McDonald's increases investment in Georgia … - Georgian capital of Tbilisi - Brief Article - Statistical Data Included

Eurofood, July 20, 2000

US fastfood giant McDonald's, which has already invested US$4m (4.2m [European Dollar]) in Georgia to develop its fastfood network, plans to increase investment by two and a half times that amount by 2004. A press conference held by Georgian-US JV company T&K restaurants, stated that US$1.2m had been invested in McDonald's' second restaurant in the Georgian capital of Tbilisi.

The group's first restaurant in Georgia opened its doors in 1999. T&K hopes that by 2004, a further five restaurants will be opened in Georgia, two of which will be located in Batumi and Kutaisi. Acting director Tengiz Kapanadze stated that the company plans to build meat processing and dairy plants in the region in order to supply local raw materials. Moreover, a site producing hamburger buns has been built in Tbilisi, and the company has already started growing lettuce in Gori. According to Kapanadze, McDonald's plans to build at least 18 restaurants in the region.