There, he says, U.S. products are embraced, the population base is good and the economy is increasingly more capitalistic. Continental Europe, in contrast, is struggling behind a sluggish economy and more mature market, Speiser says. The opportunities are not as strong. But even good economics does not always guarantee a smooth transition.
Most experienced operators agree that establishing a partnership with overseas developers helps.
Planet Hollywood has some company-owned international units but franchises units in challenging markets. Similarly, the all-American Hooters Girl has not been so easy to find in more reserved cities such as Taipei, where a Hooters restaurant opened last month. We have to get American girls in there, so people can open up and see that it's a fun place to work. These stories only begin to suggest the many hurdles and difficulties American restaurants have in exporting concepts overseas. Unfamiliar political, social and economic systems, expensive labor and real estate, in addition to cultural and taste differences are some of the issues that can muddy the waters.