US-based coal-fired pizza chain Grimaldi’s plans to enter Vietnam through franchising.
Grimaldi’s is looking for franchisees who have experience in food or hospitality related business, are familiar with restaurant development and can access supply chain resources. Prospective partners require an investment range from US$1.5 to 3 million.
Stefan Grbovac, Grimaldi’s international representative, said the final figure will depend on market size.
“We plan to launch in Ho Chi Minh City first, or wherever we can find a partner to go with,” Grbovac said.
“In Ho Chi Minh City, with a population of 10 million, we plan to open at least 10 restaurants, as long as we can find good locations.”
The first pizzerias will not necessarily be located in the CDB, he told Inside Retail Asia, because of the Grimaldi’s restaurant model.
“We will probably open in District 2 or District 7. Because for each restaurant we need to set up big kitchens and ovens, it’s really hard to find such a location in District 1 now.
“We can consider ground floors of some shopping malls where we can reach the customers easily.”
Founded in Brooklyn, New York, Grimaldi’s Coal Fired Pizzeria currently operates 49 restaurants in the US and has won many pizza awards there. Using 120-year-old traditional pizza making and its signature 1200-degree coal-fired oven, Grimaldi’s delivers delectable pies and calzones, topped or filled with the freshest ingredients with a unique flavour and crust crispness that is just not possible from gas, convection, or wood burning methods.
Grimaldi’s presented at last week’s International Franchise Discovery Day in Hanoi, organised by Asian franchising specialists VF Franchise Consulting.
