScoopAcone
==== Defunct properties ====
* Café Licious
* Cha Cha Moon
* Chi Wok
* Hungry Bunny
*Kitchen Italia
* [[Little Chef]] / [[Happy Eater]] / [[Coffee Tempo!]] (acquired 2013)
*[[Maison Blanc]] (acquired 2007)
*Shi Chang
=== Franchises<ref name="Careers at Kout Food Group - Kout Food Group" /> ===
* [[Applebee's]]
* [[Burger King]]
*Burj Al Hamam
*Kabab-ji
* [[Pizza Hut]]
* [[Subway (restaurant)|Subway]]
* [[Taco Bell]]
'''Former franchises'''
* [[Costa Coffee]]
* [[KFC]]
== References ==
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