Global Gobbling Restaurant franchises from all around the world could soon be just around the block from you.
By Eryn Gable
Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.
Imagine sinking your teeth into a juicy hamburger topped withcrispy bacon and ripe pineapple slices. Wiping a glob of dressingfrom your lip, you eye dessert: peach mango pie.
The provider of these tropical treats, Philippines-basedfranchise Jollibee, has already opened five stores in California.Although Jollibee isn't franchising at the moment, itspopularity has attracted interest from several investment firms.Will ethnic foods offered by non-U.S.-based companies like Jollibeebecome the next big franchise trend? Ron Paul, president ofChicago-based research and consulting firm Technomic Inc., cautionspotential franchisees not to get caught up in all the buzz."The same rules you would tell anybody about a franchise applyhere," Paul says. "If you're the first to trysomething in a new market, it's always risky. The fact thatit's proven somewhere else doesn't prove it works [in theUnited States]."
While it's true nothing is a sure thing (you shouldinvestigate any new franchise before buying), we've spottedsome unique restaurants that have earned followings in othercountries and demonstrate true crossover potential. One centrallink between these concepts: they hit a nostalgic chord withdifferent cultures in the United States. For example, Marcel R.Portmann, International Franchise Association (IFA) vice presidentof emerging markets and global development, points out, "Witha lot of Hispanics [living] in states such as Florida, Texas andCalifornia, we're starting to see Latin American concepts setup shop and cater to the Hispanic population."
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