Tag Archives | restaurants

Cinnabon opens its First Store in Iraq

By John Lee. US bakery and café chain Cinnabon has reportedly entered the Iraqi market. According to World Coffee Portal, the Focus Brands-owned operator has opened a store in Baghdad's Al Jadiriyah neighbourhood. Founded in Seattle in 1985, Cinnabon currently operates more than 1,600 franchise locations worldwide, primarily in high-traffic venues such as shopping malls, […]

Fake Starbucks reported in Baghdad

By John Lee. According to a report from Associated Press (AP), a chain of three unauthorised "Starbucks" coffee shops is operating in Baghdad. It says genuine Starbucks merchandise is imported from neighboring countries, but without permission from the US-based corporation. Starbucks is reported to have filed a lawsuit for trademark violation, but the case was […]

A Basra Lunch, with Locally Sourced Truffles?

By John Lee. As long term observers of events in Iraq, the team at Iraq Business News thought we might have seen just about every unexpected story from a nation that continues to surprise. We'd heard of the popularity of the Japanese comic character Hello Kitty in Iraq or the trend among some young Iraqis for playing […]

Iraq's First Pizza Hut Opens

By John Lee. Yum! Brands has announced the opening of the first Pizza Hut in Iraq with franchise partner, Al Kout Food Company. The new restaurant in the popular Majidi Mall in Erbil features "a full casual dine-in experience for Iraqi consumers with a vibrant, youthful design and seating for 120 people. The menu is […]

Caliburger to Franchise in Iraq

By John Lee. Chinese fast-food chain CaliBurger has announced that it has signed a franchise agreement to begin opening CaliBurger restaurants in Kuwait and Iraq. According to a report from Fast Casual, the franchisee, Ali Hashem, will have rights to open multiple units in Kuwait and serve as the master franchisee for Iraq. Hashem is […]