Marrybrown Plans Aggressive Expansion

By Nurhafizah Ghazali KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 19 (Bernama) -- Malaysia-based fast food restaurant chain Marrybrown plans aggressive expansion with 20 outlets to be opened nationwide this year, Chief Executive Director Joshua Liew said Friday. "We have (just) opened six new restaurants last month in Malaysia and there will be another 20 to go for this year," he said. Marrybrown, which is headquartered in Johor Baharu, capital of the Malaysian state of Johor, has more than 130 quick-serving restaurants in Malaysia and about 350 international restaurants. Besides Malaysia, Marrybrown also plans to continuously expand its global presence with the first Marrybrown restaurant to be opened in Nepal in May, he told reporters after signing a partnership agreement with Coca-Cola on a new range of beverages on Marrybown Malaysia's menu. Asked on the cost for the restaurants, Liew said on average each Marrybrown outlet will cost about US$189,671 (RM800,000) and will be around 2,000-3,000 sq. ft.(about 186-279 sq. m.). Meanwhile, Coca-Cola's Bottling Investment Group (Singapore-Malaysia-Brunei) Chief Executive Director, Stephen Lusk, said Coca-Cola is excited about the growth opportunity and will continuously invest in Malaysia. "Coca-Cola has so far invested US$237.11 million (RM1 billion) in Malaysia," he said. (US$1=RM4.21) -- BERNAMA