The management of Sphera Franchise Group, a listed company with a capitalization of EUR 275.9 million, detailed during the conference for the first quarter of 2026 the arguments behind the expansion of its portfolio with the new brands wagamama, Hard Rock, and Cioccolatitaliani. The clarifications come in the context of concerns expressed by investors, who suspected an expansion exercise carried out at the expense of profit margins.
Analysts questioned the opportunity of operating a wide portfolio of new brands with a small number of units, raising questions about the existence of real synergies in terms of costs and purchasing, as well as their ability to be profitable on their own.
Valentin Budeș, CFO of Sphera Franchise Group, explained that the philosophy behind this decision is to build a platform capable of efficiently integrating any type of business. He stressed that the group has the capacity to become a strong platform, where new operations can be added and managed immediately and efficiently.
Frequently Asked Questions
What new brands did Sphera Franchise Group add to its portfolio?
Sphera Franchise Group expanded its portfolio with the wagamama, Hard Rock, and Cioccolatitaliani brands.
Why are investors concerned about Sphera’s expansion?
Investors expressed concerns that the expansion into multiple new brands with few units might hurt profit margins and lack real cost synergies.
What is Sphera’s strategy behind this expansion?
According to CFO Valentin Budeș, the strategy is to build a powerful platform capable of quickly and efficiently integrating and managing any new business operations.