Shark Tank’s Buena Papa and EKUI Plus Announce United Arab Emirates Partnership to Open Franchises

Shark Tank's Buena Papa and EKUI Plus Announce United Arab Emirates Partnership to Open Franchises

Shark Tank's Buena Papa and EKUI Plus Announce United Arab Emirates Partnership to Open Franchises

Buena Papa Fry Bar is thrilled to announce a strategic partnership with EKUIPlus, a distinguished consulting firm known for its expert leadership in franchise and retail management.

Under the seasoned guidance of the Partner Nicolas Rubeiz and their local representative in the U.S., Jean Claude Gureghian, EKUIPlus will spearhead the introduction and expansion of Buena Papa franchises across the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia, and the broader Middle East. Leveraging their extensive experience in launching renowned brands in the region, the team aims to enrich the culinary landscape with Buena Papa’s unique offerings. This collaboration marks a significant step towards blending international flavors with local tastes, promising an exciting new dining experience in the Middle East.

This announcement comes a few months after Buena Papa’s deal with Shark Tank investor Robert Herjavec to fuel their nationwide franchising.

Herjavec, no stranger to successful ventures, sees the brand as a standout among fast-casual restaurants. “When I tasted what Buena Papa Fry Bar had to offer and saw their impressive market traction, I knew this was a golden opportunity. They’ve managed to turn something as simple as fries into a whole-meal experience. I’m thrilled to be part of this journey and help them expand their franchise program nationwide,” said Robert Herjavec, Entrepreneur & Shark Tank Investor.

Shark Tank's Buena Papa and EKUI Plus Announce United Arab Emirates Partnership to Open Franchises

Buena Papa’s first-to-market concept – a whole meal on fries – has been eaten up by customers and recognized as a favorite in the Tar Heel State. This announcement will bring the number of Buena Papa restaurants to 7 – they are currently operating in Raleigh, Durham, and the PNC Arena. The NHL team, The Carolina Hurricanes, named Buena Papa their official loaded fries. The new franchises are set to open in Wilmington, Chapel Hill, and Jacksonville, North Carolina as well as South Florida.

Buena Papa’s higher-than-average profit margins are attracting hundreds of franchise investors. They are on track to sign 36 franchise deals in 2024 on top of the 9 deals already signed.

“We are so excited that Buena Papa’s franchise program is hitting the ground running and opening in new cities soon, said owners James and Johanna Windon. They went on to add, “These new cities will enjoy our culturally-inspired dishes and flavors from around the world while bringing those communities closer together by giving them a place to talk about their families’ and friends’ favorite dishes and traditions.”

Shark Tank's Buena Papa and EKUI Plus Announce United Arab Emirates Partnership to Open Franchises
El Mexicano y El Boricua

The Buena Papa Story

Buena Papa (Spanish translation, Good Potato) Fry Bar serves up Colombian-inspired, Latin-infused flavors over hand-cut, made-to-order gourmet french fries, along with other global, premium toppings. Buena Papa is founded and operated by husband-and-wife team, James and Johanna Windon. The toppings were inspired by Johanna’s native country of Colombia.

Their signature dishes are influenced by traditional plates from a variety of countries. For example, “El Colombiano,” is a tribute to Colombian cuisine. Their menu also represents Mexico, Puerto Rico, Italy, Greece, and the U.S. Their bilingual menu is designed to help people learn Spanish. You can view the full menu here.

Buena Papa’s Mission

By layering exotic flavors over an American staple food, James and Johanna are on the mission to bring families, and entire communities together to experience new flavors and cultures with the most universal base–French Fries. At Buena Papa, they believe food unites people, allowing us to bond over our personal and/or family stories and traditions. Food has the power to build, connect and unite people all while helping us discover the beauty of different flavors and cultures.

Their Franchise Program

Buena Papa’s franchise program offers a market-low entry cost, a turnkey manual to their operations, training with their Franchise Development team and connecting investors with financing options.

 ***You can view and download photos of Buena Papa on Shark Tank here, food and family photos here.***

For more information on franchise opportunities in the Middle East or USA visit here.

For media inquiries please email: BuenPapa@A100Media.Co