Boston Market To Open Restaurants In Middle East

GOLDEN, Colo. (AP) - Boston Market is expanding overseas, with plans to open more than two dozen restaurants in the Middle East over the next few years, the Golden-based company announced Monday

The company said it hopes to have its first restaurant open in Kuwait later this year or in early 2017. It will be the first Boston Market abroad in a decade, since former owner McDonald's sold the company and closed outlets in Canada and Australia.

Restaurants also are planned in Oman, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, Qatar and Jordan.

CEO George Michel said the Middle East is the perfect place to start expanding because rotisserie chicken — its signature dish — is popular and American brands are in demand there, both among locals educated in the U.S. and expatriates living in the region.

Michel speaks Arabic and previously worked in the Middle East for Burger King and Brinker International, overseeing Chili's and Macaroni Grills in the region. Boston Market also is relying on the expertise of Kuwaiti-based Al-Ghunaim Trading Co., which operates restaurants like Chili's and Johnny Carino's Italian Grill, to develop the restaurants.

"We are going to go with the developer that has the credibility and the strong track record," Michel said.

Boston Market will make some changes to its menu to comply with Islamic dietary rules, including replacing its pork ribs with beef, and will offer delivery to compete with other restaurants.

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