Popular American pancake chain IHOP to open 19 restaurants in Pakistan

Published March 18, 2019
As per Bloomberg, the move is part of the American pancake restaurant’s efforts to seek new revenue abroad. — Photo courtesy IHOP Twitter
As per Bloomberg, the move is part of the American pancake restaurant’s efforts to seek new revenue abroad. — Photo courtesy IHOP Twitter

Popular American pancake house chain IHOP has announced plans to open as many as 19 outlets in Pakistan in the coming years, Bloomberg reported on Monday.

The first Pakistani location of the International House of Pancakes, better known by the acronym IHOP, will be opened in Karachi by the end of 2019, followed by 18 more branches across the country over the course of nine years.

As per Bloomberg, the decision to tap into the Pakistani market is a part of the American pancake restaurant’s "efforts to seek new revenue abroad".

Dine Brands Global Inc, the parent company of IHOP, shared the news on Monday, revealing that nine of its franchises in Pakistan would be operated by the Gerry's Group while the rest would be sub-franchised.

"Pakistan’s rapidly growing economy" was part of the reason behind opening branches there, Bloomberg quoted Dine Brands Chief Executive Officer Steve Joyce as saying.

In a statement, Joyce said that international development was a "major component of the company’s return to growth".

According to the report, the pancake chain has recently bounced back with Joyce as the CEO following a "couple of dismal years".

“We are delighted to be bringing the world famous American IHOP experience to our country and to our portfolio of successful companies,” Akram Wali Muhammad, Managing Director for Gerry’s Group was quoted as saying in a press release by AP News.

“While IHOP will be a new brand in Pakistan, there is already significant awareness of and excitement about IHOP and we look forward to the opening of our first location later this year.”

Agreements have already been signed to expand IHOP into Peru and Equador this year, and to open more locations in Canada.

The chain is already present in 14 countries including India, Thailand and Guam and is exploring possibilities for business in the United Kingdom, Bloomberg reported.

Follow Dawn Business on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook for insights on business, finance and tech from Pakistan and across the world.

Opinion

Editorial

Defining extremism
Updated 18 Mar, 2024

Defining extremism

Redefining extremism may well be the first step to clamping down on advocacy for Palestine.
Climate in focus
18 Mar, 2024

Climate in focus

IN a welcome order by the Supreme Court, the new government has been tasked with providing a report on actions taken...
Growing rabies concern
18 Mar, 2024

Growing rabies concern

DOG-BITE is an old problem in Pakistan. Amid a surfeit of public health challenges, rabies now seems poised to ...
Provincial share
Updated 17 Mar, 2024

Provincial share

PPP has aptly advised Centre to worry about improving its tax collection rather than eying provinces’ share of tax revenues.
X-communication
17 Mar, 2024

X-communication

IT has now been a month since Pakistani authorities decided that the country must be cut off from one of the...
Stateless humanity
17 Mar, 2024

Stateless humanity

THE endless hostility between India and Pakistan has reduced prisoners to mere statistics. Although the two ...