By James Scarpa for Nation's Restaurant News

No one can accuse Mike Stimola of being a "me-too" restaurant operator, or Sandella's Flatbread, his fast-casual concept, of following the crowd in terms of kitchen equipment, menu or business model.

QSR Magazine
Restaurant chain seals master deal with major foodservice management company, Abela & Co.

West Redding, CT, August 18, 2008- Sandella's Flatbread Cafe, the largest and fastest growing flatbread concept in the world sealed a master franchise deal with Dubai's premier foodservice management company Abela & Co. Sandella's newest franchisee will open 12 restaurants throughout the UAE over the next five years- the first location is scheduled to open January 2009 in Dubai.

Founded in 1967, Abela & Co currently oversees over 120 foodservice management contracts in Dubai. Some of their services include corporate, hotel and industrial catering, oilfield (onshore & offshore) catering, and hygiene and food safety training and consulting. Abela & Co also works closely with Dubai schools and colleges to provide tasty and well balanced meals.

Chain Leader September 28, 2008: The restaurant industry has been capitalizing on flatbread for a long time, but it seems to be heating up in popularity in recent years. Last year Arby's promoted flatbread sandwiches, in addition to their lineup of wraps. Quizno's salads each come with flatbread. Dunkin' Donuts has a line of flatbread sandwiches. But the real appeal of flatbread can be found in one of our country's most popular products: pizza.

The largest restaurant chain to capitalize on the popularity of flatbread is Sandella's Flatbread. This 125 unit chain was founded in 1994 in Connecticut, in the heartland of the early flatbread pizza pioneers.

West Coast Franchise Expo
Sandella's Flatbread Café Booth
November 7-9, 2008
Los Angeles Convention Center

Read about the latest Sandella's Flatbread Cafe development deals in Michigan, California and Pennsylvania