Buffalo Wild Wings flies to the Middle East

MINNEAPOLIS -- With more than 835 restaurants in the United States and Canada, Buffalo Wild Wings continues to expand its brand internationally with an agreement to open restaurants in the Middle East. The agreements mark the first overseas expansions for the company, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary in 2012.

Buffalo Wild Wings signed a 22-unit development agreement with the Olayan Group, an international enterprise and restaurant operator in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region headquartered in Saudi Arabia. The agreement includes locations in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and options for four additional Middle Eastern countries over the next six years. In addition, the company signed an agreement with an existing Buffalo Wild Wings franchisee, Sunshine Restaurant Corp., to open four locations in Puerto Rico by the end of 2016. The first restaurants are expected to open in 2013.

“We spend a great deal of time learning about the countries, cultures and potential partners as we enter new markets,” said Mo Sawda, Buffalo Wild Wings managing director, international. “We are pleased to be working with two well-known, well-respected and successful developers in this new expansion.”

The core elements of Buffalo Wild Wings’ success – wings and sports – will remain, but will be modified to fit with the local cultures. For example, the company expects that in the Middle East, soccer and horse racing may replace some of the sports staples seen on screens in North American Buffalo Wild Wings locations, but the passion for those sports will remain the same. Buffalo Wild Wings is adding to its food and beverage offerings and adapting the restaurant layout to fit with local tastes. It has produced an extensive selection of non-alcoholic drinks, juices, sparkling waters and coffees for locations where alcohol cannot be served.

“We see a tremendous opportunity for the Buffalo Wild Wings brand in the Middle East,” said Samer Al-Khawashki, Olayan Group vice president, consumer division. “The concept of a social gathering place for sports is one that we are confident will resonate here just as it does in the United States and Canada.”

Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Minneapolis, Buffalo Wild Wings continues to explore opportunities in markets across the world including Puerto Rico, where it also recently signed an agreement to open restaurants by 2013.