Sphera Franchise Group, the leader in the food service industry in Romania, announces the expansion of its network by opening five Hard Rock Cafe restaurants in the next five years in Brasov, Timisoara, Iasi, Cluj and Chisinau.
“Partnering with Hard Rock International is an important step in our diversification strategy. The integration of the Hard Rock Cafe brand into the Sphera portfolio allows us to enter the lifestyle dining and entertainment space, offering iconic global experiences to consumers in the region. We are constantly looking for brands aligned with our values, with proven potential for profitability, and Hard Rock Cafe fits these criteria perfectly”, said Călin Ionescu, CEO of Sphera Franchise Group.
Sphera has acquired the exclusive franchise rights for Romania and the Republic of Moldova from Hard Rock International and will implement the development plan through HRC Restaurants SRL, a wholly-owned group company.
This strategic move strengthens Sphera’s position in the foodservice market, marking an expansion beyond the fast food and casual dining segment into lifestyle brands with global recognition. HRC Restaurants SRL will coordinate the launch of Hard Rock Cafe restaurants in these five cities, responding to the growing demand for international and experiential gastronomic concepts in Romania and the Republic of Moldova.
Hard Rock Cafe is an iconic worldwide brand, recognized for its combination of American-inspired dishes and music memorabilia. The brand has been present in Romania since 2008 with its flagship restaurant in Herăstrău Park, Bucharest.
This initiative is part of Sphera’s strategic direction to expand and diversify its portfolio. Recently, the group also announced the launch of the Italian brand Cioccolatitaliani, specializing in premium chocolate-based products, with the first unit to be inaugurated in Italy in 2025.
At the same time, the franchise operator Sphera Franchise Group (stock symbol SFG) has informed the capital market about the opening of a new Taco Bell restaurant, located in the Promenada Mall in Bucharest, starting October 10. The new food court is the sixth Taco Bell restaurant in the capital.
According to a report published on the Bucharest Stock Exchange (BVB), Sphera Franchise Group operates a total of 178 restaurants, of which 110 KFC restaurants in Romania, 3 in the Republic of Moldova and 18 in Italy, along with 28 Pizza Hut restaurants, 17 Taco Bell restaurants, one Cioccolatitaliani restaurant in Italy and a PHD sub-franchise.