Jones the Grocer is opening its first branches in Egypt and Saudi Arabia

New branches part of an ambitious plan to open 200 stores around the world in the next five years

Jones the Grocer has opened two new branches in Cairo, Egypt. Courtesy Jones the Grocer

Australian casual-dining export Jones the Grocer is expanding.

The popular restaurant chain has announced the opening of two branches in Cairo and one in Riyadh

Known for cheese room and gourmet retail offerings, Jones the Grocer opened its Cairo branches this month, with the Riyadh venue scheduled to open in the second half of 2021.

The Cairo branches are in the city's Galleria40 and O1 New Cairo malls, and opened over the Eid Al Fitr holiday.

The launches are part of 23 new sites scheduled to open as franchises across the region, under a plan to launch 200 stores around the world within the next five years.

“As our regional success continues, we are excited to partner with established franchisees in both Egypt and Saudi Arabia who are as passionate about Jones the Grocer as we are,” said Yunib Siddiqui, chief executive and shareholder of JTG Holdings and Jones the Grocer.

“We look forward to bringing our brand to these regions and watching them grow with the support of a new audience.”

Jones the Grocer stocks pantry items that include gluten-free, vegan and organic options. The brand also hosts in-store events such as a raclette night and a honey bread workshop.

In 2019, the outlet opened two new stores in the UAE: one in The Dubai Mall and another in the Holiday Inn Abu Dhabi Downtown. In March, the casual dining institution celebrated 25 years in the food and beverage industry – 12 of those spent in the UAE, with its first franchised outlet opening in Abu Dhabi in 2009.

Jones the Grocer was established in Sydney in 1996 and now has outlets around the world, including in Cambodia, China, Singapore, Thailand and the UAE.