ADVERTORIAL: Ocean Basket has certainly more than survived the voyage to Cyprus, where it is flourishing.
Does this mean that the brand now has a foothold in Europe? Or is it the Middle East?
Situated in the Mediterranean where west meets east, the island is one of those countries that are hard to place.
Its turbulent history gives it a share of both, with the Greek part of the island attracting vast numbers of tourists while the Turkish part remains more insular.
Ocean Basket has recently opened its fourth restaurant on the island. The first appeared in 2009, at the Avanti Holiday Village Piazza in Pafos. The Cypriots, South African expats and overseas holiday-makers loved it! So the second was opened, in Limasol, closely followed by a third, this time in Nicosia, the capital. The most recent is in Larnaca.
What is the secret of this overseas success?
Cyprian culture is rooted in a passion for seafood and family – and Ocean Baskets are family restaurants everywhere. The franchise brand took note of that excellent old saying ‘when in Rome, do as the Romans do’ and changed its menu to include authentic and unique local dishes, such as octopus. A strong emphasis is also placed on ever-popular platters. Every meal served in any Ocean Basket in Cyprus is a creative culinary experience that complements the Cyprian dining style.
The Group’s annual turnover, which is in excess of R1,1 billion, positions the South African gem as the sixth largest casual dining seafood restaurant chain globally – and this with only a small brand presence beyond its very own borders.
With Cyprus being a halfway house to both Europe and the Middle East, these four franchises mark the global role Ocean Basket is now playing.
The latest addition, Mauritius, proves yet again that Ocean Basket is at the forefront of international restaurant franchise expansion.
The recently opened Ocean Basket restaurant is located at the new Bagatelle Mall in the heart of Mauritius, between Port Louis and the emerging Cyber City growth Zone. This is South Africa’s first major offshore mall and covers 40 000 m². Ocean Basket opened its doors to the Mauritian public in late September 2011, along with a number of familiar South African retailers and other popular restaurants.
On opening day, the new Ocean Basket restaurant achieved great success, with a turn-over of R110 000,00. Since the opening, this Ocean Basket has boasted an average daily turn-over of R89 000,00 — an early sign that the implementation of the Group’s value equations are efficient not only in South Africa but in other regions too.
The international exposure is sparking considerable foreign interest, which will be further piqued by the imminent expansion of the brand’s footprint into Dubai. There is no doubt that Ocean Basket is indeed an international brand.