Fast-casual restaurant chain signs multiunit franchising deal to open stores in North Carolina.

-- Chain Leader, 1/21/2009 12:28:00 PM

PRESS RELEASE: West Redding, CT, January 21, 2009- Kaupind Shah, Sheilesh Gandhi and Satyan Jadia have signed a contract with Sandella's Flatbread Café to bring two units to Cary and Durham, North Carolina. Sandella's Flatbread Café is the largest flatbread concept in the world with more than 130 locations. Each healthy and delicious menu item is based around its famous flatbread. Sandella's currently has more than 400 restaurants in development across the U.S. and the United Arab Emirates.

"We want to bring Sandella's to North Carolina because it's not just health conscious food, it's healthy and delicious," says Shah. "Many people in today's society are more health conscious than ever before and Sandella's is the perfect place for people who want a delicious and fast meal without sacrificing their health in the process."

Latest Sandella's Store Openings:

• Staten Island, NY
• San Jose, CA
• Round Rock, TX
• Austin, TX
• Houston, TX
• Washington, DC
• Urbana, IL

QSR Magazine: 2009-01-05 A number of top limited-service sandwich chains overcame the downhill economy by exhibiting growth, reports foodservice consultancy Technomic.

"Though the economy has moved from bad to worse, the limited-service sandwich segment is holding its own," says Darren Tristano, Executive Vice President at Technomic. "Its resilience comes from its ability to provide customers with a range of offerings from low cost to high end. The Top 100 Sandwich chains have displayed an array of tactics for weathering the economic storm-from revising their pricing strategies, to making menu offerings more memorable, and substantial to renovating their stores."

Rapidly expanding flatbread cafe will add Birmingham, Alabama, to its repertoire.

-- Chain Leader, 12/15/2008 8:42:00 AM

West Redding, CT, December 15, 2008-Sandella's Flatbread Café has finalized a deal with multi- talented franchisee, Ronald Roan, to bring two units of the hit fast casual concept to Birmingham, Alabama. With more than 130 locations currently operating, Sandella's Flatbread Café is the largest flatbread concept in the world.

Roan will add multi-unit franchisee to his already impressive resume that consists of anesthesiologist, flight physician for international transports and Air National Guard Flight Surgeon. Roan plans to open his first location by the Spring of 2009 and his second in 2010. He has not yet finalized real estate for his stores, but is scouting Birmingham for the best locations available.