More Cafe CEO Marijke Lap, second from right More Cafe CEO Marijke Lap, second from right

The management of More Café, a Dubai-based home-grown restaurant concept, has announced plans to expand the brand into the US, as well as other international markets.

Speaking at Gulfood Conferece, CEO Marijke Lap said she plannedto take the brand international, including to America,  in the next five years

Lap said: “35% of UAE outlets come from the USA. I want More Café to be one of the first UAE-born concepts to be taken to the USA. It’s just finding the right markets and showing that what comes from this region is as good as anything from the other side of the world.

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She continued: “Finding partners with the same passion and commitment will be the biggest problem.”

Also at the panel, Just Falafel managing director Mohamad Bitar agreed that finding the right people to expand the business internationally was his biggest challenge, but that his plan to give 20% of company shares to employees would help find the right partners.