Doner Shack warm up the American market in Florida hot spot

Having announced earlier this year that they would be expanding internationally – with eyes set specifically on the US – Doner Shack has now taken its first steps in securing their first locations. The Berlin-inspired kebab franchise currently based in Scotland is ensuring that people on the other side of the pond can finally get a taste of European cuisine – Doner Shack style. Recently exhibiting at the largest franchise exhibition in the south of the US - Franchise Expo South in Florida - it’s now clear that Americans are poised to become Doner Shack obsessed. 

From September 6th to 7th, one of North America's largest franchise exhibitions took place in sunny Florida, showcasing hundreds of exciting brands. Founders of Doner Shack, Sanjeev Sanghera and Laura Bruce, took the opportunity to introduce their brand to prospective US franchisees. The expo was a huge success for Doner Shack, as they engaged with hundreds of visitors over the weekend, leading to many serious inquiries. The team connected with a multitude of people from different backgrounds - some looking to start their first franchise and spotting a gap in the US market for new food concepts including kebabs, to experienced multi-unit operators looking to diversify and expand their portfolios beyond the crowded chicken, burger and pizza sectors.

"Our debut at the Florida Expo was a great success, providing invaluable exposure for Doner Shack as we enter the US market. The positive reception has reinforced our confidence in expanding into the States," said Laura.

America’s initial reception of Doner Shack was overwhelmingly positive, confirming that the QSR brand will thrive in the US. In particular, the menu was extremely well received. Visitors to the Doner Shack stand recognized that the brand had engineered their menu specifically for the US market, including items such as loaded fries and chicken tenders. The consideration of what the US market would like to see combined with their European-style cuisine really struck a chord with the show’s audience. 

"The Florida expo was a fantastic opportunity to showcase not only our exceptional product and efficient business model, but also our commitment to being a franchisee-focused brand. As we bring Doner Shack to the US, we’re focused on building strong partnerships and establishing a lasting presence in the American QSR market," added Sanjeev. 

Having started conversations with prospective franchisees weeks prior to the exhibition, Sanjeev and Laura were able to progress these in person over the weekend – prospects hoping to open one restaurant in a long-term investment of a multi-restaurant portfolio. They also started many important conversations with people at the expo who were showing interest as far field as Maryland, Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York, Chicago and Texas. 

As well as sparking many promising conversations, the Doner Shack team wasted no time in Florida, meeting with their main suppliers based in the state, whilst also making other essential connections. Thiago Vilas Boas, Head of Operations, took the opportunity to meet with several national suppliers and distributors – putting everything in place to hit the ground running on their first US location. 

Doner Shack is also excited to announce that in preparation for their US launch they will be relocating their head office to a fabulous new Miami location – getting them ready to take the States by storm. 

With Florida heating up to be that first location, Doner Shack boss Sanjeev is delighted with the results of the expo. “We knew Doner Shack would get a great reception but we were blown away by the level of interest. It was a brilliant trip – we envision the first of many expos in the US.  And now we’re looking forward to having our first US restaurant open in 2025 as well as many more to come across the entire country.” 

For further information about Doner Shack, visit www.donershack.uk/franchise