Casper & Gambini’s
opens in Nigeria

Outlet concept is franchised

Ant Ventures has opened its first Casper & Gambini’s (C&G) in Lagos, Nigeria. The first of the group’s operations in Africa, the outlet will serve as a catering and delivery service. Ant Ventures franchised its concept through Silver Plates, a Nigerian food service company.

Additional C&Gs are expected to open in the Middle East. A branch in Bahrain will launch in November 2014, another in the UAE is slated for December, and a third in Oman is due in February 2015.

The group was founded in 1996 by Anthony Maalouf. It now owns and operates Casper & Gambini’s, From The Tree, Eatalian, Falafel & More, Bab Idris, its latest concept, and Main Springs, as supply conmpany. The group also owns and manages the ‘35 rooms’ hotel, a four-star property in Hamra.

Casper & Gambini’s operates six branches, locally. It was the first local restaurant to franchise, in 1999. The group expanded to Kuwait in 2002 where it currently operates five outlets. In Egypt since 2005, it runs four outlets and in Jordan since 2006 and Qatar since 2010, it operates a branch, each. Last year, the group opened a branch in Jeddah and one in Erbil.

Ant Ventures is actively looking for opportunities to expand its other portfolio brands in the region.