CRO Announces Entry Into Europe With Cantina Laredo Opening in London

DALLAS, Aug. 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Inc. (CRO), which operates and franchises 117 full-service restaurants encompassing seven different brands, announced the opening of Cantina Laredo at the fashionable new shopping and dining destination, St Martin's Courtyard in Covent Garden, London. The restaurant is the first of 35 Cantina Laredo restaurants slated to open in the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland.

"The restaurant opening in London marks the first Cantina Laredo in Europe, bringing the authentic taste of gourmet Mexican cuisine to another major market. It represents further significant expansion of the footprint of our brand and solidifies our global appeal," said John D. Harkey, Jr., Chief Executive Officer for CRO.

To enter the UK and Ireland, CRO selected Oriole Restaurants Limited to be the first European franchisee of the Cantina Laredo gourmet Mexican restaurant brand.

Oriole Restaurants Limited CEO Jackie Ginsberg commented on the gap in the market for high-end Mexican cuisine, "In the UK, we consider Tex-Mex and Mexican food to be one and the same.  Tex-Mex restaurants really don't represent the depth and variety of authentic Mexican food, nor the skill required to prepare it.  That's where Cantina Laredo steps in."  

Cantina Laredo in Upper St Martin's Courtyard spans two floors measuring 7,218 sq ft. Cantina Laredo has 220 seats and features a bar specializing in tequila for the connoisseur and a private dining room.

CRO currently operates and franchises restaurants in 12 states, UAE and Cairo, Egypt. Its brands range across the gourmet Mexican, casual Mexican and Steakhouse segments and also include  III Forks, Silver Fox, Good Eats, Luckys Cafe, El Chico and Cool River Cafe. CRO had system-wide sales of $214 million in 2009.

Mr. Harkey said U.S. franchise concepts such as those under the CRO umbrella have attracted international franchise partners for three main reasons: strong brand identification, sophisticated distribution networks and well-defined, proven operating systems. CRO has development agreements in place to build 170 restaurants over the next seven years. Mr. Harkey said the company is now considering further expansion into the Asian market.

SOURCE Consolidated Restaurant Operations, Inc.