TGI Fridays has signed an international franchise development agreement with Southeast European conglomerate Devolli Group, marking the brand's commercial entry into the Balkans across Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia.
Under the agreement, Devolli Group will construct and operate 10 TGI Fridays locations across the three national markets. The transaction also grants Devolli Group exclusive sub-franchising rights throughout the territory, establishing a regional platform for long-term casual dining and bar expansion across Southeast Europe.
The partnership represents a key milestone in TGI Fridays' franchise-led growth model, expanding the enterprise's European footprint into emerging Balkan hospitality corridors.
Sub-Franchising Rights
The development pact provides TGI Fridays with immediate market entry into Southeast Europe through an established regional operating partner. As one of the Balkans' leading diversified business groups, Devolli Group will oversee site selection, capital allocation, restaurant construction, and local supply chain integration across Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia.
Securing exclusive sub-franchising rights allows Devolli Group to scale the restaurant network beyond initial company-operated sites by onboarding regional franchise partners across urban and high-traffic travel destinations.
Phil Broad, Global President of TGI Fridays, stated that the Balkans represents an expanding growth market supported by infrastructure development and rising consumer demand for international casual dining brands. Broad noted that Devolli Group's market reach and operational capabilities provide a foundation to build brand presence across Southeast Europe while advancing corporate expansion targets.
Blerim Devolli, President of Devolli Group, added that introducing an established American casual dining brand supports the group's commercial hospitality investments across Albania, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, creating local employment and developing regional foodservice talent.
Global Pipeline and Vision
The Balkan expansion forms part of TGI Fridays' corporate roadmap, designated as the "1-2-3 Strategic Vision", which targets an operational estate exceeding 1,000 restaurants globally by 2030.
The enterprise has accelerated international development agreements over the past three quarters, adding more than 150 restaurant commitments to its forward pipeline through multi-market franchise partnerships:
New Market Entries: Executed master franchise agreements across Kenya, the Maldives, and the Western Balkans.
Territory Expansions: Extended long-term franchise agreements to support unit growth across Peru, Japan, Mexico, and the Philippines.
European Consolidation: Deepened regional franchise networks across Greece, Cyprus, and Spain.
European Footprint and Regional Growth
The addition of Kosovo, Albania, and North Macedonia strengthens TGI Fridays' European operational footprint, complementing established restaurant networks in the United Kingdom, Spain, Norway, Greece, and Cyprus.
The Balkan region has seen rising levels of foreign direct investment, commercial retail development, and international tourism, creating commercial opportunities for global casual dining chains to establish first-mover advantages in key urban hubs.
By combining US brand assets with Devolli Group's domestic distribution networks and operational infrastructure, TGI Fridays aims to scale its bar-forward restaurant model across Southeast Europe as part of its global multi-unit franchise roadmap.
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