Olive Garden, Denny’s, and other US food franchises could be coming to the Czech Republic

American casual dining restaurant chains including Little Caesars, Denny’s, Olive Garden, and Dairy Queen could soon be heading to the Czech Republic, if the US Embassy has any say in the matter.

Last week at the Embassy, United States Ambassador to the Czech Republic Stephen B. King and the Czech Franchise Association (ČAF) officially presented 11 US food franchises that are interested in entering the Czech market, and currently looking for local partners to help them do so.

“Our goal is to support business between the US and the Czech Republic,” King said at the event, as reported by Media Guru.

“Every year we are looking for numerous American investors who will invest in the Czech Republic or have already invested, as well as Czech companies that are interested in investing in the USA or already investing there.”

One of the key franchises looking to expand to the Czech Republic was Darden Restaurants, which owns the popular full-service Italian chain Olive Garden, famed for their endless breadsticks and salads. Darden also owns Longhorn Steakhouse, Yard House, Seasons 52, and Bahama Breeze, among other restaurant chains.

Edwards Global Services (EGS) was another key corporation presented to potential investors last week. EGS franchises US chains to international markets, and their clients include Denny’s, one of the most popular sit-down breakfast chains in the states.

EGS also franchises Chili’s, Dairy Queen, Cold Stone Creamery, and Carl’s, Jr, among numerous other American food chains.

Little Caesars, one of the world’s biggest pizza franchises, is no stranger to the Czech Republic: they operated a location at what is now Tesco MY on Prague’s central Národní street until about a decade ago.

The franchise currently more than 5000 restaurants worldwide, and Little Caesars will continue its international growth by opening its first two branches in Spain by the end of 2019. From 2020, the group is expected to expand further into Europe, with locations that could include the Czech Republic.

Wingstop, a Texas-based aviation-themed chain that specializes in chicken wings (currently a hot commodity in Prague) was also among the franchises presented at the US Embassy last week. The franchise will expand into the UK and France later this year, and additional European destinations after that.

While none of these franchises are confirmed to open in the Czech Republic over the coming years, each one is currently exploring opportunities, and the US Embassy will help facilitate their entry into the Czech market.

Interested in helping bring one of these chains to Prague? The Embassy has offered to provide all relevant franchise contacts to those looking to partner with the above franchises to open locations in the Czech Republic.