Hooters Heads to South Africa

Hooters of America Inc. (Atlanta) has signed a franchisee agreement with Chanticleer and Shaw Food PTY to open Hooters Restaurants in The Republic of South Africa prior to the 2010 World Cup. Through the agreement, the companies plan to open as many as seven restaurants, with as many as four opening in time for next summer’s soccer matches.

Chanticleer and Shaw Food is a joint venture between U.S.-based Chanticleer Holding Inc. and South African Shaw Food. The partnership will open its first location in Cape Town in late 2009.

“We are excited about the opportunities South Africa offers for the Hooters Brand,” says Coby Brooks, Hooters of America president and ceo. “This will be our first location on the continent of Africa and with locations already in North and South America as well as Europe, Asia and Australia, this truly makes Hooters global.”

Hooters operates 438 restaurants in 27 countries around the world; approximately 20 percent of all its locations are international. “The World Cup offers such a tremendous platform for exposing Hooters to the World,” says Mike Pruitt, chairman and ceo of Chanticleer Holding, which holds certain financing rights for Hooters of America.