German Doner Kebab opens across UK with £900k HSBC UK funding
German Doner Kebab (GDK), part of the Hero Brands fast-casual restaurant portfolio, has continued to expand across the UK and internationally with £900,000 funding support from HSBC UK.
The bank provided the Scotland-based brand owner with specialised support from HSBC UK’s franchise team, full transactional banking and foreign exchange solutions for its international growth expansion plans.
In addition, GDK franchises across the UK have been provided with a combined £900,000 funding from HSBC UK to enable British franchisees to open doors in response to domestic demand, supplying 200 new jobs.
Imran Sayeed, CEO, GDK, said: “We’re seeing incredible demand for our gourmet kebabs and have identified a strong growth pipeline with established franchise entrepreneurs to respond to the increasing demand, supplying new jobs to communities. HSBC UK bought into our business plan and the specialist advice we receive from the bank’s Franchise Team and its global network, as well as the international banking support, has been instrumental to helping our business expand.”
Grant Bett, relationship director, HSBC UK, added: “German Doner Kebab has ambitious plans and we’re pleased to support the business as it achieves rapid, sustainable growth within the UK and internationally. The UK franchising sector is continuing to flourish and GDK is a fantastic example of a British business thriving in the domestic sector and abroad.”
Earlier this year, German Doner Kebab announced that it is now serving up £1 million of kebabs in its restaurants every week across the UK. The fast-growing brand now has 38 restaurants throughout the country and has a pipeline of 350 sold units over the next seven years.
The franchise business employs 500 individuals within the UK and also operates stores in Sweden, Dubai, Abu-Dhabi, Oman and Bahrain, with plans in place for expansion into Saudi Arabia, Canada and the United States.
The finance was allocated from HSBC UK’s national SME Fund, which aims to actively help UK businesses realise their ambitions for growth and navigate Brexit. The new £14 billion SME Fund has recently been announced by HSBC UK.