The growing U.K. concept is doubling-down on Stateside development.
German Doner Kebab, a steadily growing kebab restaurant concept with 65 locations across Europe and the Middle East, is prioritizing U.S. development with the appointment of Michael Bruno as franchise recruitment director for North America.
Joining GDK from FOCUS Brands, Bruno brings over 25 years of experience in the food and beverage sector; having been instrumental in opening approximately 1,000 restaurants throughout the U.S. over the course of his career.
“I am looking forward to working closely with Michael as we seek to rapidly develop a robust development pipeline,” said Nigel Belton, USA MD for GDK. “With our first two stores now open in Canada, I am confident that this will translate into much more interest and excitement which will support our endeavours to onboard the right partners to build the GDK brand.
“Michael brings a wealth of experience, knowledge, and skills to German Doner Kebab and we are delighted to have a person of his caliber on board. His extensive experience will prove invaluable as we strive to continue our mission of announcing the German Doner Kebab brand to consumers throughout North America.”
Currently, German Doner Kebab has five franchisees signed up in North America, totaling a pipeline of 75 restaurants. This includes key growth markets such as Manhattan, Brooklyn, New York, New Jersey, Houston, Toronto, Ottawa, and Vancouver.
“I am delighted to be joining GDK at what is a crucial time for the development of the brand across North America,” said Michael Bruno.“This really is a fantastic opportunity to be joining a new disruptive brand and help the senior team drive and further strengthen GDK’s footprint as it prepares for an exciting growth period. I’m seeking to engage with experienced franchisees across North America who are keen to expand their restaurant portfolio and join the German Doner Kebab family.”
