The Brazilian fried chicken franchise Hot n’ Tender will arrive in the United Arab Emirates in May. The expansion takes place after the brand’s participation in the Multi-Unit Franchising Conference 2022, during a trade mission organized by Franchising Brasil — the result of a partnership between the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil) and the Brazilian Franchising Association (ABF).

Initially, the chain’s goal foresees the opening of 70 units, which will operate in dark kitchens that are used to prepare the meals via delivery, in order to test the brand in the region. The franchise will be operated by Reef Technology, which already works in partnership with HNT in the United States. “We went to Multi-Unit last March and met Reef’s Vice President Ardag Tachian at the event,” says Dany Levkovits, HNT’s CEO. “At the fair we were able to strengthen ties and generate new business opportunities”, he concludes.

With earnings estimated at around US$ 360,000 from the brand’s royalties, the expectation is that the United Arab Emirates will only be HNT’s gateway to the Middle East. Dany also confirms that the European market is also in the chain’s expansion plans. “We are going to participate again in the Las Vegas Fair this year and soon after in the Orlando Fair, on April 29 and 30”, says the businessman.

HNT was founded in 1995 and started expanding the brand as a franchise in 2015. The chain has currently 50 units in 8 Brazilian states, in addition to 2 units in the United States. Besides the brand’s dark kitchen model, the options for those who want to invest in a unit include a container store and express store, more suitable for shopping malls. HNT is in the market for over 25 years and won ABF’s Excellence in Franchising Seal in 2019, 2020 and 2022.

About Franchising Brasil

Franchising Brasil is a joint project of the Brazilian Franchising Association (ABF) and the Brazilian Trade and Investment Promotion Agency (ApexBrasil), which aims to support the internationalization strategy of Brazilian franchise networks and their international trade promotion. The initiative was conceived to promote this recognized business model in the main international markets.