Anthony Bou Chedid, partner at Zaatar W Zeit (left), and Donald Daccache, partner and chairman of Zaatar w Zeit (center-left), signing contracts with Sushaan Nath, CEO and Founder of Passion Cuisine (center-right), and Chairman Bhupender Nath (right). (Credit: Zaatar W Zeit).
BEIRUT – Lebanese urban eatery Zaatar W Zeit announced it has signed a franchising agreement with Indian Food and Beverage (F&B) experts Passion Cuisine to expand into India — with its first branch in Mumbai set to open in the first quarter of 2025.
“Being the most populated country in the world, India presents a huge market and potential for us,” said Manuel Wazen, marketing director at Zaatar W Zeit.
The food chain, owned by Knead Holding, had also become popular among the Indian expat community who “became part of our customer base across our branches in the GCC countries,” added Wazen.
The team from Zaatar w Zeit and Passion Cuisine cutting a celebratory cake. (Credit: Zaatar w Zeit).
Founded in 1999 in Sodeco, Zaatar W Zeit operates in seven countries including Lebanon, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saudi Arabia (KSA), Qatar, Kuwait, Egypt and Canada. Today, the chain has 26 branches in Lebanon and around 70 across the rest of the region.
Initially focused on serving Lebanese-style manakish and wraps, Zaatar W Zeit underwent a significant rebranding in 2010 to reflect a more “contemporary and youthful image,” thus becoming a “quick-casual Lebanese urban eatery,” Wazen stated. Its menu now includes salads, appetizers and other international dishes.
“Our partners, Passion Cuisine, are highly knowledgeable in the F&B industry,” he said. The Indian group owns several restaurants in both the UAE and India including Avatara, Trèsind, Carnival by Tresind, Tresind Studio, and Maison De Curry amongst others.
“We are in the final stages of signing a new country with a new franchisee, while other countries are also already in the pipeline,” concluded Wazen, with details to be shared at a later date.