Verdict Food Service

Daily Newsletter

10 August 2023

Daily Newsletter

FAT Brands to open ten Hot Dog on a Stick locations in Iraq

Global Vita USA will open the restaurants across the country over the next five years.

FAT Brands, the parent company of Hot Dog on a Stick, has signed an agreement with Global Vita USA to open ten new franchised locations in Iraq over the next five years.

Global Vita USA plans to open its first unit in 2024.

This announcement comes after FAT Brands signed a 22-unit development deal with Global Vita USA in May to expand its Fatburger, Buffalo’s Express, Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery franchises in Iraq over the next five years.

FAT Brands chief development officer Taylor Wiederhorn said: “Global Vita USA continues to be a great growth partner for FAT Brands in the Middle East.

“Coming off of the Fatburger and Buffalo’s Express, Great American Cookies and Marble Slab Creamery development deal announcement in Iraq earlier this year, we are thrilled to align with the group to make another iconic brand available in the country, Hot Dog on a Stick.

“This expansion signifies our commitment to bringing the classic Hot Dog on a Stick experience to global audiences in the years to come.”

Established in 1946 in Santa Monica, California, Hot Dog on a Stick offers its customers hand-stomped lemonade and made-to-order 'Hot Dog on a Stick' and 'Cheese on a Stick' products.

The Hot Dog on a Stick brand currently operates more than 50 locations in the US.

Generative AI remains an untapped potential across the consumer industry

GlobalData estimates the total AI market will be worth $909 billion in 2030, growing at a CAGR of 35.2% between 2022 and 2030. The consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors are undergoing digital transformation, accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and changing consumer preferences. AI can help companies operating in these sectors by significantly reducing costs and production times. In Nestlé's 2022 full-year results, the company announced a renewed focus on digitalization to drive growth. Financial and reputational pressures associated with supply chain disruptions and sustainability concerns are also driving interest in the digitalization of supply chains. Data science and ML are strong investments across all areas. However, the sectors cannot stop at AI-powered data analytics applications. They must also explore computer vision (CV), smart robots, AI sensors that automate manufacturing and distribution logistics, and generative AI tools that increase efficiency across corporate departments and customer service operations and enable innovation in product design. For the most part, the consumer goods, foodservice, and packaging sectors will not play a significant role in creating and developing AI hardware or platforms. Instead, these sectors will help scale up the adoption of AI technologies, such as CV, conversational platforms, and smart robots. This adoption will be driven by the financial benefits and potential cost savings AI automation delivers across global supply chains.