Sbarro accelerates international franchising effort

MELVILLE, N.Y. — Sbarro said it's accelerating its international expansion by opening more than 25 restaurants in Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras, the Bahamas and Romania.

According to a news release, in each country, Sbarro will be the first company to offer pizza by the slice and a full, quick-service menu consisting of more than 200 authentic Italian items. Franchisees in each country have committed to opening new Sbarro units within the next five years in major metropolitan areas. Within the past four months, Sbarro has announced development agreements for more than 75 international units, including 30 restaurants in Mexico and 20 in Egypt.

"We look forward to working with our franchise partners to introduce both the Sbarro brand and great Italian tastes and flavors to these countries," said Peter Beaudrault, president and chief executive of Sbarro. "International expansion has been one of the core areas of growth for our company and a key strategy as we work to realize the potential of our brand."