ST HELENS food and drink sector will be boosted by the arrival of the national chain German Doner Kebab.
The UK-based business is expected to open at the former Frankie and Benny's restaurant site on the retail park off Liverpool Road, St Helens.
Plans for new signage at the venue, which closed during the pandemic, have been submitted to the council by Gastronomy Foods UK for a German Doner Kebab restaurant and a Planet Doughnut.
It will stand alongside the Costa Coffee and Aldi supermarket on the retail park.
Business investment leaders in the town see the decision as encouraging signs for St Helens leisure sector and hope to link the business up with the Ways to Work scheme to get people into jobs.
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The chain was founded in Germany in 1989 but was launched in the UK in 2016 by United Brands under a franchise model.
This week it was reported German Doner Kebab had appointed Sofia Dimen as its new managing director for the UK to help build on its “ambitious” growth plans.
In February it was reported German Doner Kebab planned to open 78 new restaurants this year in a dramatic expansion which will create almost 3,000 jobs.
The kebab chain said it will grow to 170 restaurants across the UK this year as it continues to shrug off the challenging environment currently facing the casual dining sector.
It comes after the fast-casual chain opened 39 restaurants last year despite pandemic disruption.
Last year, the group reported a 75% jump in total sales as it was buoyed by trade from new sites.
Imran Sayeed, chief executive officer for the brand, said: “We have been extremely agile during the pandemic, listening to the needs of our customers and responding to the huge demand for our game-changing kebabs.
“This has enabled us to build greater levels of brand awareness and customer loyalty as we bring the German Doner Kebab experience to more cities and towns throughout the UK.”
The Glasgow-based business currently employs around 3,500 over the UK and plans to add another 2,900 workers this year.
The chain also highlighted a development pipeline of 350 sites it hopes to open over the next seven years.
It also operates over 80 restaurants elsewhere across the world, with the firm also planning a further 11 North American openings in 2022 as well as its first site in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Sayeed added: “We have developed strong franchise relationships in strategic global locations and we are now working closely with our partners to take forward development plans and expand our reach into new regions.”
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