US-based Slim Chickens enters MENA market

A LEADER in the "better chicken" segment of fast-casual restaurants, Slim Chickens will offer its products to consumers in the Middle East & North Africa through a partnership with Alghanim Industries, a privately owned company in this region. The two companies have entered into a master franchise agreement that will enable Alghanim Industries to introduce the Slim Chickens brand and dining experience across the MENA region.

Based in Kuwait City, Kuwait, Alghanim Industries owns and operates more than 30 businesses in 40 countries across the MENA, Turkey, India and Southeast Asia. Since its founding more than a century ago, consumer-oriented businesses have grounded the company. Today, its growing portfolio of 300 brands includes a number of US partners, including General Motors, Ford, Mars, Whirlpool, Wendy's and American Express.

Slim Chickens CEO Tom Gordon and Alghanim CEO Omar Alghanim sign the contract (PRNewsFoto/Alghanim Industries)

Founded in 2003 in Fayetteville, Arkansas, Slim Chickens is committed to providing a "Life Changing Chicken" experience in its sector of the restaurant industry, with a focus on high quality, fresh chicken. The down-home Southern brand features hand-breaded and grilled chicken tenders and wings paired with handmade dipping sauces - there are 10 in all to render exceptional flavor that continues to earn admiration from guests and food critics alike.

The first MENA-region Slim Chickens restaurant is expected to open in Kuwait in March 2017. This will be followed by a rapid brand rollout across the entire region.

Alghanim Industries is actively expanding its Food & Beverage (F&B) portfolio, which began in 2013 with its franchise agreement with UK-based Costa Coffee, the second largest coffeehouse chain in the world. In 2015, Alghanim Industries acquired the rights to develop US-based Wendy's restaurants across the MENA region - the deal included all existing locations in the United Arab Emirates , and provided for further expansion into Kuwait in 2016 and Saudi Arabia in 2017. Slim Chickens is Alghanim Industries' latest addition to its rapidly growing F&B portfolio.