Expansion in major cities and regional growth
Sphera Franchise Group, the operator of KFC, Taco Bell, and Pizza Hut, announced plans to open five new Hard Rock Cafe restaurants over the next five years – four in Romania and one in the Republic of Moldova. The American brand will expand to Brașov, Timișoara, Iași, Cluj-Napoca, and Chișinău.
“ This partnership marks another important step in our diversification strategy. By adding Hard Rock Café to our portfolio, we are expanding into the lifestyle restaurant and entertainment sector (…) We are always looking to bring into the Sphera ecosystem brands that align with our values and have a proven track record of profitability to support the Group’s long-term growth, and Hard Rock Café is a perfect fit.” said Călin Ionescu, CEO Sphera Franchise Group.
A strategic step toward portfolio diversification
Sphera has acquired the Hard Rock Cafe franchise rights for Romania and Moldova from Hard Rock International and will develop the network through a new company, HRC Restaurants SRL, fully owned by Sphera Franchise Group.
The move strengthens Sphera’s leadership on the regional food service market and marks its entry into the lifestyle restaurant segment. The new restaurants will target major urban centers, reflecting growing demand for international, experience-based dining concepts.
Hard Rock Cafe is globally known for blending American cuisine with music memorabilia, offering a distinctive cultural and culinary experience. The brand has been present in Romania since 2008, through its Bucharest location in Herăstrău Park.
The new partnership aligns with Sphera’s strategy of continuous growth and brand diversification. The group recently announced the addition of the Italian brand Cioccolatitaliani, known for its premium chocolate desserts. Sphera operates more than 175 restaurants in Romania, Moldova, and Italy, employing around 5,000 people.
Listed on the Bucharest Stock Exchange since 2017 under the ticker SFG, Sphera remains the only HoReCa company included in the main BET index and MSCI Frontier Markets indices.
Photo: Hard Rock Cafe
