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Variety Is The Spice Of Life For Hot Brands International

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates, April 29, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Hungry for variety? Whether you're in the mood for Tandoori Chicken or Chop Suey, keen for a slice of stone-baked Gourmet Veggie pizza or Prawn Green Curry, or craving Beef Teriyaki, Dubai-based Hot Brands International has the recipe for success with their range of quick service, casual and fine dining ethnic food restaurants.

"We are in a unique situation," states Paul Merrifield, President and CEO of Hot Brands International, "to be able to provide customers and franchisees with the number of brands and variety of ethnic food concepts that we do. You could eat at our restaurants every day for a year and never have the same meal twice!"

The original company began as a single food court restaurant in 1992; since then they have transformed to a multi-brand company operating restaurant concepts throughout the Middle East and India, which currently include Indian/Tandoori, Chinese, Italian, Thai, Japanese and Mongolian.

The company's early "foot-in-the-door" entrance into the United Arab Emirates' food court and restaurant industry has allowed it to grow along with the developments in the Middle East, especially Dubai. Hot Brands International now serves well over a million meals per year and is keen to spread the flavor by further development in the emerging markets around the world. The company is in a high-growth phase and has restructured to facilitate the development of franchise operations internationally, including bringing in key members of the executive and management team who collectively have dozens of years of franchise experience. The company is forecasting rapid expansion through single- and multi-unit franchisees, with a goal of 500 corporate and franchise locations committed to by the end of 2008.

"We just opened another Shamiana and Santino's along with our first Sugoi in the fabulous Ibn Battuta Mall in Dubai, U.A.E. and have broken our previous sales records," Merrifield says. "Another step toward our vision to be the recognized world leader in the multi-brand, ethnic food restaurant industry, utilizing the highest levels of corporate and franchise business practices with dedicated employees and franchisees."

Looking to grab a slice? For appetizing franchise opportunities contact Kevin Draper, Senior Business Development Manager at kevin@hotbrandsinternational.com.

About HotBrands International

Hot Brands International currently has five Quick Service Restaurant brands: Shamiana(r) (Indian/Tandoori), Sala Thai(r) (Thai), Magic Wok(r) (Chinese), Santino's(r) (Italian) and Sugoi!(r) (Japanese); two Casual Dining Restaurant brands: Santino's Bistro Italiano(tm) (Italian) and Sugoi!(r); plus our flagship concept, Da-Shi-Dai(tm) (Mongolian).

CONTACT: 
        Hot Brands International(tm)
        Lori Merrifield
        Tel:  +971-4-286-3660, ext. 117
        Fax:  +971-4-286-3683
        Email: lori@hotbrandsinternational.com
        http://www.hotbrandsinternational.com
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