LONDON, England:
Jamaican-based franchise company FRANJAM has signed a major contract with the United Kingdom (UK)-based Casual Dining Restaurants Group (CDRG) to open 15 Tracks & Records restaurants across the UK over the next five years. The first will be opened within a few months.
Tracks & Records, a Jamaican-themed restaurant, which boasts eight-time Olympic gold medallist Usain Bolt as a key partner, started operations in Kingston, Jamaica, in April 2011.
“This is a significant milestone in the company’s development. When we created the Tracks & Records concept, it was done with these major markets in mind. The UK has been a key target market for us since the conceptualisation stage over seven years ago, and there is no greater satisfaction than to see it unfold in this way,” stated FRANJAM’s Managing Director, Gary Matalon.
“For Jamaica, I believe this signifies the first time a local, home-grown concept has evolved into becoming an international franchise. This confirms Brand Jamaica’s potential and gives us widespread hope that we can export many other Jamaican brands through this business model.”
BOLT IS HAPPY
Key partner Usain Bolt, who just completed his last individual race at the IAAF World Championships here in London, stated: “I’m happy to be able to share a taste of the Jamaica that I know and love with the rest of the world through the opening of these restaurants across the UK. London has always been a special place for me, and I thank Aly and CDRG for giving us the opportunity to share our vision and our culture with you all.
“We are pleased to add this incredible Jamaican brand to our growing number of franchises across the world. This partnership with Usain Bolt and the Tracks & Records brand will allow us to introduce an experience to our markets here in the UK that is as close as it gets to actually visiting the island and will give them a real taste of Jamaica,” stated CDRG director and Chief Executive Officer Aly Esmail.
Jamaica’s Minister of Tourism Edmund Bartlett said, “Jamaica is famous for great food, great athletes like Usain Bolt, and a culture second to none. Gastronomy tourism is a big focus of enhancing tourism experiences right now, and this deal will only amplify our efforts of positioning Jamaica as a gastronomy destination.”
